Social media has become a significant space for conversations about migration, nationality, immigration and belonging in South Africa. While digital platforms can support public debate and information sharing, they can also amplify anti-immigrant sentiment, xenophobic narratives, misinformation, stereotypes and hate speech directed at migrants and foreign nationals… Read full report
This factsheet from the Centre for Analytics & Behavioural Change (CABC) examines the anti-immigrant conversation taking place across social media platforms, blogs and other online sources in South Africa on 30 January 2026. The date is significant as it marks the deadline of an ultimatum issued by anti-immigrant leaders associated with March and March, who …
Factsheet: Xenophobic Social Media Conversation in South Africa – 30 June 2026 Read More »
Online South Africans have a predominantly negative perception towards immigrants. Fuelling this negative perception are accounts that share unsubstantiated allegations and misinformation around immigration, often receiving high engagement on their posts. This is according to the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change’s (CABC) new factsheet, which analysed the online anti-immigrant conversation between 1 January 2025 …
CABC: Online Anti-immigrant Conversation Factsheet Read More »
In this special report we explore the conversation that took place concerning spaza shops and allegations that they were selling poisonous food. The report exposes instances of misleading information that is used to perpetuate stereotypes about foreign-owned spaza shops and outlines a pattern that appears to be prevalent through social and news media when accusations …
This report, the ninth in the “Promoting Democracy and an Equitable Society” series, focuses on discourse about immigrants in South Africa during the elections period. Read full report
This report provides an overview of conversations about immigrants in South Africa for the month of August 2024. Key events included Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero retracting his proposal to hire immigrants for the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) due to backlash. Operations against undocumented immigrants tied to drug trafficking have sparked concerns about border control …
This report provides an analysis of online discourse surrounding immigration in South Africa for the month of July 2024. Key metrics, including conversation volume and engagement, are examined to understand the evolving nature of the conversation. Additionally, the report delves into prominent topics, influential accounts, and potential trends shaping the conversation. Two key events in …
This report provides an overview of online conversations about immigrants in South Africa for the month of June 2024. This report looks at the conversation volume, key metrics, topical events and which authors are driving the conversation. The focal point during June 2024 was the announcement of the results of South Africa’s National and Provincial …
This report, the eighth in the “Promoting Democracy and an Equitable Society” series, focuses on how governance of immigration to South Africa is reported on by news media handles on X and how this compares to the social media conversation on X about it. Read full report
This report provides an overview of conversations about immigrants in South Africa for the month of April 2024. As the country approaches elections on 29 May 2024, a concerning trend remains prevalent online: immigrants are increasingly being scapegoated for a range of socio-economic and political issues. This report looks at the conversation volume, key metrics, …
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