President Ramaphosa says South Africa is not xenophobic

The South African Presidency has pushed back against claims that the country is xenophobic, after anti-migrant groups and several fringe political parties staged street protests in recent days calling for the deportation of undocumented nationals from other African countries.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Mozambican counterpart, President Daniel Chapo, had discussed migration during talks in South Africa on Tuesday. Both leaders, he added, agreed that South Africa is not xenophobic.

“The matter was discussed yesterday between President Chapo and President Ramaphosa. And they both agreed that number one, South Africa’s not xenophobic,” said Magwenya.

“What you have are pockets of protest, which is permissible within our constitutional framework. You also have the reality that the issue of immigration is a pressure point, not only here in South Africa but throughout the world, where protests are held on these issues.

“What is important from our perspective is obviously respecting the rights of everybody that is within our borders, and when we protest, to do so peacefully without causing harm to anybody.

“And in this regard, the president expects law enforcement to also play its role to prevent any acts of violence against any individual.”

Magwenya added that both President Chapo and President Ramaphosa agreed on the need for a continental effort to address the underlying drivers of migration. *_-Pindula_*