'Abstract The abolition of Apartheid in 1994 marked a change in the status quo for all South Africans. Regime change and new opportunities, particularly for the previously oppressed working class, acted as a beacon of hope and heralded the emergence of a new era; a unified, all-ınclusive South Africa affectionately dubbed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu as the \' Rainbow nation \'. Economic hardships, unemployment and elevated cross-border migration aggravated by political turmoil in neighbouring countries created tension between foreigners and South African nationals in post-Apartheid South Africa. This was highlighted by the spate of xenophobic attacks on African migrants that took place in 2008 and their recurrence in 2015. The following thesis an explorative study on Xenophobia in South Africa, how it gripped the nation and how public opinion has formed around the issue. Of particular interest is the South African press and whether it has played a role in influencing public opinion around xenophobia and immigration related issues. A combination of content analysis and textual analysis was used to analyse various reports and selected newspapers, to the review the coverage of xenophobia in the South African media and its possible influence on public opinion. Key words: Xenophobia, public opinion, media, South Africa'