Alan Hirsch, Research Fellow and Head of the Migration Governance Reform in Africa Programme at the New South Institute, was interviewed by TRT World for a recent episode of Africa Matters, titled “Foreigners Under Fire”.

The episode, published on 16 May 2026, examined recent reports of violence and intimidation affecting foreign nationals in South Africa, as well as diplomatic responses from other African countries. The discussion took place against the backdrop of renewed public concern about irregular migration, unemployment, pressure on public services, and the role of political mobilisation in shaping attitudes towards migrants.

Speaking from Johannesburg, Hirsch argued that the current moment should be understood in relation to South Africa’s wider social and economic conditions. He pointed to high unemployment, poverty, housing shortages, and uneven access to public services as central sources of public frustration. While acknowledging that some undocumented migrants may compete with poor South Africans for low-skilled work, he cautioned against presenting migration as the cause of South Africa’s unemployment crisis.

Hirsch noted that South Africa’s unemployment problem predates recent migration debates and reflects deeper structural weaknesses in the economy. He argued that migrants often become the visible target of discontent, even where they are not responsible for the underlying conditions driving that discontent.

The interview also addressed the importance of political leadership in preventing violence and reducing hostility towards foreign nationals. Hirsch emphasised the need for public officials and political parties to communicate clearly that migrants are not the source of South Africa’s economic challenges. He also highlighted the importance of rebuilding public confidence in the country’s migration management systems, including the Department of Home Affairs and institutions responsible for documentation, labour inspection, and border governance.

On the question of undocumented migration, Hirsch referred to ongoing policy reform efforts (such as the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection). He argued that credible, transparent, and better-managed systems are necessary both to uphold the rights of foreign nationals and to respond to legitimate public concerns about irregular migration.

Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/eHgGaGgsZS0