What is the xenophobic sentiment that underlies the recent violent attacks on foreign shop-owners throughout eThekwini, resulting in several deaths and the displacement of thousands? Steven Gordon, Benjamin Roberts and Jarè Struwig reflect on attitudes towards foreign nationals over the last decade, with a particular focus on KwaZulu-Natal, relative to other provinces. These incidents by no means represent the first instance that anti-immigrant violence has occurred in KwaZulu-Natal, and have provoked national reflection on, and concern about, the character of our society.