By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Presidency has rejected with contempt the criticism raised over the timing of President Cyril Ramaphosa trip to Zimbabwe. South East Africa on Sunday, 03 May 2026.
This follows criticism by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that the trip took place in a politically sensitive environmen and raised questions about South Africa’s foreign policy posture.
Presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya briefed the media on Wednesday, 06 May 2026, in Cape Town.
Magwenya said the visit underscored the deeply historical relationship between the two countries, rooted in their shared struggles against colonialism and apartheid, as well as strong trade ties. In 2025, South African exports to Zimbabwe reached approximately US$4.3 billion, largely driven by agricultural products and machinery.
During the visit, the two leaders held discussions in an informal setting at Mnangagwa’s farm, where Ramaphosa also sought insight into initiatives supporting local farmers in surrounding areas.
However, the Presidency noted “with concern” reports that an individual wanted by law enforcement was present during the visit.
The DA questioned the presence of Zimbabwean businessperson Wicknell Chivhayo and Kudakwashe Tagwirei, referring to them as “the Zimbabwean Guptas” and raising concerns about corruption and influence.
“President Ramaphosa had no prior knowledge of who will be present during the visit nor was he familiar with the said individual. The President flew to Zimbabwe for a meeting with his counterpart and nothing else,” Magwenya said.
The presidency rejected suggestions that the visit was linked to internal political developments, stressing that it remained focused on bilateral cooperation and regional stability.
Xenophobic Attacks
A series of anti-migrant protests in recent weeks across Africa’s most industrialised country, along with claims of attacks against foreigners, have prompted Nigeria and Ghana to voice concern.
“South Africans are not xenophobic,” Magwenya said. “What you have is pockets of protest, which is permissible within our constitutional framework.”
In fresh demonstrations on Wednesday, hundreds of people marched in the eastern city of Durban and other centres to demand that the government take action against undocumented migrants operating businesses such as small shops.
Demonstrations in previous months have also sought to deny undocumented foreigners access to South African clinics and hospitals.
In talks on Tuesday, Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo and Ramaphosa had agreed “the continent needs to work together to address the issues that are behind these levels of migration”, the spokesman said.
These included “conflicts, issues of instability, and in some areas… the misgovernment that causes people to migrate in large numbers and seek refuge in different parts of the continent, including South Africa”.
There should “be willingness to constructively engage on what are these issues and factors behind peoples seeking to leave their countries of birth and seeking refugee elsewhere”, Magwenya said.
Nigeria has announced emergency repatriation flights for its citizens living in South Africa and warned Pretoria Monday that it was not doing enough to tamp down on anti-immigrant threats and harassment.
Ghana summoned South Africa’s envoy in late April over several “xenophobic incidents”.
Magwenya said the label of xenophobia was a “lazy” analysis that risked “unfairly maligning” South Africa in the same way as false US claims of a “genocide” against its white minority.
May programme
On Thursday, the President will visit the South32 Hillside Aluminium smelter in Richards Bay to mark 30 years of operations. The facility, the largest aluminium smelter in the southern hemisphere, supports an estimated 29,000 jobs and has contributed around R35 billion to the economy over the past decade.
On 12 May, Ramaphosa will officially open the Africa Travel Indaba in Durban, a major platform for tourism investment and collaboration across the continent.
He is also expected to address the BlackRock Infrastructure Investment Conference on 13 May, engaging global investors on opportunities in energy, transport, digital and water infrastructure.
Other key engagements include responding to oral questions in the National Assembly on 14 May, presiding over the National Orders awards on 19 May, and undertaking a working visit to Botswana on 20 May for the South Africa-Botswana Bi-National Commission.