During his Africa Day address, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has defended South Africans against the xenophobia label, saying South Africans have a right to protest against illegal immigration.
Image: Supplied
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has defended South Africa against accusations of xenophobia, stating categorically that South Africans are not inherently hostile to foreigners.
McKenzie's address comes as the country observed Africa Day celebrations on Monday, May 25, with the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) ministers convening an urgent meeting to deal with rising protests on illegal immigration.
The ministers met at the Union Buildings in Tshwane, where they were expected to discuss the broader challenge of illegal immigration and general social cohesion issues. They are set to finalise a framework on the national action plan to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.
Speaking during the official Africa Day celebrations at the Moruleng Stadium in the North West, on Monday, McKenzie said there can be no African unity if countries do not take responsibility for their own citizens. He further urged those without proper documentation to leave the country.
BuildOne SA (BOSA) leader, Mmusi Maimane has slammed movements such as March and March over their recent calls for illegal immigrants to leave the country.
Image: Simon Majadibodu/IOL
McKenzie, who recently criticised the Somali Association of South Africa, said that countries in Europe and China enforce passport and visa regulations. He argued South Africa should do the same to address current challenges.
"South Africans are not xenophobic. There is a false allegation that South Africans are xenophobic... There can be no African unity if the leaders send their people to come and take the jobs of our young people. African leaders must look after their own people first," McKenzie stated.
However, not all stakeholders echoed McKenzie’s sentiments. Mmusi Maimane, leader of BuildOne South Africa, challenged the narrative at his own event at Constitution Hill, arguing that the movements currently manifesting lack a moral compass.
"Today, we are witnessing movements without moral clarity, without ideological grounding, and without any constructive vision for our people. These are nefarious movements that organise themselves not around building Africa, but around persecuting fellow Africans," Maimane stated.
Meanwhile, the ANC, in its Africa Day statement, said it will work with fraternal organisations and through the government to address the current challenges facing the continent, including the issue of illegal immigration.
"We call for the leadership and unity of the continent to work together to explore lasting solutions to the challenges facing the continent, including wars, malnutrition, coups, climate change, and poverty, amongst others," the party stated.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, commenting on the current challenges following the meeting of the ministers, called for those who have taken the law into their own hands to allow the government to lead the process of document verification.
"On the issue of human rights, we are saying who has the authority to determine who is a foreign national. We are saying there is a balancing act that must be done because those who are conducting these verifications have no way of knowing who is a foreign national and who is not. We are saying that as you march, there is a responsibility in the songs that you sing not to divide our nation," she stated.
siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za