South Africa’s immigration debate has become increasingly polarised. Depending on who you ask, foreigners are either filling gaps in the labour market or taking opportunities that should belong to South Africans. Some argue that employers favour migrant workers because they are willing to work for lower wages. Others believe they simply do the work that many locals are unwilling to do. Governments are criticised for weak immigration enforcement, employers for exploiting vulnerable workers,...

I have not yet watched the Netflix series The Polygamist, but from the conversations surrounding the film, one thing appears clear: many viewers have identified Jonasi as the villain. He is described as a man who claims to love people while simultaneously using, deceiving, neglecting, or hurting them. A man whose actions contradict his words. But what if Jonasi is more than a character… What if Jonasi is a mirror? The temptation when we encounter a character like Jonasi is to distance...