UN committee raises alarm over racist killings, displacement and home raids against migrants: South Africa

GENEVA – The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) today expressed grave concern over a surge in xenophobia and racist hate crimes against migrants in South Africa since early 2026, including killings, forced displacement and unlawful home raids.

The Committee noted with deep concern that at least four migrants had been unlawfully killed and at least 50,000 migrants had been displaced by civilians and organised vigilante groups. It highlighted reports of abductions, looting, destruction of migrants’ property and businesses, unlawful evictions by landlords, and restrictions on access to essential services, including healthcare and education, stressing that these abuses were “in violation of their human rights protected under the Convention.”

Underlining the widespread use of racist hate speech and the dissemination of negative and harmful stereotypes against migrants, refugees and asylum seekers by civic movements, such as the Insizwa Nobunsizwa Development Foundation and March and March movement, particularly on the Internet and social media, the Committee said such rhetoric “fosters stigmatisation and intolerance and creates an environment of fear and insecurity for migrants.”

It further raised concerns over the lack of effective measures to address the root causes of recurring racial discrimination and hate crimes against migrants, including persistent socio-economic inequalities stemming from the apartheid era, as well as delays in the issuance and renewal of migrants’ identity documents and visas.

CERD also pointed to reports of inadequate action by law enforcement agencies to prevent and respond to racist hate crimes and violence against migrants. The Committee was further concerned about the persistence of racial profiling and racially motivated excessive use of force by law enforcement officials.

It noted that racial discrimination and hate crimes continued to be underreported because of mistrust of law enforcement, fear of reprisals and harassment, and limited awareness of rights and complaint mechanisms.

The Committee welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s statement of 7 June 2026 condemning vigilantism, xenophobia, hate crimes and violence against migrants and warning against scapegoating migrants for South Africa’s socio-economic challenges. It, however, urged the State Party to step up its efforts and to address the root causes of racial discrimination and hate speech against migrants.

It called on the authorities to take measures against organised racist vigilante groups, including preventing their formation and proscribing and dismantling such organisations, and to work with media outlets, Internet service providers and social media platforms to combat hate speech and harmful stereotypes online.

The Committee also urged South Africa to ensure an effective, objective and proportionate law-enforcement response to racist violence, prohibit racial profiling and racially motivated excessive use of force, and provide safe and accessible channels for victims to report abuses.

It further called for adequate shelters and access to basic services for displaced migrants and urged the State Party to “ensure accountability and end impunity” through effective, thorough and impartial investigations into all reported abuses, including killings, looting, abductions, unlawful evictions, unlawful identity checks and home raids.

The Committee’s Decision, adopted under its Early Warning and Urgent Action Procedure, which aims to prevent existing problems from escalating into conflicts and to respond to situations requiring immediate attention to prevent or limit serious violations of the Convention, is now available online.