29/05/2026
The Bench Marks Foundation (BMF) rejects xenophobia, hate speech, violence, and all attempts to scapegoat migrants and vulnerable communities for systemic social and economic failures. Grounded in the principles of social justice, human dignity, equality, and solidarity, BMF maintains that the root causes of poverty, unemployment, inequality, and exploitation lie in structural governance and economic failures not in the presence of foreign nationals.
BMF cautions against narratives perpetuated by sections of the mainstream media and public discourse that seek to divide poor and working-class communities while diverting attention from the real causes of socio-economic injustice. As an organisation committed to ethical accountability and community empowerment, BMF continues to advocate for peaceful coexistence, Pan-African solidarity, universal human rights, and collective accountability.
As BMF has consistently affirmed, “justice requires that we stand with those oppressed by poverty and exploitation and work to change the structures and policies that support their oppression.” Equally, “our empathy and solidarity cannot be conditional but universal,” particularly in the face of growing discrimination and violence against vulnerable communities.
Our work remains focused on advancing the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of all affected communities through constructive dialogue, social justice, and sustainable transformation.
This fact sheet was produced by Collective Voices for Health Access, a civil society consortium in South Africa. Document credits: Researcher - Rebecca Walker.
