Support for immigrant welfare inclusion in South Africa: socio-political drivers of policy preferences

Abstract

The South African welfare system is one of the largest and most progressive in Africa. But fierce societal tensions have emerged over whether immigrants should be included in this system. The study examined public preferences for immigrant welfare inclusion in South Africa, a unique socio-political landscape that provides an insightful case study. Three different drivers of policy preferences are explored: (i) left-wing economic orientations, (ii) social trust and (iii) anti-immigrant stereotypes. Nationally representative data from the 2020 South African Social Attitudes Survey (N = 3,133) was used. Anti-immigrant stereotypes emerged as the strongest predictor of policy preferences, demonstrating the powerful role of zero-sum narratives in shaping public opinion. Left-wing economic orientations – often associated with support for inclusive progressivism in European contexts – was a predictor of exclusionary attitudes. The paper concluded with implications for future research as well as policy recommendations, advocating for targeted interventions to address stereotypes and promote social trust.