WCC news: WCC speaks out against systemic, structural injustices in the context of xenophobia in South Africa

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed grave concern about the developments of violence in South Africa targeting migrants from other African countries. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/WCC 14 July 2026 “The WCC recognizes that the violence experienced by African migrants in South Africa is instigated and perpetrated by a minority of South Africans, who are misdirecting their anger and frustration or are hijacking and misdirecting legitimate public frustrations by the majority of ordinary South Africans,” said Pillay. “The WCC refuses to erase the diverse people of South Africa by erasing their good deeds and radical hospitality toward siblings from across the continent.” Pillay acknowledged and lamented the fact that South Africa remains one of the most unequal societies in the world. “Yet the sources of this suffering are too often obscured,” he said. “Through intentional and rigorous processes of moral discernment, we in the WCC name the situation in South Africa as one of the continuing legacies of apartheid and colonization.” The central concern, Pillay said, is one of justice rather than merely compassion. "Sociologically and politically, xenophobia functions as misdirected anger,” he said. “Xenophobia performs an ideological function, redirecting legitimate frustrations from power structures toward vulnerable communities with limited protection.” Pillay calls on the government, member churches, ecumenical partners, and all people of goodwill to protect the rights and human dignity of all migrants in the country. He also urged people to “name xenophobia and Afrophobia as sins against God and crime against humanity” and to move beyond “charitable responses to active justice work.” Pillay concluded: “Churches must challenge narratives criminalizing migrants, expose structural factors behind migration and xenophobia, and stand publicly with targeted communities.” The statement was issued by Pillay in consultation with the WCC Reference Group on Overcoming Racism, Xenophobia, Casteism, and all other forms of Discrimination. Read the full statement See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland