South Africa's government has firmly rejected accusations of a resurgence in xenophobic violence, condemning the spread of what it describes as "fake videos and images" depicting attacks on foreign nationals, even as the controversy strains diplomatic relations with several African countries.

The dispute centres on video clips circulated online over the past fortnight, which appear to show vigilante groups confronting people they suspected of living in South Africa without documentation. In one widely shared clip, a man alleged to be Ghanaian is questioned about his immigration status and told to "go and fix your country." South African authorities have declined to verify the footage but insist it is being deliberately misrepresented to damage the country's reputation. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the material was "intended to undermine the good reputation of South Africa internationally," while presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya dismissed the xenophobia label as a "lazy" analysis that risked unfairly maligning the country.

The backlash across the continent has been significant. Ghana formally wrote to the African Union requesting urgent discussions, warning that the situation poses a "serious risk to the safety and wellbeing" of Africans in South Africa and calling for a fact-finding mission. Nigeria announced emergency repatriation flights for its citizens and accused Pretoria of not doing enough to curb anti-immigrant threats. Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe have each issued advisories urging their nationals in South Africa to exercise caution. South Africa responded to Ghana's letter by saying it "had nothing to hide" and echoed President Cyril Ramaphosa's assertion that South Africa remains "a welcoming country."

The controversy has unfolded against a backdrop of large anti-immigration protests in major South African cities, including Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, where thousands have marched in recent weeks demanding the deportation of undocumented migrants. Protesters cite concerns over jobs, housing, and crime. Officials acknowledge that South Africans have a constitutional right to protest but stress that the demonstrations have been largely peaceful, with no official reports of looting or organised violence against migrants. Incidents where foreigners have been harmed, the government argues, reflect general criminality rather than coordinated xenophobic attacks.

Why this matters: South Africa, the continent's most industrialised economy, has a long and troubled history with xenophobic violence — deadly outbreaks occurred in 2008 and 2019 — making the current tensions particularly sensitive. Pretoria's response has sought to reframe the debate by calling on African nations to address the instability, conflict, and poor governance that drive large-scale migration in the first place, a message President Ramaphosa also conveyed during talks with Mozambican President Daniel Chapo. With the African Union now under pressure to respond and several nations weighing repatriation measures, the dispute looks set to test the principles of African solidarity that underpin the continental body's founding vision.