Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cape Town (Fides News Agency) – “Let our churches at all levels host and support honest dialogue that brings together local residents, foreign nationals and their organized formations, businesspeople and their organized formations, and the authorities.” With these words, Archbishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka of Cape Town, president of the South African Council of Churches (SACC), called for dialogue to address the wave of xenophobia that has been targeting foreign communities in South Africa for weeks (see Fides, 10/6/2026).
This violence and intimidation are not even sparing foreign-led churches active in the country, as denounced by the SACC, the ecumenical body that unites the main South African Christian denominations.
According to the Council, cases of verbal abuse, intimidating graffiti on church walls, and, in isolated instances, threats of physical violence against foreigners belonging to church communities receiving foreign donations have been reported. While not mentioning specific incidents, the SACC emphasizes that this behavior is reminiscent of past situations in which NGOs affiliated with foreign countries have suffered similar reactions. The body further reaffirms that all religious groups, regardless of their funding sources, are entitled to the same legal protections.
In his call for dialogue, Bishop Sipuka stresses that the debate must be based on listening to “the genuine grievances of communities, it must call wrongdoers of every nationality to account and it must also confront businesses that employ foreign nationals to pay them less and to evade fair wages and labour obligations.”
“The church believes that real grievances deserve to be heard, but that no grievance can justify violence, intimidation, vigilantism or the targeting of innocent people on the basis of their nationality,” the Archbishop added.
Archbishop Sipuka also encouraged sister councils of churches across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to engage in dialogue, “recognizing that migration is a regional challenge requiring regional solidarity, cooperation and understanding.”
African Diaspora Forum (ADF) spokesperson Bongani Mkwananzi, stated that “the ADF rejects xenophobic ultimatums and any attempt to target people simply because they are foreign nationals.” At the same time, he admitted that “we cannot ignore the growing public concern regarding the proliferation of certain so-called prophets, clandestine churches, and religious organizations that seem more interested in exploiting vulnerable people.” “Anyone, regardless of nationality, who exploits and deceives innocent people will be held accountable before the law,” Mkwananzi concluded. (LM) (Fides News Agency, 23/6/2026)
