JOHANNESBURG — MTN Group Chairman Mcebisi Jonas has condemned rising xenophobic violence and anti-foreigner sentiment in South Africa, saying the country’s economic challenges cannot be solved through deportations.
Speaking at the funeral of Zimbabwean-born activist Thokozani Damasane, Jonas said unemployment, inequality, and weak governance would persist regardless of immigration policy.
“Foreigners can leave tomorrow, inequality will still be with us. Foreigners will leave tomorrow, unemployment will still be with us,” he said, arguing that corruption and state failure — not migrants — were at the root of South Africa’s problems.
Jonas accused some political actors of exploiting public frustration by blaming foreign nationals for economic hardship, and criticized the state for failing to manage immigration, secure borders, enforce laws, and deliver basic services.
He also warned against ethnic nationalism and tribalism, describing them as divisive legacies that continue to fuel discrimination across African societies, and urged South Africans to reject identity-based politics that can lead to violence against foreigners.
Paying tribute to Damasane, Jonas praised his commitment to South Africa’s development and recalled his concerns over inequality, corruption, and declining public trust in post-apartheid governance.
Emphasizing African unity, Jonas said South Africa’s prosperity was inseparable from the wider continent.
“South Africa is nothing without Africa, and Africa is nothing without South Africa,” he said, adding that people should not be judged by their nationality or legal status.
The remarks come amid recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa, where foreign nationals are often accused of competing for jobs and public services — allegations widely disputed by researchers and rights groups.
