South Africa’s xenophobic unrest and high‑profile extradition hearing fuel political debate

Activist Kemi Seba, detained in South Africa with his son, addressed media ahead of an extradition hearing that could send him to Benin over a failed coup attempt on 7 December 2025. From prison, Seba criticised what he described as extreme violence against African detainees and linked his case to broader xenophobic tensions in the country. The hearing is scheduled for 14 July, the French national day, and follows a pending decision on whether to extradite him under a Beninese arrest warrant.

Former president Thabo Mbeki publicly rejected claims that African migrants are responsible for South Africa’s economic woes, arguing that recent xenophobic attacks stem from structural unemployment, inequality and social frustration rather than foreign presence. He called for a comprehensive analysis of the country’s challenges and urged protection of foreign‑born shopkeepers, whose businesses are vital to the informal economy.

Both statements come as South Africa prepares for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to Paris and continues to grapple with periodic spikes of anti‑immigrant violence that have previously resulted in deaths, displacement and economic disruption.