South Africa’s Ramaphosa warns against scapegoating migrants for economic woes
JOHANNESBURG, June 16 (Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa warned on Tuesday against blaming immigrants for the country’s economic problems, saying immigrants “should not be made scapegoats for South Africa’s problems.”
The country has seen a wave of protests and sometimes violent attacks against other African citizens in recent weeks, driven by anti-immigrant groups who blame them for high unemployment, crime and poor public services.
Speaking at the National Youth Day Commemoration Ceremony in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa said South Africans, and particularly young people, were rightfully frustrated by these issues.
South Africa’s youth unemployment rate stands at 46%, its murder rate is among the highest in the world, and racial inequality remains stark even three decades after the end of apartheid.
“Overcoming these challenges requires practical solutions, not scapegoating vulnerable people,” Ramaphosa said. he said.
“Even though we are aware of the problem of illegal immigration, which we are taking decisive steps to solve, our problems are essentially our own problems. And we have a responsibility to solve them ourselves.”
Ramaphosa has previously condemned attacks on foreign nationals, a recurring problem in South Africa, but has struggled to prevent them. The country is on edge ahead of a June 30 deadline set by anti-immigrant groups for all undocumented foreigners to leave the country.
South Africa, the continent’s largest economy, is the destination for people seeking work from neighboring countries as well as people fleeing conflict in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ramaphosa is under pressure ahead of November’s municipal elections, when the support of his African National Congress party is expected to fall, as it has for years, due to mismanagement and slow economic growth.
(Reporting by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
