South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected claims that South Africans are inherently xenophobic, insisting there is no place for intolerance, discrimination or hostility towards foreign nationals in the country.

In a national address on Sunday (7 June), Ramaphosa said incidents of violence and tension involving migrants did not reflect the values or character of the broader South African population.

“We know that South Africans are not xenophobic, as there is no space for xenophobia, for racism, for sexism, for Afrophobia, or any other form of intolerance in South Africa,” he said.

His remarks come amid heightened concern over recent attacks on foreign nationals in parts of the country, which have prompted several African governments, including Ghana, to take steps to safeguard their citizens.

Ramaphosa urged calm and warned against actions that could inflame tensions, saying South Africans must not be drawn into violence or lawlessness.

“As communities and as a society, we must not be tempted to join those who want us to turn against people who were not born in South Africa and who are in our midst,” he said.

He added that groups should not exploit socio-economic frustrations to destabilise the country through incitement of violence.

South Africa has in recent years experienced periodic outbreaks of anti-immigrant violence, often linked to unemployment, crime concerns and competition over scarce resources. The incidents have drawn widespread condemnation across the continent.

Ghana is among countries that have responded to the latest developments by supporting the evacuation and voluntary return of nationals who expressed fears for their safety.

Authorities across Africa have repeatedly called for stronger protections for migrants amid recurring tensions in South Africa.