Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

30 June 2026

2-minute read

In an interview on Sabahul Muslim with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat, guest Dr Dale McKinley mentioned that global anti-immigrant sentiment has been brewing for decades, with the main drivers being wars and conflict resulting in people fleeing their countries to seek greener pastures. The second reason is economic freefall, with people seeking economic opportunities in countries other than their own. And thirdly, political repression has led to many seeking asylum away from their homelands.

While those leading the anti-immigrant protests in South Africa today claim it as their constitutional right and deny any type of vigilantism, Dr McKinley said that the entire movement from Operation Dudula to March and March “cloak themselves in a claim” of wanting to address socio-economic conditions. But their agenda is clearly about “targeting migrants,” he emphasized, and cited examples from KZN, Gauteng and the Western Cape where foreigners have been assaulted and terrorised, evicted from their homes, had their shops looted, and even been made to show proof of their documentation to locals.

“The cycle of xenophobia and anti-migrant politics in our country” always comes to the fore at the time of elections, Dr McKinley said, and it is a useful tool for mobilising and deflecting from the wider issues we are facing. The three political parties who “unapologetically” take responsibility through their actions causing the current chaos unfolding in the country are the Patriotic Alliance, ActionSA and the MK Party.

Not surprisingly, targeting the weaker and the most vulnerable amongst us is a method “not specific” to South Africa. Both Europe and the USA, as well as many other countries, have blamed their socio-economic struggles on immigrants. “It’s an easy politics, it’s a lazy politics, it’s an irresponsible politics,” Dr McKinley emphasized.

Millions of rands have been spent on security by government for the planned marches, but after today, the problem will not just go away. “This is just the beginning,” leading up to the elections in November, Dr McKinley stated, when political parties will use this as leverage, with many elements within the government agreeing with this type of politics.

Issues facing the country from the lack of service delivery to the infrastructural crises and many other problems will not just disappear if we get rid of all the illegal migrants, Dr McKinley pointed out. If the driving forces behind the planned marches today are political tools, they will not only be used for so-called deadlines but will continue beyond June 30^th.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Dr Dale McKinley here.