University of Pretoria Researchers Unveil Groundbreaking Insights into Postcolonial Legacies

In a timely new publication, scholars from the University of Pretoria have shed light on how transnational youth from countries like Zimbabwe and Nigeria navigate the complex interplay of postcolonial politics and collective memory in contemporary South Africa. Titled 'Negotiating the present, facing the past: postcolonial politics and transnational youth experiences in South Africa,' the paper by Sibusisiwe Mlambo and Bernard Matolino appears in the prestigious journal Ethnic and Racial Studies. Published online on February 25, 2026, it draws from fieldwork in Johannesburg to illustrate how young migrants confront lingering colonial and apartheid-era hierarchies while forging paths of belonging through faith and Pan-African ideals.

The study arrives amid ongoing debates in South African higher education about decolonization, where universities like the University of Pretoria play a pivotal role in interrogating these enduring issues. By focusing on lived experiences, the authors highlight how everyday sites—schools, clinics, and neighborhoods—perpetuate exclusion, echoing the 'unfinished business of decolonization.' This research not only enriches postcolonial studies but also underscores the contributions of South African academics to global conversations on migration and identity.

Meet the Authors: Sibusisiwe Mlambo and Bernard Matolino at the Forefront of Humanities Research

Sibusisiwe Mlambo and Bernard Matolino, both affiliated with the University of Pretoria's Faculty of Humanities, bring deep expertise in philosophy, migration, and African studies to their collaborative work. Mlambo, a research associate involved in projects like RASTAY (an initiative exploring African youth mobilities), specializes in the intersections of religion, spirituality, and transnational lives. Matolino, a professor of philosophy, has long engaged with precarity, Pan-Africanism, and postcolonial critiques.

The University of Pretoria, known for its robust postcolonialism modules and research focus areas in African literature and decolonial theory, provides fertile ground for such scholarship. Courses like Postcolonialism 723 examine colonial encounters from the 16th century onward, fostering critical thinkers who address South Africa's post-apartheid challenges. Their paper exemplifies how UP researchers contribute to national dialogues on identity, belonging, and social justice, positioning the institution as a leader in humanities-driven policy insights.

Core Arguments: Linking Past Traumas to Present-Day Exclusion

At its heart, the paper argues that intra-African migration to South Africa stems from unresolved postcolonial crises—failing education systems, healthcare shortages, and economic underdevelopment rooted in colonial extraction. Youth narratives reveal how these 'crises of mobility' propel families across borders, only to encounter reproduced racial hierarchies in Johannesburg's urban fabric.

Xenophobia emerges not as isolated prejudice but as a deviation from Pan-African unity and ubuntu (a Nguni philosophy emphasizing communal humanity). Political scapegoating during elections, reminiscent of apartheid's divide-and-rule tactics, marks migrants as 'criminal' or 'excessive.' Yet, the authors emphasize agency: religious practices transform trauma into hope, reframing exclusion through theological and continental solidarity lenses.

This negotiation of present realities against past memories challenges simplistic views of decolonization, showing how post-apartheid South Africa grapples with its own colonial inheritances.

Fieldwork in Johannesburg: Methodology and Participant Voices

Employing biographical interviews and ethnographic observation from June 2024 to February 2025, the study involved 35 participants aged 15–35, primarily Nigerian and Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg. Semi-structured sessions at churches like St. Francis of Assisi in Yeoville and the Pastoral Care Centre captured stories of perilous journeys, raids like Operation Dudula, and spiritual resilience. Thematic analysis via NVivo revealed patterns of criminalization and faith-based coping.

• Nathi (19, Zimbabwean): Left at 11 for better schooling, now undocumented.
• Pius: Over 20 years in SA, perpetual asylum seeker amid family losses.
• Dennis: Survived Soweto raid, invoking ubuntu in survival.

Ethical rigor, approved by UP's committee, ensured vulnerability was addressed, highlighting the human cost of migration data collection.

Photo by Antoinette Plessis on Unsplash

Postcolonial Crises Fueling Youth Migration Trends

South Africa's allure as a migration hub is underscored by statistics: 84% of international migrants hail from SADC countries, with Zimbabwe and Nigeria prominent. Postcolonial underdevelopment—exacerbated by neo-colonial dynamics—forces youth into 'hustling' across borders for education and health. The paper details how COVID-19 amplified family fragmentations, with remittances sustaining those left behind.

In 2025, intra-African migrants numbered around 20.9 million continent-wide, up 56% in recent years, reflecting shared struggles against extractive legacies. For South African universities, this underscores the need for curricula addressing these mobilities.

Xenophobia's Roots: From Apartheid Pass Laws to Modern Raids

Xenophobic violence, peaking in 2008 (62 killed, 600 injured), persists politically. Recent data shows 26 incidents and 14 deaths in early 2025, amid rhetoric blaming migrants for jobs and crime. Schools witness stabbings, clinics deny care, neighborhoods host raids—mirroring apartheid dompas (pass) systems.

The paper critiques securitization, where borders divide Africans, blocking economic contributions (migrants could add 30–40% to GDP if documented). This 'Black-on-Black xenophobia' betrays Pan-African dreams, demanding higher ed interventions via inclusive research.

Religion and Spirituality as Infrastructures of Hope

Amid exclusion, faith emerges as vital: rosaries protect journeys, churches offer shelter post-attacks, and communes restore ubuntu through aid. The study shows how Pan-African theology critiques extraction—e.g., calls for local gold refining—and fosters coexistence via language learning.

Part of a special issue on 'Roaming & Rooted,' it aligns with growing research on religion in African youth migration, positioning UP as a hub for interdisciplinary insights.

Implications for Post-Apartheid Memory and Decolonization

The paper reframes memory politics: youth 'face the past' by linking colonial borders to today's violence, urging a decolonial reckoning. In SA universities, echoing Rhodes Must Fall (2015), it fuels debates on epistemic justice.

Stakeholders—from policymakers to faith leaders—gain actionable insights: register migrants, promote ubuntu education, invest in Pan-African curricula. UP's ethical fieldwork models responsible scholarship amid 2025's academic xenophobia concerns.

Photo by Kyle-Philip Coulson on Unsplash

South African Universities' Role in Addressing Postcolonial Challenges

Institutions like UP, UCT, and Wits lead decolonization efforts, with research on memory activism and belonging. Mlambo and Matolino's work exemplifies how humanities tackle xenophobia, informing TRC legacies and #FeesMustFall continuations.

Recent collaborations, like UP-Konstanz exchanges on identity, bolster global networks. For aspiring researchers, higher ed jobs in philosophy and African studies abound.

Future Outlook: Toward Inclusive Pan-African Futures

Looking ahead, the paper envisions religion and youth agency driving decolonized policies—eased visas, ubuntu integration. Amid 2026 elections, universities must amplify these voices to curb xenophobia.

Optimistically, migrants' critiques signal hope: continental unity against neo-colonialism. Explore rate my professor for UP faculty, career advice in postcolonial studies, or university jobs via AcademicJobs.com. Engage in comments below—what's your take on memory politics in SA?