Defying empirical and causal evidence: Busting the media's myth of afrophobia in South Africa

Abstract

'Afrophobia', as an explanation for attacks on African outsiders in an African country, is a term that has become increasingly utilised in the South African press. This chapter questions the Afrophobia hypothesis, which rests on the idea that attacks on 'foreigners' in South Africa are a form of black self-hate. Empirical research conducted on South African attitudes to 'foreigners' following violent attacks on immigrants and others seriously undermine the Afrophobia hypothesis. The author finds that 'xenophobia' provides a much stronger conceptual framework around which to explain violence directed at perceived or actual outsiders. Bias within the media itself, as well as a lack of critical reporting and the underreporting of smaller-scale incidents, means the media has a propensity to uncritically adopt explanations such as Afrophobia.