Will Xenophobia reshape South Africa’s Trade Relations?

By Shouneez Khan, HSRC Press: 30 July 2026

New African Thinkers Trade and Sustainability: https://hsrcpress.ac.za/product/new-african-thinkers-trade-and-sustainability-under-the-african-continental-free-trade-agreement/

When mobs set a deadline for foreigners to leave, Africa’s biggest trade experiment started to look fragile. The resurgence of xenophobic violence in South Africa from April to June 2026 had significant ramifications for AfCFTA and SADC trade relations. Groups like March and March and Operation Dudula engaged in violent protests against undocumented migrants in major cities, leading to deaths, destruction, and a call for foreigners to leave the country. The scale of the response revealed a serious situation, with enhanced security measures and a substantial increase in deportations. President Ramaphosa condemned the violence, attributing it to opportunists exploiting genuine grievances.

This xenophobic incident has direct implications for the AfCFTA and SADC trade narrative. Diplomatic damage is evident, with Mozambique and Malawi, both SADC members, suffering the loss of lives. Furthermore, the continental organizations, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Union, and Human Rights Watch, have called for stronger protection and prosecution of perpetrators, which undermines political trust in AfCFTA implementation.

What this means for the economic return

The attacks have created a backlash against South African businesses and artists, leading to the cancellation of engagements within the continent. This negative reputation can detract from African audiences and business partners’ support for AfCFTA, impacting cross-border economic relations. Migrant traders, who are key to informal cross-border trade, are fleeing the violence, adversely affecting the food retail and agricultural trade networks that AfCFTA aims to formalize and expand.

A resurgence

This resurgence of xenophobic violence is part of a recurring pattern, tracing back to previous incidents in South Africa. The recurrence of such events sends a signal to other African governments, questioning the reliability of their promises on cooperation. This mirrors the structural issues identified within this book, such as economic exclusion, political opportunism, institutional dysfunction, and social misinformation that fuel xenophobia. Thus, the 2026 events underscore the need for solutions beyond treaties, emphasizing the importance of addressing structural causes of violence for achieving African unity.

Why it matters

If AfCFTA aims to leverage trade, agriculture, and energy to foster regional prosperity, the 2026 xenophobic incidents function as a stark reminder that economic pressures could potentially fuel anti-integration sentiment. Therefore, New African Thinkers: Trade and Sustainability under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, underlying argument that AfCFTA is more than an economic venture and must tackle the political and social aspects of African integration becomes even more pertinent.

Editor Biographies

Thokozani Simelane holds a PhD and Doctor of Engineering in Industrial Engineering and is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg. A systems scientist previously with SANParks, the CSIR, and the SABS, he brings deep knowledge of systems, processes, and business operations across South African organisations.

Fortunate Nosisa Zaca holds a PhD in Food Security and a Leadership in Business Certificate from the University of Nevada, Reno, and currently works as a Research Specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council, with strong skills in data analysis, econometric modelling, and food-insecurity tools. She is a member of the African Food Changemakers and Golden Key International Honour Society, and an alumna of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, YALI Regional Leadership Center Southern Africa, the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (Lesotho, Eswatini, South Africa), the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, and Youth Climate Champions.

Thembani Moyo holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and is based at the University of Johannesburg, where he teaches, supervises postgraduate research, and works across interdisciplinary collaborations. He is an active scholar in academic, policy, and professional forums, regularly serving as a reviewer, facilitator, keynote speaker, and panel discussant.

Buhle Dube holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and is a professional planner registered with ZIRUP, with over 12 years of experience in academia, consultancy, and research supervision. His work spans regional transformation, urbanization, environmental design systems, peri-urban challenges, and pandemic response and city resilience.

Thulisile Ncamsile Mphambukeli holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and serves as Head of Department and Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, and is recognised as an NRF-rated international scholar. She has received numerous grants and awards, including the BRICS Think Tank Academic Forum Grant, NRF Knowledge Interchange and Collaboration, and the Herrenhausen Conference Travel Grant, and is a member of the South African BRICS Think Tank.

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