In the follow-up to the “Panel on Xenophobia organised in Johannesburg”, which took place at the Soweto Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa, in October 2022, experts met again to discuss the further development of the issue. A panel discussion with the goal to unpack the current narratives and hate speech in South Africa and its impact brought together experts who had been tracking these narratives online and through the media to gain deeper insight into the discourses fuelling xenophobia in South Africa.

The latest event in the series within the policy dialogue “Gateways for Peace” – organised by C&M, as a member of the Consortium led by Frankfurt School of Finance & Management – took place at the Javett Art Centre at The University of Pretoria at the end of April 2023. This engaging discussion brought together representatives of government, the diplomatic community, researchers and scholars with the expected outcome to increase awareness of the messaging and spread of xenophobia. In addition, the speakers discussed also how to begin to counter harmful narratives and how to create counter narratives in the spirit of Ubuntu and Pan-Africanism.

C&M hired the auditorium and equipment, ensured registration, catering, and video recording, as well as hired a photographer and hostesses/stewards for the event.