Combating Xenophobia in South Africa

About this grant

This grant will provide support to the Khanya College Johannesburg Trust for a campaign to fight xenophobia in South Africa. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, the number of Africans coming into South Africa from the rest of the African continent has greatly increased. Because these immigrants are seen as representing a threat to black South Africans, the recent influx has given rise to a growing phenomenon of xenophobia. The goal of the campaign is to encourage tolerance and understanding among South Africans regarding the issues relating to immigrants from the continent.Funding will support research on the rights of immigrant communities in South Africa; campaign efforts to educate, train and raise public awareness of these rights among South Africans, particularly the law enforcement agencies; building networks and connections among immigrant and local communities to promote understanding and coexistence; convening workshops and conferences to discuss the challenges and the best responses to dealing with xenophobia; advocating for improvements in the social, economic and political conditions of immigrants; and disseminating research and educational material on the rights of immigrants and South Africa’s obligations in terms of international conventions and covenants dealing with immigrants. Khanya College Johannesburg Trust is an independent nonprofit that provides education, training and capacity building for poor and marginalized communities.