Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has warned that South Africa’s ongoing migration tensions are beginning to have economic consequences, revealing that at least one local artist has had all of her performances across the African continent cancelled.
Speaking on government’s response to the fallout from migration-related tensions, Kubayi said the backlash was affecting South Africa’s reputation abroad and directly impacting livelihoods.
“We can’t lie about it, the backlash,” Kubayi said.
“One artist reached out to me to say all her gigs on the continent had been cancelled. This is an income loss for a South African, so the country’s brand does get affected.”
Kubayi said government, through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), was engaging businesses operating abroad and providing support where they faced challenges linked to perceptions about South Africa’s migration policies and social tensions.
She said the creative sector was particularly vulnerable, as many South African artists rely on live performances across the continent for their income.
“The majority of South African artists perform on the continent, and many of them are seeing their gigs being cancelled,” she said, adding that government would work with the arts and culture sector to better understand the extent of the impact.
At the same time, Kubayi urged South Africans to reject vigilantism and violence against foreign nationals, warning that such actions could further damage the country’s international standing and social cohesion.
“South Africans are not xenophobic, and South Africans are not calling for attacks,” she said. “Let’s deal with the issue of illegal immigration by enforcing the law, but those who are within our borders legally must be protected just as South Africans are.”
Kubayi said neighbouring countries understood South Africa’s need to address illegal immigration but expected the country to do so within the rule of law while safeguarding the rights of lawful residents.
She also cautioned that attacks on foreign nationals often extended to people who were not migrants, with individuals targeted because of their appearance or language.
“We are calling for vigilantism to be rejected by our communities because attacks on foreign nationals can extend to others who are not even foreign nationals,” she said.
Kubayi warned that failing to manage the issue responsibly could deepen divisions and undermine the country’s long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“It can threaten our social cohesion, divide us further in terms of our cultural diversity and inclusion, and affect the South African brand,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Home Affairs says it has intensified efforts to tackle illegal immigration through stricter enforcement and new digital systems.
The department recently coordinated one of South Africa’s largest single-day repatriation operations, with around 980 Malawian nationals processed through the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp and transported on 14 buses.
Home Affairs says deportations have increased by 46% over the past two years, alongside digital reforms aimed at strengthening border management and identity verification.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said technological upgrades, including the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, biometric verification for foreign nationals and the rollout of a Digital ID system, were helping to modernise immigration controls.
“For the very first time, South Africa now has the capability to digitally verify the identity and biometrics of foreign nationals before they enter the country,” Schreiber said, adding that government was continuing to roll out systems to better secure the country’s borders.
The Border Management Authority (BMA) has also sought to counter perceptions that South Africa is hostile towards foreign nationals as migration tensions continue.
The authority said it was important to “vehemently correct the false narrative that South Africa is inherently xenophobic or unwelcoming to people from outside our borders.”
“South Africa has historically welcomed and continues to host people from diverse countries across the globe,” the BMA said.
“Our nation remains deeply committed to the African Union Agenda 2063, which seeks to promote a better, more integrated Africa for all.”
The authority added that, as a constitutional democracy, South Africa complies with international migration frameworks and remains a signatory to numerous global conventions that promote human dignity, equality and the rule of law.
The statement echoes Kubayi‘s call for communities to reject vigilantism and for the country’s migration challenges to be addressed through lawful enforcement while protecting the rights of those living in South Africa legally.
Saturday Star