This document summarizes a research paper that analyzed media coverage of xenophobia research findings in South Africa between 2008-2013. The paper found that xenophobia research received little coverage and was often used reactively by media instead of being the focus. When covered, research findings sometimes reinforced negative views of foreigners and tensions existed between empirical research and popular perceptions. Overall, the document examines how media coverage impacted the exacerbation of xenophobia in South Africa.

1. [Re]-presenting knowledge: Critical reflections
on the coverage of xenophobia research in the
South African media, 2008 to 2013
African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS), School of Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. Box 76, Wits 2050, South Africa
T: +27 11 717 4033 | F: +27 11 717 4040 | info@migration.org.za | www.migration.org.za
Mr Kuda P. Vanyoro
MA Candidate and Research Assistant
African Centre for Migration & Society
28 June 2016

2. Overview
• Introduction
• Theoretical framework
• Methodology
• Research findings
• Conclusions
[Re]-presenting knowledge: exploring the coverage of xenophobia research findings in the M&G and Sowetan[2]

3. Introduction
• Recurring xenophobic attacks on perceived foreign
immigrants challenge SA’s envisaged ‘rainbow’ nation
discourse
• the coverage of xenophobia research findings from
research institutions (a representation of a re-
presentation) , has received very little amount of attention
in the academic world of media studies
• I argue that these representations often reinforce existing
viewpoints, paradigms and discourses that portray foreign
migrants negatively (implicit-complicity)
[Re]-presenting knowledge: exploring the coverage of xenophobia research findings in the M&G and Sowetan[3]

4. Theoretical framework
• Bourdieu’s (1999, 11) concept of symbolic
violence.
• Foucault’s concept of discourse, knowledge,
power
• Other concepts like Crisis (Boin, Lindley) and
representation (Hall)
[Re]-presenting knowledge: exploring the coverage of xenophobia research findings in the M&G and Sowetan[4]

5. Methodology
• Mixed methods approach with a huge inclination
towards the qualitative approach
• Foucauldian discourse analysis
• Basic statistical analysis to deduce trends
• Data collected using using an online archive
called SA Media (2008-2013)
[Re]-presenting knowledge: exploring the coverage of xenophobia research findings in the M&G and Sowetan[5]

6. Research findings
[Re]-presenting knowledge: exploring the coverage of xenophobia research findings in the M&G and Sowetan[6]
• A case of ‘reactive’ reporting
• Reporting ‘using’ findings (not exclusively ‘on’
findings)
• Tension between ‘empirical knowledge’ and
‘popular perceptions’

7. Research findings
[Re]-presenting knowledge: exploring the coverage of xenophobia research findings in the M&G and Sowetan[7]
Total M&G coverage of migration and xenophobia issues from 2008 to 2013

8. Research findings
[Re]-presenting knowledge: exploring the coverage of xenophobia research findings in the M&G and Sowetan[8]
Total Sowetan coverage of migration and xenophobia issues from 2008 to 2013

9. Research findings
[Re]-presenting knowledge: exploring the coverage of xenophobia research findings in the M&G and Sowetan[9]
“These attacks will have serious implications for South African
business in other countries. Standard Bank’s personnel has
been threatened in Mozambique,” he told the Mail &
Guardian. “Doing business on the continent is going to be
harder.” Macozoma cited an Institute for Security Studies
assessment of the situation, which states: “What we have
seen is what some have termed a perfect storm- the coming
together of pent- up frustrations over poor service delivery,
lack of leadership and the legacy of apartheid”. “If you add
into that witch’s brew the culture of violence and general
criminality, you have a potent cocktail of explosive material,”
said Macozoma. (Mail & Guardian 05-06-2008, 2).

10. Research findings
[Re]-presenting knowledge: exploring the coverage of xenophobia research findings in the M&G and Sowetan[10]
Xenophobia may have been the spark that set Ajax alight this
week, but joblessness, crime, a lack of service delivery and
soaring prices provided the kindling. Loren Landau of the
Forced Migration Studies programme at the University of the
Witwatersrand points out that “in some instances, leaders
have blamed foreigners to deflect criticism around the lack of
jobs and service delivery”. Lashing out at foreigners is rather
like domestic violence, he says: “A man who loses his job may
go home and beat his wife. He’ll feel better for five minutes,
but in the morning his wife is bruised and he still doesn’t have
a job.”(Mail & Guardian 22-05-2008, 4).

11. Research findings
[Re]-presenting knowledge: exploring the coverage of xenophobia research findings in the M&G and Sowetan[11]
This week the International Organisation for Migration
launched a report on the violence and responses to it.
With research conducted by the Forced Migration Studies
Programme at Wits, it argues that the violence is rooted
in the antisocial politics of life in our townships and
informal settlements. Based on almost 300 interviews
across the country, it shows that local leaders mobilized
the violence to claim and consolidate power and further
their economic and political interests. There was no third
force. (Mail & Guardian 26-03-2009, 23).

12. Research findings
[Re]-presenting knowledge: exploring the coverage of xenophobia research findings in the M&G and Sowetan[12]
ANC MP Rose Sonto, also the head of the South African
National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in the Western Cape,
this week repeated unsubstantiated allegations that
foreigners are buying government subsidized houses and
forcing South Africans to live in shacks. […]. Following the
allegations, the provincial minister of housing, Richard
Dyanti, went on a fact-finding mission to Du Noon. Dyanti
and 32 officials conducted a door-to-door investigation of
500 houses in the township, and discovered that only one
was owned by a foreigner. (Mail & Guardian 12-06-2008,
10)

13. Research findings
[Re]-presenting knowledge: exploring the coverage of xenophobia research findings in the M&G and Sowetan[13]
Research conducted by the Human Sciences
Research Council (HSRC) and the Institute for
Security Studies in 1996 and 1997 showed that
South Africans were becoming more xenophobic in
their attitudes towards migrants generally and
illegal immigrants in particular. The survey showed
that almost two-thirds of respondents (65 percent)
believed that illegal immigration was “bad” or “very
bad” for the country. (Sowetan 04-09-2008, 13).

14. Conclusions
[Re]-presenting knowledge: exploring the coverage of xenophobia research findings in the M&G and Sowetan[14]
Xenophobia research is largely marginalized in
the South African popular press, particularly in
the Mail & Guardian and Sowetan. The press as
actors are undoubtedly implicated in the
exacerbation of xenophobia in South Africa
through what can be termed marginalisation by
both inclusion and exclusion

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