59 minutes | Friday, 24 July 2026
"The migrant is always the first victim when societies are under pressure."
On this episode of Borderlines, Ireti Bakare-Yusuf sits down with Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), for a powerful conversation on xenophobia, Pan-Africanism, apartheid's legacy, and South Africa's deepening economic crisis.
Drawing from his own experience growing up under apartheid, Vavi explains why he believes today's attacks on African migrants are symptoms of unemployment, inequality, failed leadership and the erosion of political education, rather than the presence of migrants themselves.
He also reflects on Nelson Mandela's legacy, the rise of tribal politics, border management, and why Pan-African solidarity is under threat across the continent.
In this episode:
Why Vavi says migrants are being made scapegoats for South Africa's economic problems
How apartheid and inequality continue to shape South African society
The decline of Pan-Africanism and political education
Why tribalism and xenophobia are becoming intertwined
The role of unemployment, corruption and poor governance in fuelling public anger
Concerns over South Africa's border management and documentation crisis
His thoughts on who benefits from divisions among Africans
What do you think is driving xenophobia in South Africa? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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