President Cyril Ramaphosa urges South Africans to stop scapegoating migrants for the country’s challenges, following a recent wave of anti-immigrant unrest and violence. Speaking in the context of Youth Day, Ramaphosa calls for unity and personal and collective responsibility, saying South Africans should focus on practical solutions rather than attributing local issues to people from elsewhere.
The reports note that South Africa is a major destination for migrant workers from across Africa, through both legal and irregular migration routes, and that migration has long been part of the country’s social and labour landscape. However, in recent weeks, mobs have targeted migrants, using violence.
Ramaphosa’s remarks emphasize that the blame should not be directed at migrants and that broader national problems need to be addressed directly. Across the sources, his message centres on reducing tensions, rejecting “scapegoating,” and promoting social cohesion while South Africa confronts its economic and social difficulties.
