Calls for calm as Gayton McKenzie rejects xenophobia claims at Africa Day

Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has rejected accusations that South Africans are xenophobic, saying people in the country have a right to protest against illegal immigration. His comments were made during official Africa Day celebrations on Monday, May 25, at the Moruleng Stadium in the North West.

Calls for responsibility from leaders

McKenzie told the Africa Day gathering that

“South Africans are not xenophobic. There is a false allegation that South Africans are xenophobic… There can be no African unity if the leaders send their people to come and take the jobs of our young people. African leaders must look after their own people first,”

and urged those without proper documentation to leave the country.

He also criticised the Somali Association of South Africa and drew comparisons with other countries, saying Europe and China enforce passport and visa regulations and arguing South Africa should do the same to address current challenges.

Ministers meet amid rising protests

The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) ministers convened an urgent meeting at the Union Buildings in Tshwane to address rising protests over illegal immigration. The ministers were expected to discuss illegal immigration and broader social cohesion issues and to finalise a framework on a national action plan to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Dissenting voices at Africa Day events

Not all stakeholders agreed with McKenzie’s framing. BuildOne SA leader Mmusi Maimane, speaking at an event at Constitution Hill, said movements calling for undocumented migrants to leave lack moral clarity. He stated:

“Today, we are witnessing movements without moral clarity, without ideological grounding, and without any constructive vision for our people. These are nefarious movements that organise themselves not around building Africa, but around persecuting fellow Africans,”

according to reports.

Political and justice responses

The ANC, in its Africa Day statement, said it will work with fraternal organisations and through government to address continent-wide challenges, including illegal immigration, and called for leadership and unity to find lasting solutions.

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, commenting after the ministers’ meeting, urged those who have taken the law into their own hands to allow the government to lead document verification. She said there is a

“balancing act”

in determining who is a foreign national and warned that those conducting verifications may not be able to distinguish foreign nationals from citizens. She added that marchers have a responsibility in the songs they sing not to divide our nation.

What happened next

Ministers were set to finalise the national action plan framework as part of a coordinated response to rising protests and concerns over illegal immigration and social cohesion.