The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, has strongly condemned the recent wave of xenophobic vigilantism in South Africa, describing the attacks on foreign nationals as a source of deep embarrassment and a betrayal of Pan-African ideals.
In a strongly worded statement, Mene said he was “deeply embarrassed” by what he described as the actions of “a loud minority of xenophobes” targeting foreign nationals in South Africa.
He welcomed the South African government’s commitment to prosecute those responsible for the attacks and harassment, regardless of whether the victims are documented or undocumented migrants.
“As a pan-Africanist and a South African, I bow my head in shame,” Mene said, adding that the acts of intimidation and displacement of foreign nationals are inconsistent with the values underpinning African unity.
He stressed that xenophobic vigilantism runs contrary to the vision of a borderless African economy under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to deepen economic integration and promote the free movement of people, goods and services across the continent.
“The displacement of foreign nationals in South Africa is antithetical to that project. I reject xenophobia in all its forms,” he stated.
Mene’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in South Africa, where anti-immigrant protests and vigilante attacks have forced thousands of migrants to flee their homes.
Authorities have increased security deployments, while President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned against vigilantism and vowed to uphold the rule of law.
Human rights organisations and regional bodies, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, have also condemned the attacks, urging South African authorities to ensure accountability for perpetrators and protect the rights of all people living within the country.
