Cyberspace Xenophobia in South Africa

Abstract

This chapter explores the cyberspace as a relatively new and growing arena of engagement between African migrants and their South African hosts. Focusing on the conflictual aspect of contact between both groups, the chapter argues that this space (comprising all social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) has been largely ignored in the literature and policy as much of the focus has been on private and public geographic spaces. This is even though the cyberspace is both a theatre of xenophobia and a platform for mobilizing for and against xenophobia in South Africa. To make its argument, the chapter explored and thematically analysed negative views of South Africans on African immigrants expressed on Twitter and Facebook. It finds that South Africans are increasingly popularizing the use of the hashtag# as a social mobilization tool for change as it is used for mobilizing for xenophobic action on the ground. Also, in many instances, cyberspace engagements over time tend to feed new engagements in the public space creating a cycle of mutually reinforcing relationship between the geographic and cyber spaces. The authors therefore conclude that social media is a veritable platform for expressing serious anti-African migrants prejudice that cuts across class, social status, gender and age.