The South African government often equates reports of xenophobia to criminal acts such as murder, destruction of property and looting. South Africa is a State party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and has a duty to protect the lives of people within its borders, including foreign nationals. Ms Bonolo Makgale from the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, participated in a panel discussion on xenophobia at the NGO Forum of the 65th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, the Gambia. The panel aimed to provide an opportunity for better understanding the status of affairs, including the past and present situation of African migrants in South Africa and steps taken by various stakeholders to end the scourge. Ms Makgale provided a critical analysis of the National Action Plan (NAP) to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.