Knowledge, the media and anti-immigrant hate crime in South Africa: Where are the connections?

Abstract

Not much has been known about the sources of information used by ordinary people when seeking information on foreign nationals residing in their country. This chapter reports on the results of a study aimed at establishing which information sources individuals trust most. Data from the South African Social Attitudes Survey was used for this study. The study results indicate that mass media are most frequently cited as the trusted source of information on foreign nationals. An important finding is that the more knowledgeable an individual is about international migration, the more pro-immigrant their views are. New insights are offered on how a progressive education and awareness campaign can be designed to combat xenophobia.