The University of Pretoria’s Student Representative Council (SRC) has condemned xenophobia and afrophobia, issuing a public statement calling for unity and rejecting discrimination against foreign nationals.
Released on 20 June, the statement affirmed that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it” and positioned the SRC in support of international students and immigrant communities within the university. It further urged students to stand together against poverty, inequality, and unemployment, framing xenophobia as part of broader social and economic pressures affecting the country.
The statement comes at a time of heightened national debate around immigration and undocumented foreign nationals, with planned protests taking place in parts of the country that are calling for stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
However, within the UP context, discussions around the issue remain limited. International students that were approached for comment declined to speak publicly, with some citing concerns about safety, timing, and the sensitivity of the national climate leading up to the planned 30 June demonstrations. Others said they were unwilling to be associated with the debate at this stage, pointing to uncertainty around how public commentary could be received during a politically charged period. While the SRC has made its position on the matter clear, direct public engagement from affected student groups on campus has been minimal.
The SRC has not announced any follow-up engagements or campus discussions on xenophobia and afrophobia following the statement.
The SRC statement aligns with constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination, and it reflects ongoing efforts by student leadership to reinforce inclusivity within a diverse university. At the same time, the refusal of responses by the affected students highlights the difficulty of open engagement on migration-related issues, particularly when national tensions extend into campus spaces.
