The legacy of afrophobia and white supremacy in the plight of African migrants in South Africa

Abstract

A state of disaster, is, by definition, aimed at addressing widespread natural and/or public health issues faced by society and although the COVID-19 pandemic has instigated a worldwide state of disaster, it cannot be said that the effects thereof have been equally felt throughout the world, particularly within South Africa. Singularly, the plight of African migrants has worsened with many of them facing various human rights violations through increased social marginalisation and political exclusions. The marginalisation of African migrants in particular also brings to attention the different manifestations of Afrophobia and how this has led to the territorial exclusion of African migrants. This article seeks to discuss the parallels between the plight of African migrants in South Africa and the manifested ideologies of Afrophobia and White supremacy and proposes transformative constitutionalism and structural reform as remedies to the prevailing issues faced by African migrants in South Africa.