- President Cyril Ramaphosa denies South Africa is xenophobic, attributing recent anti-migrant violence to opportunists exploiting grievances.
- He highlighted the strain of undocumented migration on services and called for legal measures to address it.
- Ramaphosa urged African nations to tackle the causes of migration, such as conflict and misgovernance, and to promote cooperation and reject xenophobia.
As criticism from other African countries intensifies, President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that South Africa is not xenophobic, insisting that recent attacks on foreign nationals do not reflect the views of the government or broader society.
Ramaphosa said incidents in which foreign nationals had been harassed or attacked, as well as violent protests seen in parts of the country, were the work of “opportunists”.
The president made the remarks in his weekly newsletter published on Monday, following a week in which several African foreign ministries issued alerts warning their citizens about alleged xenophobic violence in South Africa. Some governments also criticised Pretoria for what they described as a failure to act decisively.
Nigeria’s foreign minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, went further in a lengthy post on X last week, suggesting there had been “extra-judicial killings of our people” in South Africa. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola rejected the claim, saying there was no evidence to support allegations of “extra-judicial killings”.
READ | Nigerian foreign minister alleges ‘extra-judicial’ killings as crisis measures put in place
The concerns raised by foreign governments followed a series of anti-migrant protests in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban, led by the March to March organisation.
The latest March to March protest, championed by former radio personalities Ngizwe Mchunu and Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, took place in Durban on Wednesday.
“The recent violent protests and criminal acts directed at foreign nationals in parts of our country do not represent the views of South Africa’s people nor reflect our government’s policy,” Ramaphosa said.
He added:
These are the acts of opportunists who are exploiting the legitimate grievances, particularly those of the poor, under the false guise of ‘community activism’.
“Some of these people are assuming functions that only state officials are permitted to perform, including stopping people to check identification and conducting searches of private property. Such lawlessness will not be tolerated, regardless of who the perpetrators or victims are.”
However, the president said South Africa also needed to “deal decisively”, within the confines of the law, with illegal immigration, which he said was contributing to instability and placing a strain on the state.
“Undocumented migration places strain on healthcare, housing and municipal services, particularly in poor communities,” he said.
“It distorts the labour market. In a country with high unemployment, some employers are exploiting undocumented, cheaper foreign labour over hiring citizens and paying them legal wages. Not only is this fuelling social tension, it is actively undermining our labour protection regime and eroding the hard-won rights of workers.”
READ | ‘SA not xenophobic’: Magwenya urges African states to confront reasons why people leave
The president’s comments come about a week after his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, denied claims that South Africa is xenophobic.
Briefing the media in Cape Town on Wednesday about Ramaphosa’s upcoming programmes, Magwenya said the country should avoid falling into what he described as a trap of “blanket descriptions” that label South Africa as xenophobic.
“It is not, and you will know that,” he said.
“The other fact is we don’t have wholesale killing of foreign nationals.”
Magwenya also urged African leaders to engage in a frank and honest discussion about why people leave their countries of origin to migrate elsewhere.
“The continent needs to work together to address the issues that are behind these levels of migration that we see across our continent, issues of conflict, issues of instability, and, in some areas, if you’re being honest, the misgovernance that causes people to migrate in large numbers and seek refuge in different parts of the continent, including South Africa,” he said.
Ramaphosa warned against attempts to damage South Africa’s international reputation and undermine its solidarity with the rest of the continent.
“Since 1994, we have actively advanced a culture of human rights, all the while deepening the cause of African integration, cooperation and solidarity. We have a strong refugee protection framework that prioritises integration of persons displaced by conflict, war and persecution,” he said.
READ | Carol Paton: Xenophobia is real. Ramaphosa must speak to citizens
“Refugees are not confined to camps, as happens in some other countries. In South Africa, they are able to live in communities, participate in the economy and access services like healthcare and education.”
The president also called for greater cooperation among countries in Africa and beyond to address illegal immigration.
“South Africa is not unique in confronting the pressures associated with undocumented migration. Many countries across the world, including in Africa, are themselves grappling with similar tensions. This calls for cooperation and understanding between countries on the continent and further afield,” he said.
“Like every other country in the world, we will continue asserting our sovereign right to regulate migration, secure our borders and enforce our laws. We must make it clear that there is no place in South Africa for xenophobia, ethnic mobilisation, intolerance or violence.
“Everyone in South Africa is bound by the same laws, and we are committed to ensuring that they are respected and upheld by citizens and foreign nationals alike.”
