Africa-Press – South-Africa. The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, warned against blaming immigrants for the economic crisis facing the country, emphasizing that they should not be held responsible for South Africa’s problems.
The country has witnessed a wave of protests, sometimes violent attacks, against other African nationals in recent weeks, driven by anti-immigrant groups that attribute rising unemployment, crime rates, and declining public services to them.
In his speech during the National Youth Day celebration in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa stated that South Africans, particularly the youth, feel justifiably frustrated regarding these issues.
The youth unemployment rate in South Africa stands at 46%, and its murder rate is among the highest in the world, while racial inequality remains stark three decades after the end of apartheid. Ramaphosa said, “Confronting these challenges requires practical solutions, not blaming vulnerable groups.”
He added, “While we acknowledge the challenge of illegal immigration – which we are taking decisive action to address – our problems are fundamentally our own, and we have the responsibility to solve them ourselves.”
Ramaphosa has previously condemned attacks on foreign nationals, a recurring issue in South Africa, but he has struggled to curb them. The country remains tense ahead of the deadline on June 30 set by anti-immigration groups for all undocumented foreigners to leave the country.
As the largest economy on the continent, South Africa is a destination for people from neighboring countries seeking work, as well as those fleeing conflicts in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Ramaphosa faces pressure ahead of the upcoming municipal elections in November, where the African National Congress party he leads is expected to see a decline in popularity, as has been the case for years, due to mismanagement and slow economic growth.
