South Africa is seeing a wave of anti-immigrant protests, with reporting pointing to underlying socio-economic conditions as a key driver. Outlets describe how high levels of poverty and inequality leave many communities facing intense economic pressure, which can translate into anger directed at perceived outsiders. The protests are framed as a response to local hardships rather than an isolated dispute, reflecting longer-term grievances around jobs, access to services, and uneven economic opportunities. The coverage also highlights that tensions are shaped by how immigrant communities are viewed within different neighbourhoods, where competition for employment and resources is often perceived as rising. While the reporting focuses on the “roots” of the protests, it does not present a single triggering event; instead, it links the unrest to structural factors that have accumulated over time. Overall, the articles situate the anti-immigrant demonstrations within broader challenges confronting South Africa, particularly poverty and inequality, and suggest these conditions help explain why unrest spreads and intensifies.