The South African government has disputed the narrative that the country is inherently hostile to foreign nationals, maintaining that the nation remains a welcoming host to diverse populations from across the globe despite ongoing domestic migration challenges.
According to the South African Government News Agency, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, pushed back against claims of systemic xenophobia during an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration briefing broadcast by the South African Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday.
“South Africa has historically welcomed and continues to host people from diverse countries across the globe,” Kubayi stated, defending the country’s international image.
While defending the nation’s reputational standing, Kubayi, who chairs the IMC, issued a warning to citizens against launching targeted operations or street violence against foreign nationals.
In a video from the briefing published by local media outlet MDNtv on Sunday, Kubayi also urged local communities to ignore social media rumours and partner with law enforcement agencies rather than resorting to mob justice.
“We call on all South Africans to reject the act of vigilantism, dismiss the noise of misinformation, and partner with government as we restore stability to our neighbourhoods,” Kubayi urged.
“Not everybody who comes from outside South Africa is illegal in our country.”
“So the brand does get affected, and that’s why part of what we are doing is to explain that South Africans are not xenophobic.
”We are calling for vigilantism to be rejected by communities, for attacks on foreign nationals, because they do, to a certain extent, extend to others who are not even foreign nationals in terms of language and how they look. It can hurt our social cohesion. It can divide us further in terms of our cultural diversity and inclusion,” she added in a separate video published by SABC.
She reportedly reminded the public that while citizens have an undisputed constitutional right to demonstrate, the state will not tolerate lawlessness, saying, “As a government, we are fully aware of the impact of this challenge on our economic resources and the general strain this causes on the provision of social and economic services. All those who are protesting on our streets are within their constitutional right to do so.
“We must, however, remind ourselves that constitutional rights are accompanied by obligations and responsibilities. One of these is peaceful protest and avoidance of violence and lawlessness in exercising these rights. Whatever march or protest is planned or undertaken should be within the confines of the law.”
She also issued a warning to corporate bodies and local employers who systematically bypass statutory frameworks to employ undocumented workers.
“The South African government will not tolerate the circumvention of our immigration system and laws. We also call upon employers to refrain from transgressing immigration and labour laws,” she said.
reports that the South African Government has begun to lament the impacts of xenophobic claims by some individuals, leading to income losses for businesses owned by its citizens abroad, as Kubayi disclosed that event organisers are systematically cancelling shows booked for South African artistes.