Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for concrete reparations to address the lasting impact of colonialism and slavery on Africa, saying redress must go beyond symbolic gestures and support the continent’s development.
In his weekly newsletter published on Monday, Ramaphosa said Africa Month serves as a reminder of both the continent’s shared identity and its painful history.
“Even as we celebrate our continent’s vibrancy and dynamism, we are mindful of the legacy of Africa’s colonial past and how it continues to shape our continent’s fortunes,” he wrote.
He pointed to the transcontinental slave trade as “the most extreme form of dehumanisation”, noting that millions of Africans were “hunted down, captured and traded as if they were not people, but possessions”.
Ramaphosa said much of the wealth in former colonial powers today stems from the exploitation of Africa’s people and resources.
“The reality is that much of the wealth of former colonial powers today is the result of the deprivation of Africa’s people,” he said.
Dear Fellow South African,
Every May, we observe Africa Month to commemorate the founding of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963. Celebrating and affirming our identity as Africans is as integral to our national character as the ideals that anchor our democracy.
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 4, 2026
His comments follow a recent resolution by the United Nations General Assembly declaring the enslavement and trafficking of Africans a crime against humanity and calling for reparatory justice, including restitution and compensation.
While acknowledging that reparations remain contested, Ramaphosa rejected arguments that too much time has passed. He said this view ignores “the intergenerational trauma wrought by slavery that continues to hold back the development of entire societies in Africa”.
He stressed that any reparations framework should be aligned with Africa’s development goals.
“Redress must take the form of sustained, direct, material investment in Africa’s development,” he said.
Proposed measures include increased foreign direct investment, expanded market access, skills and technology transfer, and the return of looted cultural artefacts to their countries of origin.
Ramaphosa said South Africa supports a unified continental approach, adding that former colonial powers must act with “honesty and integrity” and commit to “tangible measures of redress that support Africa’s growth and development.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
