South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appealed for calm as tensions linked to anti-immigrant protests continue to rise across the country. In a national television address on Sunday, Ramaphosa condemned violence, misinformation, and hate speech targeting foreign nationals and some South Africans.
The president warned citizens against being influenced by false information spreading on social media. He said anti-foreigner sentiments have increasingly been accompanied by tribal insults and attacks against fellow South Africans, describing such actions as unacceptable and dangerous for national unity.
Anti-immigrant groups in South Africa argue that undocumented foreign nationals are worsening unemployment and placing pressure on public services including healthcare and education. However, Ramaphosa rejected claims that illegal immigration is solely responsible for the country’s economic struggles.
According to the president, South Africa’s economic difficulties are tied to broader issues such as slow economic growth, low investment, limited industrial expansion, and unemployment. He stressed that job creation and infrastructure development remain the long-term solution to the crisis facing the country.
Ramaphosa also acknowledged weaknesses in South Africa’s migration management system and promised stronger action from government agencies. He said the Department of Home Affairs, police, and border authorities would intensify efforts to identify and deport undocumented immigrants living illegally in the country.
The growing tensions have already affected several African countries. Ghana has repatriated around 300 citizens due to security concerns, while Nigeria and Malawi have announced plans to bring back their nationals. Mozambique also reported that five of its citizens were killed in what it described as xenophobic attacks in Mossel Bay. South Africa has a long history of anti-migrant violence, including deadly attacks in 2008 that claimed more than 60 lives.
