Foreigners Are Not the Problem. But Are We Doing Enough to Prove That?

Foreigners Are Not the Problem. But Are We Doing Enough to Prove That?

By Lili Phedra

There’s a quiet war happening on South African soil — and it’s not fought with guns or grenades.

It’s fought with glances.

With policies.

With comments under Facebook posts that laugh at the dead and mock the desperate.

And those on the frontlines? Foreign nationals — caught between belonging and exclusion, between survival and silence.

This war didn’t start yesterday. But it’s evolving. And the truth is: we can no longer pretend we’re not part of it.

We’re Dying in Silence — and No One Seems to Notice

In recent weeks, more lives have been lost. Foreign lives. Black bodies. Names buried beneath hashtags and headlines that never came.

Some died while running businesses. Others while trying to find shelter. Some were attacked simply for looking like they didn’t belong.

Yet there was barely a whisper.

No candlelight vigils.

No outcry from national leaders.

Only laughing emojis on social media.

And this haunting phrase:

> “Probably Nigerian. Or Zimbabwean. Or Congolese.”

This isn't just xenophobia.

It's cruelty.

And it’s being normalized.

But Before We Point Fingers, We Have to Be Honest With Ourselves

Let me speak to my fellow foreigners — especially those who, like me, call this country home or were born here.

We’ve become experts at survival. We hustle. We adapt. We keep our heads down. But in that silence, something has broken.

There are people who’ve lived in South Africa for six, even ten years, still undocumented. Some have fake documents. Others haven’t even tried to regularize their stay.

We say the system is broken — and it is.

But let’s be honest: so is our commitment to doing better.

Because when you refuse to legalize your stay, when you fake IDs or ignore paperwork, you don’t just risk your own future — you put the entire community at risk.

We’ve Allowed Ourselves to Blend into the Shadows

We don’t talk about rights. We don’t stand up when we’re wronged. We avoid hospitals and police stations out of fear. And now, when injustice happens, no one notices.

Why?

Because the world assumes we have no voice.

And sometimes, it feels like we’ve accepted that too.

South Africa Is Not Innocent Either

Now, let’s be clear. This is not just a foreigner problem.

It is not normal for someone to walk into a hospital bleeding, only to be told, “Go back to your country.”

It is not acceptable for children born in South Africa to be treated like illegal strangers.

It is not legal for police to demand bribes from immigrants just trying to walk home from work.

This is not about immigration control.

This is about dignity.

And when you strip one group of dignity, the whole nation suffers.

We’re Convenient to Hate — But Essential to the Economy

You hate foreigners selling in townships.

But they’re the reason you can buy sugar at 10 p.m.

You protest against Congolese salons.

But they’re the ones keeping your braids fresh.

You say Zimbabweans are taking your jobs.

But when your pipes burst or you need your driveway paved, guess who you call first?

We are hated publicly. But needed privately.

And that contradiction is killing us — sometimes literally.

Borders Are Broken, but So Is the Narrative

People ask how foreigners got here in the first place.

Let me answer that: legally.

Most of us came through airports. Borders. Visa checkpoints. We were stamped in by immigration officers, allowed in by systems that smiled at us at the front gate — and ignored us ever since.

Now we’re blamed for the state of the economy, the job market, the crime rate.

But who failed to follow up?

Who looked the other way?

Who benefits from keeping us invisible?

To Foreigners: This Is a Wake-Up Call

The truth is hard to swallow, but it must be said.

If you’ve been here for years without documentation, it’s time to stop hiding behind excuses.

If your children are undocumented, start the process — even if it’s slow.

If you’ve been silent about injustice, it’s time to speak.

Not because South Africa owes us anything.

But because we owe ourselves the right to live with pride, not fear.

To South Africans: Don’t Let Hatred Speak Louder Than Humanity

Not everyone is xenophobic. I’ve met South Africans who stand up, speak out, and defend truth when it matters most.

But those voices are being drowned out.

By TikTok lives that mock migrants.

By politicians who thrive on fear.

By silence that looks a lot like consent.

We need you.

Because this fight isn’t just about us.

It’s about the kind of South Africa you want to live in.

Conclusion: The Mirror Doesn’t Lie

We can’t fix what we won’t face.

Foreigners are not the enemy — and neither are South Africans.

But there’s a dangerous silence swallowing both.

If we want a future here — one that includes peace, safety, and dignity — then the work starts with us.

With truth.

With paperwork.

With protest.

With prayer.

With real conversations that go beyond who belongs and who doesn’t.

Because in the end, we’re already building this country — whether anyone wants to admit it or not.

So let’s build it with honesty.

Let’s build it with courage.

Let’s build it.