South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday, 27 July called on African nations to collectively promote lawful and orderly migration while tackling the root causes that compel people to flee their home countries. He made the appeal in Johannesburg at the opening of the First Ordinary Session of the Seventh Legislature of the Pan-African Parliament, as South Africa grapples with a surge in attacks against foreign nationals.

Ramaphosa Condemns Violence Against Foreign Nationals

Expressing regret over the mistreatment and killing of foreign nationals on South African soil, Ramaphosa acknowledged that such incidents were partly fuelled by misinformation and deep-seated prejudice. He was unequivocal in his government's position: 'As the South African government, we have taken a firm stance against any form of intimidation, vigilantism, or violence directed at foreign nationals,' he said. 'Our response must combine firm, fair, and effective immigration management with an unwavering defence of human dignity and the rule of law.'

Ramaphosa also acknowledged the concerns of South Africans regarding the social and economic pressures linked to illegal migration — a tension that critics argue has been exploited to justify vigilante action. South Africa has witnessed a marked rise in attacks on migrant communities in recent months, with several people killed and migrant-owned businesses forcibly shut down by vigilante groups.

Call for Pan-African Cooperation on Migration

The president urged African countries to collectively address the structural drivers of migration, citing conflict, instability, governance failures, poverty, and social discord as the core push factors. He stressed that the continent must work to silence the guns, strengthen inclusive governance, and expand economic opportunities — framing migration not as a security threat alone, but as a symptom of deeper developmental failures.

Ramaphosa said migration must be managed in a manner that upholds the rights and dignity of all people, respects international conventions, and fosters social cohesion — a position that aligns with the African Union's broader frameworks on free movement.

UN Resident Coordinator Backs Regional Approach

Nelson Muffuh, the United Nations resident coordinator in South Africa, reinforced the call for policy-driven solutions. 'Challenges relating to migration and displacement cannot be addressed through stigma, exclusion or vigilantism, but through sound public policy, regional cooperation and adherence to the rule of law,' Muffuh said. He noted that human mobility has long been woven into Africa's history and development trajectory.

Context: Rising Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa

The Pan-African Parliament session comes at a fraught moment for South Africa's relationship with the broader continent. The country has experienced repeated waves of xenophobic violence over the past two decades, with earlier episodes in 2008 and 2019 drawing international condemnation. The current cycle of attacks has once again strained diplomatic ties and raised questions about the government's capacity — and political will — to protect non-citizens. Notably, this is one of the first times Ramaphosa has addressed the issue directly before a continental legislative body, signalling a shift toward multilateral engagement on what has historically been treated as a domestic law-and-order matter.

What Happens Next

The Pan-African Parliament session is expected to deliberate on a regional migration framework that could set binding cooperation norms for member states. Whether South Africa's domestic enforcement machinery will align with any such framework remains to be seen, particularly given the political sensitivities around immigration ahead of future electoral cycles.