Supporters of the anti-illegal immigration organisation March and March and foreign nationals in a confrontation outside Durban’s Diakonia Centre on May 21. President Cyril Ramaphosa's roadmap for navigating a complex challenge is a step in the right direction. It rejects xenophobia and lawlessness while committing to effective governance, says the writer.
Dr. Reneva Fourie
President Ramaphosa’s address on June 7, deserves commendation for confronting a serious national crisis with sincerity, balance and constitutional clarity. The address acknowledged the genuine concerns of South Africans regarding illegal immigration, pressure on public services, unemployment, crime and labour market insecurity.
At the same time, it reaffirmed the rights and dignity of all people within the country and rejected xenophobia, Afrophobia, racism and lawlessness. The speech provided a solid foundation for tackling the crisis through decisive state action rather than division.
The growth of anti-foreigner sentiment in South Africa emerges from a combination of economic, social, political and institutional factors that have accumulated over many years. The country continues to face extremely high levels of unemployment, especially among young people.
