South Africa’s Anti-Migrant Campaigns: What’s Really Driving Them?

Overview

South Africa is reportedly experiencing a sharp rise in anti-migrant sentiment. Campaigns have urged undocumented foreigners to leave the country by 30 June, while multiple groups have amplified similar messages online.

The video acknowledges that some South Africans genuinely worry about border management and access to public services. However, Daily Maverick journalist Rebecca Davis argues that at least one of the most successful online campaigns is driven by motivations supporters may not fully understand.

The Viral Campaign: SACR

A central focus is a viral campaign by South Africans for Constitutional Reform (SACR), which evolved through several stages:

• Began as a Change.org petition that collected 30,000 signatures
• Expanded into a lengthy submission to Parliament
• Launched a crowdfunding drive in May to fund a legal challenge
  • Raised about half a million rand in two weeks

Davis reports multiple similar crowdfunding efforts on BackaBuddY in early June, but SACR’s fundraising results were far larger.

Public Face and Stated Objectives

The campaign’s founder and public face is identified in the video as Princy (T) Mimbi/Immi (spelling appears inconsistently in the subtitles).

The video reports that SACR’s stated aims include:

• Changing the constitution’s preamble to emphasize rights of citizens over everyone who lives in South Africa
• Limiting foreigners’ access to free healthcare, education, and social grants
• Ensuring mineral resources benefit South Africans

Apparent Inconsistency Raised by the Video

Davis highlights an apparent mismatch between the campaign’s immigration-related messaging and Mumbi’s online rise.

In a June interview with YouTuber Penwell Lotua, Mumbi was asked about her rise online through nuclear advocacy. Instead of discussing immigration or strained services, she focused on constitutional review to amend the energy section, arguing it relates to why certain court outcomes had gone against a nuclear-related process.

Davis then connects this to Mumbi’s background:

• She has worked at Nexa (South Africa’s state nuclear corporation) for nearly two decades as a stakeholder relations officer
• She has long promoted the idea that South Africa should proceed with a Russian nuclear deal

Claim: Constitutional Strategy to Reduce Legal/NGO Influence

The video argues that the Russian nuclear deal was blocked after environmental activists/NGOs took legal action and won.

In that framing, SACR’s constitutional push may be designed to reduce courts/NGOs’ ability to challenge government decisions. The video compares this to the way Russia is allegedly able to handle judicial/NGO influence through government-aligned oversight.

The implication presented is that rewriting the constitution could weaken checks and enable procurement decisions—such as the Russia-linked nuclear arrangement.

Alleged Connections to Rosatom and Reporting Disclosures

Davis reports that Mumbi’s nuclear activism involves close engagement with Rosatom (Russia’s state nuclear company), including:

• Repeated trips to Russia (sometimes multiple times per year)
• Appearances in Rosatom communications

When Davis asked Nexa whether Mumbi disclosed these activities, Nexa reportedly responded that:

• She had disclosed some nuclear-related involvement
• She had not disclosed a specific Rosatom-sponsored trip in 2024
• Nexa had no knowledge of her current involvement in SACR

Video Conclusion: Anti-Immigrant Anger as a “Container”

The video concludes that SACR may be “riding” public momentum from anti-immigrant anger as a broader political “container”—to fund and legitimize a political project.

It suggests the project could:

• Increase South Africa’s dependence on Russia for electricity
• Weaken mechanisms that currently allow legal challenges to government decisions

Davis warns that donors may believe their money addresses immigration tensions, while it may also support efforts aligned with interests the public does not fully understand.

Presenters/Contributors

• Rebecca Davis (senior journalist, Daily Maverick)
• Princy (T) Mumbi/Immi (founder/public face of South Africans for Constitutional Reform)
• Penwell Lotua (YouTuber who interviewed Mumbi)
• Vladimir Putin (mentioned in context of a reported invitation)
• Rosatom (Russian state-owned nuclear company; mentioned as a communications/travel host)
• Nexa (South African State Nuclear Corporation; referenced via confirmation/response)
• South Africans for Constitutional Reform (SACR) (organization discussed)