Former President Kgalema Motlanthe says the government must take charge of the country's response to anti-migrant protests, warning that failing to do so will lead to lawlessness.
Image: UWC
Former President Kgalema Motlanthe has warned that if the government fails to take control of the recent anti-migrant protests, the country risks lawlessness and chaos.
He made the remarks at the Motlanthe Foundation's winter seminar in Sandton on Thursday, where discussions focused on migration.
“The recent spate of demonstrations against so-called foreign nationals highlights the competition for limited resources and opportunities in South Africa's poorest communities.
“Given the structure of our economy, it is therefore imperative for the government to always strive to be in charge as it responds to the crisis of the unemployed, the poor and marginalized sections of our nation.”
Motlanthe said failure by the government to maintain authority invites lawlessness and near anarchy, with devastating consequences.
“And it is important for political leaders to know that they are not only responsible for the way they lead, but also for what is done by those they lead, particularly in times of crisis and upheavals.”
He said the tourism and agricultural sectors were suffering.
“And yet, these are the key creators of job opportunities. Not job opportunities, jobs, actually. Because they rely on seasonal workers for harvesting and planting and so on.”
“And so recently, I listened to the leader of the sugar cane industry indicating that some processing plants may close down as a consequence of this 'Mabahambe' issue.”
“And as already stated, it would be a vicious cycle because once factories close down, because of the labor which sustains them, it leads to less jobs, more poverty, more unemployment, and therefore more stress.”
Motlanthe's remarks come after nationwide protests on June 30 led by the controversial anti-migrant March and March movement, which called for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
Protests were held across all nine provinces, with organisers maintaining their demand that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country.
They had set an unofficial 30 June “deadline” for undocumented immigrants to self-deport.
Many migrants who came to South Africa in search of better opportunities say they are now living in fear as hostility towards foreign nationals intensifies.
Protesters argue that undocumented immigrants are taking jobs from South Africans, placing pressure on healthcare services and schools, and failing to contribute to the economy through taxes.
Despite repeated government calls for calm, demonstrations have continued.
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