South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep regret over the recent attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, pledging decisive action against those responsible for the violence.

His remarks come as Ghana prepares to evacuate the final batch of its citizens from South Africa this week following a wave of attacks targeting foreign nationals.Ghanaian economic overview

Addressing members of the Pan-African Parliament on Monday, July 27, 2026, President Ramaphosa described the incidents as “sad and abhorrent” and extended condolences to the victims and their families.

“There have been incidents that have been quite sad and abhorrent, where people have been injured, and some people have died and lost their lives, which we as South Africa deeply, deeply regret and mourn,” he said.

The South African leader acknowledged that the attacks had been fuelled partly by misinformation and prejudice, while also pointing to concerns among some citizens about the impact of illegal migration.

“This is fuelled in part by misinformation and prejudice, but it draws on a genuine concern among some South Africans about the social and economic burden that is brought upon them by illegal migration,” he said.

Ramaphosa stressed that his government would not tolerate violence or intimidation against foreign nationals.

“As the South African Government, I want to make it clear we have taken a firm stance against any form of intimidation, vigilantism, or violence directed at people from other countries or other nations,” he said.

He added that the government had also rejected xenophobia and Afrophobia and was strengthening the enforcement of laws to protect everyone living within the country’s borders.

“We have taken a firm stand against hatred for people from other countries, xenophobia or Afrophobia. We have taken steps to strengthen and enforce our laws to defuse tension and to ensure that all persons within our borders respect the rights of all and that the rights of people from outside South Africa are respected and upheld,” President Ramaphosa said.

Source: Citinewsroom