South Africa’s (SA) President Cyril Ramaphosa has discussed with his Mozambiquan counterpart, Daniel Chapo, the importance of the continent acknowledging that some domestic factors lead to mass immigration to countries like SA.

This is according to presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya who briefed the media in Parliament on the SA’s public diary.

He says during Chapo’s recent visit to Pretoria, the two leaders discussed protests against illegal foreigners in various parts of the country.

Ramaphosa urged countries whose citizens immigrate to SA illegally, to question the factors that lead them to leave their home countries.

Magwenya says the spate of protests against illegal foreigners was discussed at a recent meeting between Chapo and Ramaphosa.

“That the continent needs to work together to address the issues that are behind these levels of migration that we see across our continent. Issues of conflicts, issues of instability, and in some areas, if we’re being honest, the misgovernance that causes people to migrate in large numbers and seek refuge in different parts of the continent, including SA,” said Magwenya.

During this meeting Ramaphosa also dispelled any notion that South Africans are xenophobic people.

“Ramaphosa did emphasise SA is open, friendly and warm, will reject notion characterising the country or its people as xenophobic.”

—SABC—