South African President Cyril Ramaphosa warned citizens against blaming migrants for the country’s economic crisis during a speech on Tuesday, insisting that foreign nationals must not become scapegoats for domestic structural failures.
Speaking at the National Youth Day Commemoration in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa acknowledged widespread public frustration. He emphasized that the nation’s severe challenges are primarily internal issues that the government remains responsible for fixing.
The president’s urgent warning follows a wave of intense anti-immigrant protests, which had seen Ghana, Nigeria and several other African countries repatriating their citizens back home. Indigenous Vigilante groups have aggressively set a looming June 30 deadline, demanding all undocumented foreigners immediately exit the country.
The national crisis is fueled by a staggering 46% youth unemployment rate. South Africans face deteriorating public infrastructure, extreme wealth inequality, and a violent crime rate that ranks among the highest globally.
“Addressing these challenges requires practical solutions, not the scapegoating of vulnerable people,” Ramaphosa said.
While promising decisive government action against illegal immigration, Ramaphosa heavily criticized businesses. He accused employers of exploiting undocumented migrants by paying them sub-minimum wages, which directly undermines the domestic labor market.
The socio-economic tension intersects with a fragile business trajectory. Although GDP grew 0.5% early this year, experts project full-year growth could drop below 1% due to declining household consumption, falling fixed investment, and renewed global inflationary pressures.
