6.5.2026
South Africa hit back Wednesday against charges of xenophobia after protests against undocumented migrants and said African nations should address issues like instability and bad governance causing their people to leave.
A series of anti-migrant protests in recent weeks across Africa’s most industrialised country, along with claims of attacks against foreigners, have prompted Nigeria and Ghana to voice concern.
“South Africans are not xenophobic,” presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya told reporters. “What you have is pockets of protest, which is permissible within our constitutional framework.”
He said there should be a “willingness to constructively engage on what these issues and factors are behind people seeking to leave their countries of birth and seeking refuge elsewhere.”
Magwenya added that President Cyril Ramphosa is calling for a frank and open conversation about the drivers of migration across Africa, including conflict, instability and “misgovernance that causes people to migrate in large numbers.”
In talks on Tuesday, Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo and President Ramaphosa had agreed “the continent needs to work together to address the issues that are behind these levels of migration”, the spokesman said.
In fresh demonstrations on Wednesday, hundreds of people marched in the eastern city of Durban and other centres to demand that the government take action against undocumented migrants operating businesses such as small shops.
Demonstrations in previous months have also sought to deny undocumented foreigners access to South African clinics and hospitals. Agency reports
South African disease...women feel the brunt of xenophobia.