President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans involved in xenophobic violence to reflect on the historic support the country received from other African nations during its fight against colonialism and apartheid.
Speaking on Monday at the 2026 Freedom Day national celebration in Bloemfontein, Ramaphosa cautioned against allowing frustrations over illegal migration to fuel hostility toward foreign nationals.
He said, “We should never allow the legitimate concerns of our communities about illegal migration to breed prejudice towards our fellow Africans.
“We must not allow these concerns to give rise to xenophobia directed towards people from other African countries or any other parts of the world.
“As a nation that defeated colonialism and apartheid through international solidarity, we carry a responsibility to advance constitutional values beyond our borders.”
His remarks come amid renewed anti-foreigner tensions across South Africa, with reports of protests and violent attacks targeting migrants, including Nigerians and Ghanaians.
In one of the recent incidents, two Nigerian nationals were reportedly killed by South African security personnel, while further demonstrations are expected in Gauteng Province later this week.
