South Africans not xenophobic, minister warns against profiling foreigners

The South African government has rejected claims that the country is inherently xenophobic, insisting that South Africa remains a welcoming destination for people from different parts of the world despite ongoing migration challenges.

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, made this known during a briefing by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration (IMC), which was broadcast by the South African Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday.

According to the South African Government News Agency, Kubayi dismissed the narrative of systemic xenophobia, saying South Africa has a long history of hosting people from diverse countries.

“South Africa has historically welcomed and continues to host people from diverse countries across the globe,” she said.

While defending the country’s reputation, Kubayi warned citizens against profiling foreign nationals or engaging in targeted operations and violence against migrants.

In videos from the briefing published by local media outlet MDNtv and SABC, the minister urged communities to ignore inflammatory social media rumours and work with law enforcement agencies instead of resorting to vigilantism.

“We call on all South Africans to reject the act of vigilantism, dismiss the noise of misinformation, and partner with government as we restore stability to our neighbourhoods,” Kubayi said.

She added, “Not everybody who comes from outside South Africa is illegal in our country.”

The minister further expressed concern about the impact of xenophobic perceptions on the country’s image and social cohesion.

“The brand does get affected, and that’s why part of what we are doing is to explain that South Africans are not xenophobic,” she said.

“We are calling for attacks on foreign nationals to be rejected because they can also affect people who are not foreigners due to their language or appearance. It can hurt our social cohesion and further divide us in terms of our cultural diversity and inclusion.”

Kubayi acknowledged growing public concerns over migration and the strain on economic and social resources but stressed that protests must remain peaceful and lawful.

“As a government, we are fully aware of the impact of this challenge on our economic resources and the general strain this causes on the provision of social and economic services,” she said.

“All those who are protesting on our streets are within their constitutional right to do so. However, constitutional rights are accompanied by obligations and responsibilities, including peaceful protest and the avoidance of violence and lawlessness.”

She also warned employers against circumventing immigration and labour regulations by hiring undocumented migrants.

“The South African government will not tolerate the circumvention of our immigration system and laws. We also call upon employers to refrain from transgressing immigration and labour laws,” Kubayi said.

The South African government has expressed concerns over the effects of xenophobic claims on the country’s international image and economy. Kubayi disclosed that some event organisers have reportedly cancelled shows involving South African artistes, leading to financial losses for businesses and entertainers abroad.