PRESIDENTIAL PLEDGE: Ramaphosa vows action against perpetrators of xenophobic violence

President Cyril Ramaphosa pledges action against those who attack migrants, outlines diplomatic engagement with African leaders and calls for continental dialogue on migration and its root causes.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has given the assurance that the perpetrators of violence against foreign nationals will be arrested and charged. He has also insisted that South Africa has not been snubbed or isolated by other African leaders because of the recent xenophobic violence .

He was replying in Parliament on Tuesday to questions from EFF leader Julius Malema, who asked why these perpetrators had not been arrested and prosecuted when, “We know who the instigators and the perpetrators of this violence are. They have a face.

“In certain instances, we have seen perpetrators unleashing their violence against African immigrants in the presence of the police. And yet not one of these perpetrators is arrested.

“This gives an impression that this violence is, in fact, state-sanctioned violence against African nationals,” the EFF leader said. “This hardens the attitude of our sister nations in the continent, because to them and to many of us, these are not isolated actions of vigilante groups, but rather actions aided by the state.”

Malema added that two of the perpetrators had even gone to meet Ramaphosa – apparently referring to the meeting the President had in June with Insizwa Nobunsizwa leaders Ngizwe Mchunu and Nkosikhona Ndabandaba. “You should have locked them up that day,” said Malema.

Ramaphosa insisted that some perpetrators of violence had already been arrested and that there would be further arrests and prosecutions when the police had gathered enough evidence. He emphasised that action would be taken, especially against those who had caused injury or death.

“And of course those others who were seen to be leading these processes are also people who are of direct interest to the police, and that is a process that is going to be followed up,” he added.

Malema demanded what concrete steps the government was taking to ensure prosecution of perpetrators to protect foreign nationals “and to reassure the continent that this government does not condone xenophobia”.

Ramaphosa replied, “The commitment I can make is that those who are perpetrating and have perpetrated acts of violence against foreign nationals are going to be dealt with.”

He said he was aware that other African leaders and their people were watching how South Africa managed the process. “And ... they will be able to see our seriousness in terms of dealing with the issue of migration.”

He added that other African leaders understood the complexity of the issue. According to him, some leaders suggested to the South African government that the violence against foreigners was being driven by unnamed outside forces aiming to destabilise the nation and strain its regional relationships.

Malema told Ramaphosa that the xenophobic violence – driven by March and March and other groups – had damaged South Africa’s standing on the continent.