Ramaphosa calls on traditional leaders to assist in de-escalating rising anti-immigration tensions

By Johnathan Paoli

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africa’s traditional leaders to use their moral authority to help prevent intolerance, discrimination and violence against foreign nationals, warning that growing anti-foreigner mobilisation poses a serious threat to communities, social cohesion and the country’s international standing.

Addressing a meeting with the country’s monarchs on Saturday, Ramaphosa said traditional monarchs were uniquely positioned to calm tensions as the government implements its comprehensive strategy to manage migration while combating illegal immigration within the bounds of the Constitution.

“Our Kings and Queens have a vital role to play in this effort. As the traditional sovereigns of many of our people, as leaders who command deep trust and moral authority, you are well placed to speak out against intolerance and instability,” Ramaphosa said.

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The president urged traditional leaders to actively intervene before tensions escalate into violence.

“You can use your standing to calm tensions, resolve disputes through dialogue and prevent communities from being mobilised for violence and disorder. Through the spirit of Ubuntu that you embody and protect, you can remind our people that we are defined by our humanity towards one another,” Ramaphosa said.

The meeting formed part of the government’s broader consultation process following the cabinet’s adoption of a “comprehensive approach to managing migration”, which the president first outlined during a national address earlier in the month.

The strategy seeks to address illegal immigration while rejecting vigilantism and xenophobic violence.

Ramaphosa acknowledged that migration had become an increasingly contentious issue amid South Africa’s high unemployment, poverty, crime, and pressure on public services.

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“Over recent months, South Africans from every walk of life have