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This paper aims to explore perspective of South Africans on the effects of philoxenia on social cohesion between South Africans and African immigrants. The researchers employed exploratory research design, qualitative research methods and document analysis as well as in-depth interviews to solicit data. The work employed Philoxenia as a conceptual framework as well as positive and negative contact theories as tools of analysis. The findings indicate that South African perspectives on philoxenia is that, there exists “an ethic of hospitality toward foreign nationals”. This underscores the multifaceted nature of social cohesion within multicultural urban settings. While a number of South Africans in metropolitan areas, exhibit inclusive attitudes that facilitate positive intercultural relations, such experiences are not homogenous. They are not rooted in sustained emotional connection and fall short of fostering genuine. Compounding this challenge, the paper reveals that, manifestations of xenophobia, Afrophobia, and colour-blind xenophobia persist, often undermine the socio-cultural integration of African immigrants. The researchers recommend that, there is a need for a multi-level, collaborative approach to promoting a more deeply rooted form of philoxenia to address both the symbolic and material dimensions of social cohesion. Therefore, there are positive implications for African unity inspired by Philoxenia, while xenophobia, Afrophobia, and colour-blind xenophobia have negative spinoffs.

Based on three cases drawn from the consultation with Zimbabwean migrants whose Business Exemption Permits were terminated by the South African Government without following due process, this paper disallows the economic reasons advanced for such a decision. To this effect, this paper argues that ZEP business permit holders cannot be said to be taking jobs away from nationals.  On the contrary, this paper argues that ZEP business permit holders, while contributing to economic growth, also employ South Africans, thereby reducing the unemployment rate. It is on this basis that this paper argues that the termination of the ZEP dispensation is a populist measure to fit the anti-migrant sentiment in the country. It is an electoral engineering mechanism fuelled by xenophobic sentiments to tap into the electoral base of some political parties and a device to demonstrate that the government is tackling the migration issue. If that was not the case, ZEP business permit holders’ waiver application should be readily granted. On this note, this paper recommends that ZEP business permit holders should be exempted from the requirements of a business visa application because they are non-negligible contributors to the economic growth of the country.