Ramaphosa says South Africa is ‘ashamed’ of attacks on foreign nationals

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep shame over the treatment of foreign nationals in the country, stating that South Africa cannot demand closer regional ties while discriminating against people from neighboring nations. Speaking at a public lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, Ramaphosa emphasized that if this integrated region is to be built, equal rights for all individuals must be upheld and everyone must be treated with dignity.

Ramaphosa called for an end to the intimidation and harassment faced by foreigners in South Africa, highlighting that such actions are a clear rejection of the solidarity upon which the country was founded. He emphasized that South Africans should be deeply concerned and ashamed that fellow citizens have been subjected to discrimination and ill-treatment in recent months.

The president's comments come amid rising tensions over undocumented migration, with thousands of foreign nationals either leaving or being removed from South Africa in recent months. The government has intensified immigration enforcement due to mounting pressure over illegal migration, while anti-foreigner protests have erupted in several parts of the country, notably organized by the civic movement March and March, led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma.

The movement has been demanding stronger action from the government on illegal immigration, calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country. Ngobese-Zuma has vowed that March and March will continue protesting every Thursday until their demands are addressed by the government.