Former South African president Thabo Mbeki warns that attributing South Africa’s unemployment crisis to foreign nationals is misleading. Speaking around the time of the 16th Thabo Mbeki Annual Lecture in Cape Town, he argues that anti-immigrant sentiment does not explain the country’s job losses and broader economic difficulties. Mbeki says South Africa’s challenges require internal solutions, including policies and measures that address domestic economic and social conditions. He also calls for stronger national unity and cooperation, suggesting that the focus should remain on how South Africa can improve economic outcomes rather than directing blame outward. According to reporting, Mbeki’s comments are made in the context of an interview with SABC, where he cautions against framing unemployment as primarily driven by immigration. The sources present his position as part of a wider argument for constructive, inward-looking approaches to employment and economic reform.