Ramaphosa Condemns Attacks on Foreign Nationals, Pledges Crackdown

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned recent violent attacks on foreign nationals as criminal acts by opportunists, pledging a government crackdown in a statement released on Monday.

The violence, occurring amid anti-migrant protests in cities including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, East London and parts of KwaZulu-Natal, has resulted in at least two Nigerians and two Ghanaians killed, with properties owned by African migrants destroyed. Demonstrators have demanded action against undocumented foreigners, accusing them of crime, informal trading, undercutting wages and straining access to clinics and spaza shops. Ramaphosa stressed that such acts do not represent South Africans or government policy. "These are the acts of opportunists who are exploiting the legitimate grievances, particularly those of the poor, under the false guise of community activism," he wrote. He highlighted lawless actions by attackers, such as stopping people to check identification and searching private property, functions reserved for state officials. "Such lawlessness will not be tolerated, regardless of who the perpetrators or victims are," he added.