Cyril Ramaphosa Apologizes for South African Violence Against Mozambicans

• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa apologized for violence against foreign nationals, including Mozambicans.
• Thousands were displaced and faced insecurity due to the violence, which resulted in looting, harassment, and deadly riots.
• The SADC Summit 2026 is currently underway in Durban, where President Ramaphosa will continue to discuss the issue with his counterparts.
• 11 member states need to ratify the instrument relating to the SADC Regional Development Fund for it to come into force.

According to Maria dos Santos Lucas, President Cyril Ramaphosa apologized for the violence during a lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where he acknowledged that the South African government had not managed the situation well.

Recent violence perpetrated by South African citizens against foreign nationals, including Mozambicans, has left thousands displaced and facing insecurity. The violence resulted in looting, harassment, and deadly riots in informal settlements. According to Maria dos Santos Lucas, the Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs, President Cyril Ramaphosa apologized for the violence during a lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where he acknowledged that the South African government had not managed the situation well.

The incident highlights the ongoing efforts by the South African government to address xenophobic violence. The SADC Summit 2026 is currently underway in Durban, where President Ramaphosa will continue to discuss the issue with his counterparts. The summit also aims to approve the SADC budget for 2026-2027 and assess the operationalization of the SADC Regional Development Fund, which promotes regional integration. However, 11 member states need to ratify the instrument relating to the Fund before it can come into force.

The apology from President Ramaphosa is a significant step towards addressing the xenophobic violence in South Africa. The incident has far-reaching implications for businesses with interests in the country, as they must be aware of the ongoing efforts to address the issue and its potential impact on their operations and compliance obligations. Lawyers advising clients with business interests in South Africa should take note of this development and its potential consequences.

Lawyers advising clients with business interests in South Africa should be aware of the ongoing efforts by the South African government to address xenophobic violence, which may impact their operations and compliance obligations.

Source: Original reporting via AllAfrica