{"id":37259,"date":"2026-06-16T15:16:49","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T13:16:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/?post_type=news&p=37259"},"modified":"2026-06-16T15:16:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T13:16:49","slug":"sas-president-warns-against-scapegoating-migrants-for-economic-woes","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/news\/sas-president-warns-against-scapegoating-migrants-for-economic-woes\/","title":{"rendered":"SA’s President warns against scapegoating migrants for economic woes"},"content":{"rendered":"
South African (SA) President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday warned against blaming migrants for the country’s economic pain, saying they should not \u200bbe scapegoated for South Africa’s problems.<\/div>\n
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The country has seen \u200ca wave of protests and sometimes violent attacks against other African nationals in recent weeks, driven by anti-immigrant groups who blame them for high unemployment, crime, and \u200bpoor public services.<\/div>\n
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Speaking at the National Youth Day Commemoration in \u200bJohannesburg, Gauteng Province, Ramaphosa said that SA citizens, and especially youth, \u2060were justifiably frustrated by these issues.<\/div>\n
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SA’s youth unemployment rate stands \u200bat 46%, its murder rate is among the highest in the world, \u200band racial inequality is stark three decades after the end of apartheid.<\/div>\n
“Addressing these challenges requires practical solutions, not the scapegoating of vulnerable people,” Ramaphosa said.<\/div>\n
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“Even as \u200bwe recognise the challenge of illegal immigration, which we are taking \u200bdecisive action to address, our problems are in the main our own problems. \u200cAnd \u2060which we have a responsibility to fix ourselves.”<\/div>\n
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Ramaphosa has previously condemned the attacks on foreign nationals, a recurring problem in SA, but has struggled to clamp down on them. The country remains on edge \u200bahead of a \u200bJune 30 deadline \u2060which anti-immigrant groups have given all undocumented foreigners to leave.<\/div>\n
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As the largest economy on the continent, SA is a destination for people from neighbouring countries \u200bseeking \u2060work, as well as people fleeing conflict in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo.<\/div>\n
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Ramaphosa is under pressure ahead of upcoming municipal elections in November, \u2060when \u200bhis African National Congress party is expected \u200bto see its support fall, as it has been for years, due to poor \u200bgovernance and sluggish economic growth.<\/div>\n
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–Reuters–<\/div>\n
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