Nearly five years after the devastating July 2021 unrest, South Africa continues to grapple with many of the same challenges that fuelled the violence: high unemployment, poverty, inequality, frustration with government services, and growing social tensions. As anti-immigration protests gain traction in some communities, many are asking whether the country has learned enough from the events of July 2021 to prevent future unrest.

We are in conversation with Thamsanqa Malinga who is a Political analyst and Author, Anele from Chiwelo and Ntate Sefudi from Randfontein as we examine the lessons South Africans should be taking from the July unrest, the dangers of scapegoating vulnerable groups, and what can be done to address legitimate community concerns without allowing tensions to escalate into violence.