Choosing Compassion Over Scapegoating
As South Africans, we have always aspired to build a nation founded on dignity, equality and respect for every human being. The recent acts of xenophobic violence and the scapegoating of foreign nationals are deeply troubling and stand in direct opposition to these values.
As President of WIZO South Africa, I believe it is important that we speak clearly at moments like these.
WIZO exists to support women, children and families. We know that when hatred and violence take hold, it is the most vulnerable who suffer first. Whether they are refugees, migrants, citizens or asylum seekers, every person deserves to be treated with dignity and humanity.
Our Jewish tradition teaches us this lesson time and again. We are repeatedly reminded to care for the stranger, remembering that we, ourselves, experienced displacement, exile and persecution throughout history. This is not simply a historical memory it is a moral responsibility that continues to guide us today.
The pain and frustration that many South Africans feel about unemployment, poverty and inequality are real. These challenges deserve serious attention and meaningful solutions but blaming vulnerable communities does not solve them. Scapegoating distracts us from addressing the root causes of our country’s problems and risks fuelling fear, division and violence.
Recent reports have highlighted how misinformation, coordinated online campaigns, and false narratives have contributed to the current climate, while harassment and violence have affected not only migrants but also South Africans perceived to be “foreign.” This reminds us that hatred, once unleashed, rarely remains confined to its original target.
WIZO also draws strength from Israel’s story. The State of Israel is home to people from every corner of the world, Holocaust survivors, Jews from across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India and the former Soviet Union, and countless other communities who sought refuge and a chance to rebuild their lives. Israel’s diversity reminds us that people from different backgrounds can come together to build a shared future. While every country has the right to uphold and enforce its immigration laws, this must always be done through lawful, humane and democratic processes that respect the dignity of every individual, not through intimidation, vigilantism or hooliganism.
The values of South Africa and the values of the Jewish community call us to something better. They call us to reject hatred, to protect the vulnerable and to pursue justice with compassion.
At WIZO South Africa, we reaffirm our commitment to these principles. We condemn xenophobia and all forms of discrimination, and we encourage every member of our community to be a voice for empathy, truth and responsibility.
Let us choose dialogue over division, facts over fear, and humanity over hatred.
With love,
Shelley Trope-Friedman
President, WIZO South Africa