Ramaphosa apologises for xenophobic attacks
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has bemoaned the recent xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in his country, saying discrimination and violence undermine the values of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Ramaphosa says the attacks, which forced some foreign nationals to flee under threats of violence, are a cause for concern. Due to this, a […] The post Ramaphosa apologises for xenophobic attacks appeared first on The Namibian .
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has bemoaned the recent xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in his country, saying discrimination and violence undermine the values of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Ramaphosa says the attacks, which forced some foreign nationals to flee under threats of violence, are a cause for concern.
Due to this, a voluntary repatriation process for Namibians was successfully carried out in July, bringing home an initial group of 72 citizens from South Africa.
He made the remarks last Friday during the SADC summit public lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban.
“As South Africans, we are deeply concerned and ashamed. We must build a southern Africa where all people’s rights are equal, respected and treated decently and equally.
We cannot submit to the intimidation and harassment of people seen as coming from elsewhere,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the criminal actions of a few individuals go against the spirit of solidarity upon which SADC is built.
“We cannot preach inclusion at summits while practising exclusion in our streets,” he said.
Although the incidents occurred in South Africa, Ramaphosa said migration is a broader regional challenge that SADC must address.
He said people across the region have historically moved between countries, resulting in communities where different languages and cultures coexist.
As SADC moves towards its Vision 2050, he said member states must work together to establish smoother protocols that allow people to move freely while addressing the conditions driving migration.
“We need to work together to address conflict, instability, governance failure, poverty and social discord,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the region must create inclusive institutions where people move by choice and not desperation.
He said SADC cannot achieve its goals without peace, as investment does not flow into regions affected by conflict.
At the 46th SADC summit yesterday, Ramaphosa further called on member states to work together to deter security threats and maintain peace and harmony in the region.
