By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola says the decision to escalate concerns about South Africa’s treatment of foreign nationals to the African Union (AU) is regrettable.
This follows the request by the Republic of Ghana for a debate at the upcoming African Union (AU) Mid-Year Coordination Summit scheduled to take place in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt, on the 24th of June 2026.
Anti-immigrant protests in South Africa in recent weeks have revived concerns about xenophobic violence in the country, where migrants are targeted in a climate of high unemployment and overstretched basic services.
The protests come at a sensitive time for South Africa, which currently holds the interim chair of the Southern African Development Community – a 15-nation economic bloc – placing added pressure on the government to demonstrate stability and leadership within the region.
The United Nations (UN) last week condemned xenophobic attacks, as well as the harassment and intimidation of foreign nationals in South Africa.
Secretary-General António Guterres called for calm and urged the authorities to protect all residents regardless of their nationality, according to a statement issued by his office.
Lamola conceded that he would have preferred bilateral engagement, but the AU provided a platform for countries to reflect on the factors driving migration to South Africa.
He strongly condemned attacks on foreigners, noting that migrant labour had been the backbone of the local economy.
“There is a need to deal with the root cause, particularly economic factors that remain important. So we can deal with the issue in a comprehensive manner,” said Lamola.
“There is no way you can deal with migration without dealing with the root cause of the challenge,” he added. He said the “push factors” that prompted people to leave their home countries to migrate to South Africa would have to be taken into account. Elsewhere, the government has identified these push factors as poor political and economic governance.”
Lamola said Pretoria could likewise find no evidence for the complaint by Ghana that two of its nationals had also been killed in SA.
“So it’s a narrative also driven by fake news.”
Should the AU nonetheless place the matter on its agenda, South Africa said it would counter by proposing a debate on the “push and pull factors of migration, including good governance, rule of law, and democracy” – a framing widely read as redirecting scrutiny toward the governance failures in origin countries that drive irregular migration.
Lamola said, South Africa would “continue to lead with a Pan-African heart. Our commitment is to solidarity, the rule of law, and the safety of all who reside within our borders. Migration must be managed through cooperation, compassion and continental responsibility.”
South Africa is the continent’s biggest economy, and although its 31.4% unemployment rate is among the highest globally, it still offers stronger economic prospects, broader social services and more developed infrastructure than many of its neighbours.