Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says President Cyril Ramaphosa expects law enforcement agencies to act against violent protesters, while maintaining that South Africans are not xenophobic.
The remarks come amid growing demonstrations against undocumented immigrants in several major cities across South Africa.
Speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday, Magwenya said the issue was discussed between Ramaphosa and Daniel Chapo, the President of Mozambique, during Chapo’s recent working visit to South Africa.
Magwenya said both leaders agreed that South Africans should not be labelled as xenophobic, describing the protests as isolated incidents taking place within the country’s constitutional framework.
“What is important from our perspective is obviously respecting the rights of everybody that is within our borders and, when we protest, to do so peacefully without causing harm to anybody,” he said.
He added that Ramaphosa expects law enforcement authorities to “play its role to prevent any acts of violence against any individual.”
The two presidents also agreed that African countries need to work together to address the root causes of migration across the continent, including conflict, instability and poor governance.
Magwenya said Ramaphosa emphasised that South Africa remains a welcoming country and rejected attempts to characterise its citizens as xenophobic.
