South African President Urges Caution Against Blaming Migrants

President Cyril Ramaphosa warned on Tuesday that South Africans should not blame migrants for the country’s challenges, following a recent surge in anti‑immigrant protests and violence.

South Africa, one of Africa’s largest economies, has long attracted migrant workers from across the continent, both legally and illegally.

In recent weeks, mobs of South Africans armed with sticks, whips and shields have marched through parts of the country, demanding that foreigners without residency papers leave by June 30.

“There are some who blame the problems of the current government—unemployment, crime and poor service delivery—on foreign nationals,” Ramaphosa said in a speech marking Youth Day, which commemorates the 1976 Soweto uprising that helped bring down apartheid.

“Even as we recognise the challenge of illegal immigration… which we are taking decisive action to address, our problems are… our own problems, and which we have a responsibility to fix ourselves,” he added.

He noted that youth unemployment stands at 42 percent, compared with 32 percent for the overall workforce.

The president outlined government efforts to create jobs and urged the private sector to offer first‑time opportunities to young people without work experience.

“Addressing these challenges does require practical solutions, not the scapegoating of vulnerable people,” he said.

After the ceremony, Ramaphosa warned those “making a lot of noise” about the marches calling for undocumented migrants to return home.

“There does seem to be an intention to destabilise the country, and the clear message is that we are not going to allow that,” he said.

Growing security fears after businesses were looted and foreigners targeted have prompted citizens of Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to accept voluntary repatriation organised by their governments.

There are more than three million foreigners living in South Africa, or 5.1 percent of the population, according to the national statistics agency.