Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians calls for solidarity after xenophobic attacks in South Africa

Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians calls for solidarity after xenophobic attacks in South Africa

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Wed, 07/15/2026 - 20:16

The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians condemned the violence perpetrated against foreign nationals in South Africa. The circle also expressed deep concern for the profound mental, psychological, and physical suffering endured by those affected.

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Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth

“ Xenophobia in South Africa has reached deeply troubling levels, casting a shadow over a continent that continues to grapple with the enduring consequences of apartheid and

colonialism,” reads a statement from the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. “ At a time when African societies are working to heal historical wounds and reclaim their collective dignity, turning against one another only deepens existing fractures and delays the process of recovery.”

Acts of exclusion can resemble a form of collective self-rejection, notes the statement.

“ We call on the South African leadership, church leadership, civil society organisations, human rights advocates as custodians of…