Ramaphosa Calls Xenophobic Attacks the Work of 'Opportunists' — and the Rest of Africa Is Watching the Action, Not the Letter

Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s open letter on Monday declared that “there is no place in South Africa for xenophobia, ethnic mobilisation, intolerance or violence” — language that would, in calmer times, have done the diplomatic work of closing a chapter. These are not calmer times.

The letter’s framing — that the attacks are the work of “opportunists exploiting the legitimate grievances of the poor under the false guise of community activism” — landed at exactly the moment Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry was finalising emergency repatriation flights for 130 nationals, Ghana’s Foreign Minister was activating evacuation of 300 Ghanaians from KZN, and South Africa’s ambassadors in Abuja and Accra were being summoned for the second time in six weeks. Kenya, Mali, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Malawi have all issued travel warnings for their citizens.

Southafrica-Brief on The Tradewinds Brief

Ramaphosa Calls Xenophobic Attacks the Work of 'Opportunists' — and the Rest of Africa Is Watching the Action, Not the Letter