Pretoria – International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has warned that South Africa and the rest of Africa risk losing the opportunity to shape the changing global order unless they work together to address conflict, inequality and migration challenges.
Lamola was speaking on Thursday at the launch of the Global Africa Research Initiative (GARI), where he highlighted growing international instability and the weakening of global institutions.
He also defended the government’s response to anti-migrant violence, saying authorities were pursuing those accused of intimidation, looting and attacks against foreign nationals.
“The South African government is taking on those who exploit concerns about irregular migration to advance criminal and hate-fuelled agendas,” Lamola said.
He said more than 100 cases were before the courts, while over 14 investigations into intimidation, looting and anti-migrant violence were under way.
AFRICA CONFERENCE | Minister Ronald Lamola says government is addressing immigration challenges, while stressing that those who incite violence against foreign nationals deserve strong condemnation. https://t.co/qkmBUuEPFT
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 27, 2026
Lamola also pointed to the recent court appearance of four people accused of involvement in mob violence that resulted in the killing of a migrant in Durban.
“Our position is unequivocal: the perpetrators of these despicable acts must be held accountable,” he said.
The minister said the government was acting on recommendations from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which called for greater efforts to promote peaceful relations between South Africans and foreign nationals.
Lamola said migration-related tensions could not be separated from the country’s wider social and economic challenges, including unemployment, poverty and inequality.
He also highlighted weaknesses in border management and cross-border crime prevention as issues requiring attention.
The minister acknowledged that competition for limited resources could fuel tensions in communities, particularly in a country with high levels of inequality.
“Illegal immigrants, migrants and all people, they coexist within our communities. This naturally will lead to contestation of scarce resources, particularly in an unequal society like ours,” he said.
However, Lamola stressed that irregular migration was not a challenge South Africa could resolve on its own.
“Irregular migration is a shared challenge. No single country can manage it alone,” he said.
He added that the average migrant in Africa was 30 years old, highlighting the importance of understanding migration within the continent’s broader social and economic context.
Lamola’s remarks came as he launched GARI, an initiative intended to contribute to research and debate on Africa’s place in a rapidly changing international environment.
His warning was that African countries needed to strengthen cooperation and develop responses to shared challenges rather than allow decisions about the continent’s future to be made elsewhere.
The launch comes amid growing international tensions, persistent economic inequality and questions about the effectiveness of global institutions.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
