A foreigner in Durban. (Photo: Rajesh Jantilal/AFP)
Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa warned South Africans on Youth Day not to blame migrants for the country’s problems. The plea comes after a spate of incidents of unrest and violence aimed at foreigners.
In recent weeks, large crowds of South Africans, often armed with sticks, whips and shields, have marched through the streets of numerous towns and cities where they have instructed foreigners without residence permits to leave the country by 30 June.
“There are some who blame the problems of the current government, unemployment, crime and poor service delivery, on foreigners. We recognize that there is a challenge with illegal immigration and we are taking decisive steps to overcome it. But our problems are our own problems and we have a responsibility to fix them ourselves,” Ramaphosa said in a speech on Youth Day.
Youth unemployment in South Africa stands at 42%, compared to the rate of 32% for the overall workforce, the president said.
“Overcoming these problems requires practical solutions – not making scapegoats of vulnerable people.”
Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his Youth Day speech in Nasrec, Johannesburg. (Photo: Jairus Mmutle/GCIS)
Ramaphosa also warned those who “make a lot of noise” and demand that undocumented migrants leave the country.
“It seems that there is an intention to destabilize the country. We are not going to allow it.”
Growing concern after businesses have been looted and foreigners specifically targeted has recently prompted citizens of Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to accept voluntary repatriation by their government.
It is estimated that there are more than three million foreigners in South Africa, or about 5.1% of the overall population.