The Complexities of understanding Xenophobia at the University of KwaZulu-Natal

Drawing on the anthropological theory of social boundaries, this paper presents the concept of race as an outlet of xenophobia in a South African academic environment. Much of what has been written (either quantitatively or qualitatively) about the state of xenophobia in South Africa, is developed around a typology which reveals people of the black race as perpetuators of xenophobia. Using race as a possible xenophobic outlet, this paper, ‘de-essentialises’ the stereotypical nature through which various research agendas have construed the discourse of xenophobia in post-apartheid South Africa. It also interrogates the interpretations / misinterpretations of xenophobia, and finally unpacks the embedded nature of race and xenophobia. Through unstructured in-depth interviews conducted with thirty participants, the study suggests that racism incubates a kind of xenophobia that is subtle but is causing insidious harm to the state of collegiality and professionalism within the institution. Without undermining the effects of racism and xenophobia on the institution, one would argue that our understanding of xenophobic beliefs is often couched in inferential and biased stereotypes, contingent upon preconceived knowledge that people have about a place.