Foreigners in the South African Media: A Critical Discourse Analysis

ABSTRACT

This article used a critical discourse approach to understand how linguistic practices in the South African media construct international immigrants of African origin. We created an 88 000-word corpus of online South African news articles on immigrants from 2008 to 2020, which we then uploaded onto a corpus analysis software, Sketch Engine. Through the software, we were able to generate patterns of language use in the construction of immigrant identity and subject position in the media. While most literature on South Africa has focused on the violence associated with xenophobia, this paper zeroes in on ‘the language of xenophobia’ to provide a good reflection of the sociological construction of ‘self’ and ‘other’ in the country. By examining the discursive practices of the media on foreign nationals, the paper maps out not only the circulation but also the reproduction of power, social relations and other sociologies behind the prejudices that inform xenophobia in all its various forms.

KEYWORDS:

• discourse analysis
• xenophobia
• media
• immigrants
• South Africa

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful for the constructive and detailed feedback from the anonymous reviewers. Also, a special thanks to Professor Jeremy Seekings, whose constructive critique and feedback added much value to this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sizo Nkala

Dr Sizo Nkala holds a PhD in political science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He also served as a lecturer at the same institution teaching various courses on global politics, African politics, international relations and ethics. He is currently a research fellow at the Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg. His research interests include China-Africa relations, African political economy, party politics and immigration.

Sikanyiso Masuku

Dr Sikanyiso Masuku graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies from the University of KwaZulu Natal. Sikanyiso Masuku has worked as a development and humanitarian practitioner for both regional and international Non-Governmental Organisations. Dr Masuku also teaches both undergraduate and post-graduate classes with a general interest in areas such as social development and welfare, poverty/inequality, social theory and development economics. A published author in international, peer reviewed journals and monographs, Dr. Masuku has particular research interests in social protection, the politics of belonging/citizenship, human mobility and migration.