Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to African unity while government pushed back against accusations of xenophobia following controversial remarks by a Nigerian senator and ongoing anti-migrant protests.
The tensions come after demonstrations in parts of South Africa calling for stronger action against undocumented migrants.
In a video circulating on social media, a Nigerian senator warned that Nigerians could retaliate against South Africans living elsewhere on the continent.
Nigerian Senate is threatening South Africans living in other African Countries.
“We know where they( South Africans) are, not only here in Nigeria but all over Africa and we can take this fight to their territory” pic.twitter.com/CXLCgxA1MC
— Azania (@azania1023) May 5, 2026
“We know where they (South Africans) are, not only here in Nigeria but all over Africa and we can take this fight to their territory,” the senator said.
A series of anti-migrant protests in recent weeks across Africa’s most industrialised country, along with claims of attacks against foreigners, have prompted Nigeria and Ghana to voice concern.
In fresh demonstrations on Wednesday, hundreds of people marched in the eastern city of Durban and other centres to demand that the government take action against undocumented migrants operating businesses such as small shops.
Demonstrations in previous months have also sought to deny undocumented foreigners access to South African clinics and hospitals.
In talks on Tuesday, Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo and President Ramaphosa agreed “the continent needs to work together to address the issues that are behind these levels of migration”, the spokesman said.
These included “conflicts, issues of instability, and in some areas… the misgovernment that causes people to migrate in large numbers and seek refuge in different parts of the continent, including South Africa”.
“South Africa is not against people from other nations, we are one people and one continent,” Ramaphosa said.
Today’s working visit with His Excellency President Daniel Francisco Chapo of the Republic of Mozambique gave us both a great opportunity to have extensive discussions on matters of mutual interest and explore ways to deepen cooperation between our two countries. pic.twitter.com/5aBgUs45LN
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 5, 2026
Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya Wednesday rejected claims that South Africans were broadly xenophobic, saying recent demonstrations reflected isolated protests rather than widespread hostility toward foreign nationals.
“South Africans are not xenophobic,” presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told reporters.
“What you have is pockets of protest, which is permissible within our constitutional framework,” he said.
Magwenya said African countries needed to work together to address the root causes of migration, including instability and governance failures.
“The continent needs to work together to address the issues that are behind these levels of migration,” he said.
Nigeria has since announced emergency repatriation flights for its citizens in South Africa, while Ghana recently summoned South Africa’s envoy over alleged xenophobic incidents.
Magwenya described the xenophobia label as a “lazy” analysis that risked “unfairly maligning” South Africa.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
