South African Churches Condemn Xenophobic Violence, Call for Compassion and Justice

Newsroom (11/06/2026 Gaudium Press  ) The South African Council of Churches (SACC) has issued a strong condemnation of the escalating wave of hostility and violence targeting foreign nationals across the country, warning of a deepening humanitarian crisis and urging citizens to uphold human dignity and reject xenophobia.

In a pastoral letter released on June 9, SACC President Archbishop Sithembele Sipuka said the Church could no longer remain silent as attacks against migrants spread across several provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, the Free State, and the Western Cape.

“Across our land, a wave of hostility, intimidation, and violence has risen against our brothers and sisters from other countries living among us,” Archbishop Sipuka stated. “As the Church of Jesus Christ in this country… we cannot keep silent.”

The Archbishop emphasized that the rising tensions, which began as organized protests, have in some cases escalated into violence, resulting in injuries and loss of life. The unrest has also drawn concern from across the African continent.

Growing Humanitarian Crisis

The SACC warned that the consequences of the violence are already severe. Thousands of migrant families have been displaced, with many stripped of basic necessities and access to essential services.

In KwaZulu-Natal alone, an estimated 2,000 migrant families have been affected. Many have been left without food, shelter, clean water, or medical care, including treatment for chronic conditions such as HIV, hypertension, and diabetes.

Since mid-April, the unrest has spread from province to province. What began in KwaZulu-Natal extended into Pretoria and Johannesburg before reaching Cape Town and other urban centers. According to the SACC, some groups—describing themselves as defenders of citizens—have organized marches, conducted raids, forced shop closures, and carried out so-called “citizens’ arrests” targeting undocumented individuals.

Archbishop Sipuka attributed the rise in violence to inflammatory rhetoric, misinformation, and panic, exacerbated by arbitrary deadlines and widespread fear. “The human cost is already grave,” he said, noting the widespread displacement and trauma among affected communities.

A Call for Moral Responsibility

Drawing on biblical teachings, particularly from the Book of Leviticus, Archbishop Sipuka reminded Christians that caring for strangers is central to the Gospel message.

“We are compelled by the Gospel to speak and to act,” he said, urging believers to love foreigners as they would themselves.

While condemning the attacks, the SACC acknowledged the genuine hardships faced by many South Africans, including unemployment, crime, poor service delivery, and economic inequality. These challenges, Sipuka noted, have contributed to frustration and a sense of abandonment among communities.

However, he cautioned against misdirecting that anger. “To feel genuine pain is one thing; to lay that pain at the wrong door… is another,” he said. “To blame the stranger is to let these true culprits escape scrutiny.”

The Archbishop argued that structural issues such as corruption, weak education systems, and exploitative labor practices are the real drivers of unemployment—not the presence of foreign nationals.

Churches Urged to Lead Dialogue and Action

The SACC called on churches across the country to become active agents of reconciliation by fostering dialogue between local residents, migrants, businesses, and authorities.

“Let our churches at all levels host and support honest dialogue,” Sipuka said, stressing the need to address grievances while holding wrongdoers accountable regardless of nationality. He also urged scrutiny of businesses that exploit migrant labor by paying lower wages.

Beyond dialogue, the Church encouraged immediate humanitarian action. Congregations were urged to provide displaced individuals with food, shelter, medical assistance, and other support.

“Let us not theorise while people suffer,” Sipuka said. “If it is a cup of water… a blanket… or simply shelter and a kind presence, let us give that.”

Government Measures and Regional Cooperation

The SACC welcomed recent measures announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa aimed at curbing illegal migration and addressing rising tensions. These include stricter immigration enforcement, enhanced border security, tougher penalties for employers hiring undocumented migrants, specialized courts for deportations, and efforts to combat corruption within the immigration system.

Archbishop Sipuka expressed the Church’s commitment to engaging directly with government authorities to ensure that these solutions are implemented effectively. He stressed that protecting all people within South Africa’s borders must be a priority, alongside addressing root causes of public anger such as unemployment and failed service delivery.

He also called for regional cooperation within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), noting that migration is a shared challenge requiring collective solutions.

Rejecting Hate, Upholding Truth

The Archbishop also urged South Africans to combat misinformation, particularly on social media, warning that false narratives have fueled hostility toward foreign nationals.

“The scarcity in our land… is real,” he said, “but hardship must never drive us to react from the basest of our instincts.”

He concluded with a call for unity and moral courage, emphasizing that crime should be addressed through lawful means, not collective punishment.

“Crime has no nationality,” Sipuka said. “The answer to crime is justice applied to the guilty, never violence visited upon the innocent because of where they were born.”

Framing the crisis as both a moral and societal challenge, the SACC reiterated its appeal for compassion, justice, and peaceful coexistence.

“The stranger at our gate is not our enemy; he is our neighbor,” Sipuka said. “Let us instead be peacemakers and so be called the children of God.”

• Raju Hasmukh with files from ACi Africa