South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appealed to citizens not to hold foreign nationals responsible for the country’s economic and social difficulties amid rising anti-immigrant tensions and recent incidents of violence targeting migrants.
Speaking on Tuesday during Youth Day celebrations commemorating the 1976 Soweto uprising, Ramaphosa acknowledged concerns over illegal immigration but stressed that issues such as unemployment, crime, and poor public service delivery are challenges South Africa must address internally.
According to the president, some individuals have sought to attribute the country’s problems to foreign nationals. However, he maintained that while the government is taking firm action to tackle illegal immigration, the nation’s difficulties cannot be solved by blaming migrants.
South Africa, one of Africa’s largest economies, has for decades attracted workers and job seekers from across the continent, both through legal and undocumented channels. In recent weeks, however, anti-immigrant sentiment has intensified, with groups of South Africans staging marches in some communities and demanding that undocumented foreigners leave the country before June 30.
Ramaphosa noted that youth unemployment remains one of the country’s biggest concerns, revealing that the unemployment rate among young people stands at 42 per cent, significantly higher than the national unemployment rate of 32 per cent.
He said the government is implementing programmes aimed at creating employment opportunities and called on private-sector organisations to support young people by offering first-time jobs to those without prior work experience.
The president emphasised that addressing unemployment, crime, and other social challenges requires practical and sustainable solutions rather than targeting vulnerable groups.
Following the ceremony, Ramaphosa also warned individuals and groups promoting anti-migrant marches, suggesting that some actors may be attempting to create instability within the country.
He stated that the government would not allow any effort aimed at destabilising South Africa and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining law and order.
The recent unrest has heightened security concerns across several communities, leading some foreign nationals to voluntarily return to their home countries through repatriation programmes organised by their respective governments.
Citizens of Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique are among those who have reportedly accepted assistance to return home amid fears sparked by looting incidents and attacks targeting foreigners.
Ramaphosa Urges South Africans Not to Blame Migrants for Nation’s Challenges
