Lamola: ‘Violence and scapegoating have no place in democracy’

Lamola

Cape Town – International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has condemned attacks on African migrants in South Africa, warning that violence and scapegoating have no place in a constitutional democracy.

Speaking at the SAIIA DIRCO Pre-Budget Vote Symposium in Cape Town on Monday ahead of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s Budget Vote, Lamola said the country was marking Africa Day “in an atmosphere charged with unease” amid rising tensions around migration.

“Across parts of our country, migrants of African descent have come under attack at the hands of groups and formations that seeks to polarise our society,” Lamola said.

“Government has been emphatic that these attacks have no place in a constitutional order. They are an attack on the values of Ubuntu and the right to dignity.”

The minister acknowledged growing frustration over crime and economic hardship but said these concerns could not justify violence against foreign nationals.

“We acknowledge the economic hardships many South Africans face, as well as the growing concerns about crime in our society. But no grievance, however legitimate, can justify violence, scapegoating or attacks on people based on their nationality,” he said.

Lamola stressed that while South Africa faced challenges related to irregular migration, migration itself should not be viewed as the problem.

“At the same time, we have been clear that South Africa faces the challenge of irregular migration, and that migration must be managed in an orderly, lawful and humane manner,” he said.

“Let us also be clear that migration in and of itself is not the problem. When properly managed, it can contribute to regional development.”

The minister said South Africa remained one of the continent’s leading host countries for migrants and continued to support regional agreements such as the SADC Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons and the African Union Free Movement of Persons Protocol.

Lamola also linked migration pressures to unemployment and poverty among young Africans, citing a 2025 Afrobarometer survey showing that nearly six in 10 Africans aged between 18 and 25 had considered leaving their home countries in search of better opportunities.

“This means that for many young Africans, migration is not a choice but a compulsion,” he said.

He warned that Africa’s economies were not creating enough jobs for the continent’s rapidly growing youth population, saying this posed a major risk for future stability.

“For Africa to thrive, we must create opportunities for our continent’s greatest asset: its young people,” Lamola said.

The minister called for constructive regional discussions on the root causes of migration, including economic, governance and security challenges, and urged political leaders to avoid inflammatory rhetoric.

“In this politically charged environment, we call for responsible diplomacy, public engagement that does not fan the flames of division, and leadership that relies on credible information, rejects disinformation and refuses any campaign designed to turn Africans against one another,” he said.

Lamola also used the address to reflect on South Africa’s foreign policy priorities, including debt sustainability, climate finance, inequality, peacebuilding and regional solidarity through platforms such as the G20, BRICS and the African Union.

He said South Africa remained committed to peace efforts in Sudan, South Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, while also supporting Africa’s pandemic preparedness initiatives.

Lamola said South Africa’s democratic gains were rooted in continental solidarity and should continue to guide the country’s approach to diplomacy and migration.

“We cannot allow a climate fear, opportunism or populism to weaken our commitment to Pan-African solidarity,” he said.

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