By Akani Nkuna
DA federal leader and Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has told South Africans not to turn anger over unemployment, crime and failing public services into violence against foreign nationals, saying the country’s real crisis is a weak economy and a broken state.
“South Africa’s deepest problem is not a vulnerable person selling vegetables on a corner who happens to not be born here,” Hill-Lewis said in an address on Thursday night.
“It is an economy that does not grow, a state that does not work, and a government that has failed to create jobs, secure our borders, fight crime and deliver basic services.”
His remarks come as South Africa is bracing for protest action on 30 June by anti-illegal-immigration groups, including March and March, which have set that date as a “deadline” for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.
March and March has denied calling for a national shutdown, but police and government have warned that any attempt to intimidate communities, block roads, loot businesses or attack foreign nationals will be met with law enforcement action.
The country has been on edge after a wave of anti-migrant protests and attacks in parts of the country, with foreign nationals in some communities seeking shelter or repatriation assistance amid rising tensions.
Hill-Lewis said he understood the anger felt by many South Africans over poverty, joblessness, crime, corruption and poor governance, but said those frustrations could not be allowed to become hatred.
“Our frustration must never become hatred. And it must never become violence,” he said.
“We must never allow certain politicians or vigilantes to abuse the hardship caused by a failing economy to scapegoat and incite violence against foreign nationals to promote their own agendas.”
He said immigration laws must be enforced, but only by the state and in line with the Constitution.
“The law must be enforced by the state — not by mobs, not by vigilantes, and not by politicians who stoke hatred for votes,” Hill-Lewis said.
“No individual or group gets to set deadlines for who may live in South Africa. No one may demand another person’s papers in the street. No one may threaten a family, close a shop, block a road, or loot a business.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa has also warned against the scapegoating of migrants, while saying government would act against illegal immigration and strengthen enforcement.
In an address earlier this month, he said law enforcement and security structures had been directed to protect public safety, maintain order and safeguard critical infrastructure.
Hill-Lewis said South Africa’s current crisis was rooted in years of corruption, weak institutions and poor economic growth, not the presence of vulnerable migrants.
“We know why South Africa is in this position,” he said.
“We are in this position today because the institutions which are supposed to enforce the law have been broken by years of corruption and bad government.”
He said fixing the country required rebuilding the state, appointing competent officials, securing the immigration system, fighting corruption and creating the conditions for growth and jobs.
Hill-Lewis said he had reached out to Ramaphosa to urge cooperation across all spheres of government ahead of 30 June, saying national, provincial and local authorities had a duty to prevent violence, protect communities and uphold the law.
“As Mayor of Cape Town, I have instructed our Law Enforcement services to be ready, visible and firm,” he said.
“We will work with SAPS. We will keep roads open. We will protect businesses, public transport, schools and places of worship of all people.”
He called on South Africans not to share messages that inflame fear and said the country should respond to the crisis through law, order and constitutional values.
“Stand for your country by standing for the best of what it means to be South African, by standing for peace, order and the Constitution,” Hill-Lewis said.
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