South Africa will dispatch diplomatic envoys across Africa and beyond following recent attacks on foreign migrants, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday after talks with Kenyan President William Ruto in Pretoria.
The move comes amid renewed scrutiny of South Africa’s treatment of foreign nationals following a spate of attacks targeting immigrants from other African countries. Pretoria hopes the diplomatic outreach will reassure regional partners, strengthen cooperation on migration management and address concerns about growing anti-migrant sentiment. Recent tensions have already prompted diplomatic protests, with Ghana summoning South Africa’s envoy over xenophobic attacks.
Diplomatic outreach to address migration concerns
Speaking at a joint press conference after meeting Ruto at the Union Buildings, Ramaphosa said South Africa was committed to engaging countries across the continent and internationally on migration-related challenges.
‘There will be envoys, yes, there will be people that we will send around not only on the continent but also around the world,’ Ramaphosa told reporters.
He said the government wanted to encourage greater cooperation among nations affected by migration flows and to build a coordinated response to shared challenges.
‘What we seek to do is to get the issue of migration properly addressed. We should get as many key role players and countries as possible to work together,’ he said.
The announcement signals a diplomatic effort by Pretoria to contain any fallout from the attacks and reinforce its commitment to regional cooperation.
Migration discussed during Ramaphosa-Ruto talks
Ramaphosa confirmed that migration was among the issues discussed during his meeting with Ruto, as both leaders reviewed bilateral relations and regional priorities.
South Africa has long been a destination for migrants from across the continent, attracted by economic opportunities and business prospects. However, immigration has also become a politically sensitive issue, with concerns over jobs, public services and crime periodically fuelling tensions in some communities.
Recent attacks on migrants have reignited debate over how the country manages migration and protects foreign nationals living within its borders.
President rejects claims of widespread xenophobia
Addressing concerns raised by the attacks, Ramaphosa said the South African government was actively responding to the situation while rejecting suggestions that xenophobia reflected the views of the wider population.
‘As South Africa, we are addressing this matter,’ he said.
The president argued that South Africans generally support peaceful coexistence with citizens from other African countries.
‘South Africans are not xenophobic. South Africans are Africans. They want to live with other Africans peacefully,’ Ramaphosa said.
His remarks come against the backdrop of several outbreaks of anti-migrant violence over the past two decades, incidents that have often strained relations with neighbouring countries and prompted calls for stronger protections for foreign communities. Ramaphosa has previously sought to counter criticism of South Africa’s image abroad, as reported in Ramaphosa fights xenophobia backlash.
Regional implications of migration tensions
Migration remains a major policy challenge across Africa as economic inequality, conflict and climate pressures continue to drive cross-border movement. Governments across the continent have increasingly sought cooperative approaches to migration management, recognising that the issue extends beyond national borders.
The attacks have also triggered responses from neighbouring countries. Africa Briefing previously reported that Ghana evacuated citizens after attacks in South Africa amid growing concerns about the safety of its nationals.
Analysts say South Africa’s planned diplomatic outreach could help ease tensions with partner countries while encouraging broader discussions on labour mobility, border management and economic development.
Ramaphosa emphasised that migration challenges cannot be addressed by individual countries acting alone and instead require coordinated regional and international action.
The debate over migration has also drawn intervention from former South African leaders. Former president Thabo Mbeki recently argued that governance shortcomings and economic frustrations were contributing to anti-migrant sentiment.
