SA paradox: From xenophobia to buying blue-chip Safaricom, Absa and NCBA

Compared with other African countries, South Africa is more industrialised and wealthier, but unequal. Inequality is the crux of the matter

domenica 5 luglio 2026 New tab

1,052 words~5 min read

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Kenyans repatriated from South Africa arrive at JKIA on July 2, 2026. [David Gichuru, Standard]

Some Kenyans are coming home from South Africa (SA). They are feeling threatened by South Africans demonstrating against immigrants, mostly from other African countries.

That is perplexing: why not other immigrants? Let us dig deeper and find out what is really going on in SA and if there are any Kenyan linkages.

Last year, I spent three weeks in Zululand, specifically at Empangeni, about 160 kilometres north of Durban. The trip takes a short time, less than two hours.