By Seth Naicker
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
— Romans 12:21 (NIV)
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
— Martin Niemöller.
These haunting words remain a warning for every generation. They remind us that indifference in the face of injustice comes at a great cost. When we remain silent while others are dehumanised, excluded or targeted, we slowly erode the dignity and freedom of us all.
In his book No Future Without Forgiveness, Archbishop Desmond Tutu reflects on one of history’s painful ironies. While South Africans were celebrating our first democratic elections in April 1994 and the birth of our democracy, a genocide was unfolding in Rwanda. In just one hundred days, more than 800,000 people—predominantly Tutsis, together with moderate Hutus—were brutally murdered.
Genocide does not begin with weapons. It begins with words. It begins with fear, misinformation, stereotypes and the deliberate dehumanisation of people. Before violence erupts in the streets, it has already taken root in our conversations, social media, public discourse and our hearts.
Today, South Africa stands at another important moment. We are witnessing growing expressions of vigilantism, xenophobia and Afrophobia. We hear sweeping accusations about migrants and refugees. We see communities becoming divided through fear rather than united by truth.
Let’s check ourselves before we wreck ourselves.
This is not about ignoring the very real challenges facing South Africa. We face unemployment, crime, corruption, poor service delivery, weak border management and economic hardship. These concerns are real and deserve urgent attention. We need accountable leadership, an effective and lawful immigration system, secure borders, safer communities and an economy that creates opportunities for all.
But when our frustrations are redirected towards vulnerable people through myths, misinformation and fear, we solve nothing. We simply create new victims while leaving the real problems untouched.
The facts tell a different story.
Research by the World Bank, the OECD and the International Labour Organization shows that immigration has no overall negative impact on employment for South Africans. Migrants often complement local workers, establish businesses and contribute to economic growth.
There is no credible evidence that immigrants commit crime at higher rates than South Africans. Crime must be addressed wherever it occurs, but justice requires that individuals—not entire communities—be held accountable.
The Department of Basic Education reports that foreign national learners make up only about 1.8% of learners in South African public schools. Overcrowding in education is primarily the result of infrastructure and funding challenges, not immigration.
Immigrants make up approximately 4.1% of South Africa’s population. They are not “taking over” the country.
South Africa’s asylum system has experienced severe administrative backlogs for years, leaving many asylum seekers waiting for decisions through no fault of their own. These systemic failures require reform, but they should never become an excuse for prejudice, vigilantism or violence.
As followers of Christ, we follow the One who identified with the stranger, welcomed the outsider and called us to love our neighbour. Jesus Christ Himself knew what it meant to be displaced. As a child, He became a refugee when Joseph and Mary fled with Him to Egypt in Africa to escape the violence of Herod. There, Jesus Christ was welcomed and cared for in a land that was not His birthplace, among people whose culture, ethnicity and location were different from His own.
Jesus Christ modelled for us a life of compassion, justice, hospitality and courageous love. He consistently stood with those who were marginalised, excluded and oppressed, reminding us that every person bears the image of God and possesses inherent dignity and worth.
As South Africans, we are also called by our Constitution and by our shared humanity to uphold the dignity, equality and rights of every person. We are called to live out the values of Ubuntu—”I am because we are.” Ubuntu reminds us that our humanity is bound together; another person’s dignity does not diminish our own. Justice, compassion and solidarity are essential for the flourishing of all.
Fear divides.
Facts build solidarity.
Justice strengthens democracy.
Compassion builds communities.
Truth creates the possibility for peace.
Martin Niemöller’s warning challenges us not to wait until injustice reaches our own doorstep before we find our voice. Archbishop Tutu reminds us that there can be no future without truth, justice and reconciliation. The Gospel calls us not to remain silent but to become peacemakers, bridge-builders and truth-tellers.
May we reject vigilantism, xenophobia and Afrophobia. May we choose truth over rumours, facts over fear, dialogue over division and justice over hatred.
Let us protect the stranger, stand with the vulnerable, and build the South Africa envisioned by our Constitution and inspired by the Gospel—a nation where every person’s dignity is respected, every community is valued and hope is stronger than fear.
For if we fail to speak when others are dehumanised, we should not be surprised when hatred eventually reaches our own doorstep. South Africa’s future will not be secured by fear, violence or scapegoating. It will be secured by truth, justice, accountability, compassion and Ubuntu.
Let’s check ourselves before we wreck ourselves.
Choose facts over fear.
Fear divides.
Facts build solidarity.
sethnaicker@gmail.com