Ramaphosa says there is 'no room' for xenophobia in South Africa after attacks

President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa Said on Monday that “opportunists” had plotted anti-immigrant attacks on foreigners as he tried to reassure other African countries that have expressed concerns about their citizens.

“We must make it clear that there is no place for South Africa For xenophobia, ethnic mobilization, intolerance or violence,” Ramaphosa said in an open letter released by his office amid the growing controversy.

A series of anti-migrant protests across South Africa in recent weeks, as well as claims of attacks against foreigners, have prompted Nigeria and Ghana to express concern.

Nigeria last week said it would organize emergency repatriation flights for 130 of its citizens, summoned South Africa's envoy to Abuja and demanded an investigation into the deaths of two Nigerians in incidents with South African security personnel last month.

Ghana also summoned South Africa's ambassador Last month to protest over “acts of xenophobia”.

Not the views of the people of South Africa

Ramaphosa said, “The recent violent protests and criminal acts directed at foreign nationals in some parts of our country do not represent the views of the South African people nor reflect the policy of our government.”

“These are the acts of opportunists who are exploiting legitimate grievances, especially the grievances of the poor, under the false guise of 'community activism',” he wrote on the eve of the Africa Tour Indaba, which he is scheduled to inaugurate with a speech in Durban tomorrow.

Undocumented migration puts pressure on health care, housing, and municipal services, especially in poor communities.

Several hundred people took part in one of the latest demonstrations last week in Durban, demanding action against migrants who do not have valid papers.

Other demonstrations have demanded that foreign nationals be denied health care.

Political heat intensifies as campaigning intensifies in South Africa local elections in novemberand as The threat of impeachment looms again over Ramaphosa 2020 on Phala Phala robbery case.

Ramaphosa said South Africa must “deal decisively – and within the law – with the challenge of illegal immigration, which threatens our social stability, governance and national security”.

He accused some employers of “exploiting undocumented, cheap foreign labor rather than hiring citizens and paying them legal wages,” saying, “Uncontrolled migration puts pressure on health care, housing, and municipal services, especially in poor communities.”

integration policy

In his statement, Ramaphosa emphasized South Africa's “culture of human rights”, saying: “Refugees are not confined to camps, as is the case in some other countries. In South Africa, they can live in communities, participate in the economy and access services such as health care and education.”

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), South Africa is expected to host more than 167,000 refugees and asylum seekers in 2025, mainly from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

On the contrary, kenya It hosts 987,000 refugees and asylum seekers, most of whom have been living in camps for the past three decades. “The government is working to move away from a camp-based model toward more sustainable, inclusive solutions,” the UNHCR says on its website.

(with AFP)