South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly condemned the recent violent protests and attacks targeting foreign nationals, asserting that xenophobia and mob action have no place in the country. In a national statement released amid escalating anti-immigration tensions, Ramaphosa emphasized that the violent incidents in parts of South Africa do not represent the views of the government or the majority of South Africans.
"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 accused certain individuals of exploiting frustrations within poor communities under the guise of activism while carrying out unlawful actions against foreigners. According to him, some groups had illegally stopped people to demand identification documents and conduct searches, actions he described as unacceptable.
"Such lawlessness will not be tolerated, regardless of who the perpetrators or victims are," Ramaphosa stated. His comments come as tensions continue rising across parts of South Africa following anti-foreigner demonstrations in cities including Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban, where some protesters accused undocumented migrants of contributing to unemployment, crime, and pressure on public services.
Stance on Illegal Immigration
While condemning xenophobic violence, Ramaphosa also defended his government’s tougher stance on illegal immigration, saying undocumented migration poses challenges to social stability, governance, and national security. He stated that illegal immigration places additional pressure on healthcare, housing, and municipal services, particularly in poorer communities already struggling with limited resources.
The South African leader further claimed that some employers were exploiting undocumented migrants as cheap labor instead of hiring citizens and paying legal wages. "In a country with high unemployment, some employers are exploiting undocumented, cheaper foreign labor over hiring citizens," he said. Ramaphosa disclosed that South African authorities intercepted about 450,000 people attempting to enter the country illegally during the last financial year.
He added that the government was strengthening border security through the Border Management Authority and the Defence Force while also increasing workplace inspections against employers violating immigration and labor laws. According to him, plans are underway to recruit up to 10,000 labor inspectors to enforce compliance.
Commitment to African Unity
Despite defending stricter immigration enforcement, the president stressed that South Africa remains committed to African unity, regional cooperation, and refugee protection. He noted that refugees in South Africa are allowed to live freely within communities and access services such as education and healthcare. Ramaphosa also warned against actions capable of damaging South Africa’s international reputation or weakening relations with other African countries.
"There is no place in South Africa for xenophobia, ethnic mobilization, intolerance, or violence," he said. His statement comes amid increasing diplomatic tensions between South Africa and several African countries, including Nigeria, following renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.
