South Africa deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa apologises over xenophobic attacks

South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa speaking on Monday during Kenya’s Madaraka Day celebrations. He apologised to Kenya and the entire African continent over the recent xenophobic attacks in his country. PHOTO | COURTESY | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• This apology signifies the kind of damage control South African authorities are playing, especially after the violence led to a backlash on social media as well as protests from some governments.
• This month, South Africa is expected to host the 25th Ordinary Summit of the African Union but it had been feared xenophobic attacks could fuel lukewarm engagements.
• In April, President Jacob Zuma had accused other African countries of contributing to xenophobia by influencing migration out of their territories.

By AGGREY MUTAMBO
More by this Author

The South African government has apologised, once again, to the African continent following the deadly xenophobic attacks the country experienced in April.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday took to the gathering at Kenya’s Madaraka Day (self-rule) celebrations to apologise for the “terrible moment” his country went through when a mob of youth targeted African immigrants.

“We want to demonstrate our unity as Africans for our continent. I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to Kenyans and indeed the African continent for the recent xenophobic attacks.

“Our country recently went through a terrible moment of xenophobic attacks…we want to assure all Africans that we are part of the African dream and we are all united for the love of our continent,” he said at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.

At least 10 people were killed when frustrated jobless mobs of youth targeted African migrants in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial capital of Durban from late March.

The violence, thought to have been incited by an influential Zulu King, later spread inwards to Johannesburg as thousands of migrants fled to camps.

Some neighbouring countries reacted by evacuating their nationals while Nigeria recalled its envoy from Pretoria.

In April, President Jacob Zuma had accused other African countries of contributing to xenophobia by influencing migration out of their territories.

PEACE SEARCH
Mr Ramaphosa, who is also on a tour of peace search in South Sudan, becomes the highest-ranking official to publicly apologise for the violence, in Kenya.

Last week, South African High Commissioner Koleka Anita Mqulwana told a gathering in Nairobi that her country remains the best place to live for African migrants although she admitted the challenges of immigration.

“These attacks happened in my country and for that, I owe the African continent and the global community an apology. Our government condemns in the strongest terms the acts of violence that affected our brothers and sisters,” she said during delayed celebrations for the Freedom Day.

“In 1994, South Africa took a decision to integrate refugees into our communities instead of putting them in camps. One lesson we have learnt is that integration is a challenge requiring constant attention,” she argued, insisting that 14 per cent of South Africa’s 50 million people are immigrants.

On Monday, Mr Ramaphosa, who was one of the anti-apartheid heroes, argued there had been a misunderstanding by South Africans on the importance of the continent. He promised to educate them.

“We will continue to teach our brothers and sisters in South Africa that you as Kenyans, you are part of us and we want to embrace you.”

DAMAGE CONTROL

This apology signifies the kind of damage control South African authorities are playing especially after the violence led to a backlash on social media as well as protests from some governments.

This month, South Africa is expected to host the 25th Ordinary Summit of the African Union, but it had been feared xenophobic attacks could fuel lukewarm engagements.

President Zuma has since convened a committee on migration in what his government says is a bid “to explore long-term solutions to deal with issues of integration”.

The South African deputy president paid tribute to the importance of African countries. But South Africa still stands accused of mistreating other Africans though stringent immigration rules.

Kenya, for instance, allows South Africans to get visas at ports of entry, yet Kenyans must apply for visas before they enter South Africa.

In fact, Kenyans must now pay at least Sh6,000 in visa processing fees even though the visa itself is said to be free.

Last week, the two countries announced they were holding discussions to establish a Joint Commission for Cooperation to address immigration rules.