GENEVA (27 August 2026) – The UN
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
(CERD – https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/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
(https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial).”
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.”
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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.
Background
The
Committee
on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination monitors States
Parties’ adherence to the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination, which, to date has
182
States Parties. The Committee is made up of 18
members who are independent human rights
experts drawn from around the world, who serve in their
personal capacity and not as representatives of States
Parties.
