South Africa

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has condemned attacks and violence against foreign nationals in the country, warning that migrants must not be turned into scapegoats for unemployment, crime and failures in public service delivery.

Ramaphosa spoke on Monday, July 27, 2026, while addressing the First Ordinary Session of the Seventh Parliament of the African Union, where he highlighted the growing migration challenges confronting countries across the continent.

The South African leader acknowledged that the country had witnessed outbreaks of anti-migrant sentiment, intimidation and violence against foreign nationals, incidents which had resulted in injuries and deaths.

“Today, many parts of our continent are confronted by the challenge of migration, in our own countries and out of our own continent to other continents,” Ramaphosa said.

“Here in South Africa, that has been the experience of the country. We have witnessed outbreaks of anti-migrant sentiment, and incidents of intimidation and violence directed at foreign nationals.

“Incidents that have been quite said in abundance that people have been injured and some people have died and lost their lives, which we as South Africans deeply regret and mourn.”

According to the President, migration had become a major issue across Africa, with countries dealing with both internal movements of people and cross-border migration.

He said anti-foreigner sentiment was partly fuelled by misinformation and prejudice, although some South Africans also had genuine concerns about the social and economic effects of illegal migration.

“This is fuelled in part by misinformation and prejudice, but it draws on genuine concerns among some South Africans about the social and economic burden that is brought upon them by illegal migration,” he said.

Ramaphosa said his administration remained firmly opposed to intimidation, vigilantism and violence against foreign nationals and would continue to enforce the law to protect everyone within South Africa’s borders.

“As a South African government, I want to make it clear, we have taken a firm stand against any form of intimidation, vigilantism or violence directed at people from other countries or other nations,” he said.

“We have taken a firm stand against hatred for people from other countries: Xenophobia or Afrophobia. We have taken a stand to strengthen and enforce our laws, to diffuse tensions and ensure that all persons within our borders respect the rights of all, and that the rights of people from outside South Africa are respected and upheld.”

The President also urged South Africans to distinguish between lawful migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and individuals who enter or remain in the country in violation of immigration laws.

He warned against using foreigners as convenient targets for wider social and economic problems facing the country.

“We must not conflict lawful migrants, refugees and asylum seekers with people who enter or remain in countries in violation of immigration laws, nor should migrants or people from outside the country be made scapegoats for unemployment, crime or shortcoming in the delivery of public services,” Ramaphosa said.