TENSIONS RISE AS MALAWI RAISES CONCERNS OVER ATTACKS ON FOREIGN NATIONALS IN SOUTH AFRICA
The South African government is facing growing pressure from neighbouring African countries after Malawi officially raised concerns with International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola over the recent attacks targeting foreign nationals in parts of South Africa.
According to reports, Malawi approached the South African government after several incidents involving undocumented migrants and foreign nationals being attacked in areas of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Minister Ronald Lamola confirmed that Malawi, Ghana and other African countries have raised concerns about the safety of their citizens living in South Africa.
Lamola strongly condemned the attacks and warned South Africans against taking the law into their own hands. He said issues relating to illegal immigration must be handled by government and law enforcement — not through violence, mob justice or vigilante actions.
This comes after weeks of anti-immigration protests and growing tensions across parts of the country, with some foreign-owned businesses reportedly being targeted. Human Rights Watch recently warned that South Africa is experiencing a new wave of xenophobic violence, saying migrants from African countries are increasingly living in fear.
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
• South Africa currently hosts millions of documented and undocumented foreign nationals.
• The country’s unemployment crisis and poor service delivery continue to fuel tensions around immigration.
• The United Nations and several African governments have already expressed concern over the recent attacks.
• South Africa previously experienced deadly xenophobic violence in 2008, 2015 and 2019.
Lamola says South Africa remains committed to African unity, Ubuntu and protecting all people living in the country regardless of nationality. He also warned against fake videos and misinformation spreading online which could worsen tensions.
Do you believe the South African government is doing enough to handle illegal immigration without violence breaking out?
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