South Africa Xenophobic Violence: Ramaphosa Denounces Groups Seeking to Destabilize the Country
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday evening, June 7, 2026, as pressure mounted over immigration policy and anti-immigration groups pushed toward a June 30 deadline for tougher government action. In a nearly 30-minute speech, he sought to reassure the public that the government is already moving on several fronts, while also warning against xenophobia, racism, and violence.
Ramaphosa said South Africa would strengthen border controls, increase oversight of businesses that hire undocumented migrants, and modernize the immigration system to make it more effective. He argued that legitimate public concerns about illegal immigration should not be exploited by groups seeking to destabilize the country or spread division. He also rejected online misinformation campaigns about people entering South Africa, saying they should not be allowed to inflame tensions.
The president’s remarks came amid a sharp rise in xenophobic protests and attacks in recent weeks. According to the Mozambican presidency, five Mozambican nationals have died in the violence. Ramaphosa urged calm and said there was no place in South African society for intolerance of any kind, including xenophobia, racism, sexism, and Afrophobia. He stressed that South Africans should not be manipulated into turning against people because they were not born in the country.
The issue has become politically sensitive for Ramaphosa and the African National Congress, especially with municipal elections only five months away. The government is under growing pressure to respond more forcefully to public anger over undocumented migration, which has become a major political flashpoint.
Among the new measures highlighted by Ramaphosa was the creation of specialized courts to speed up deportation proceedings for migrants in irregular status. He also said penalties would be tightened for employers who violate immigration law, with prison sentences possible for serious breaches. These steps are intended to show that the state is taking the issue seriously while avoiding the kind of inflammatory rhetoric that has fueled unrest.
The foreign minister also criticized what he described as public “spectacles” by Ghana, after that country repatriated hundreds of its nationals amid heavy media attention. The broader regional context reflects rising concern across parts of Africa about migration, enforcement, and the treatment of foreign nationals.
Ramaphosa’s address appeared aimed at striking a balance between firmness and restraint: acknowledging public frustration over illegal immigration, while condemning attacks on foreigners and warning against mob behavior. With the June 30 deadline approaching, the government now faces pressure to turn those promises into visible action.
