The South African Presidency has launched a robust defense against what it characterizes as the spread of misinformation regarding the country’s ongoing immigration challenges. This intervention follows a formal statement issued by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), who publicly condemned what he described as a series of renewed, xenophobic-style attacks against foreign nationals residing in South Africa. According to the WHO’s assessment, these violent incidents have led to the tragic death of several individuals, specifically citing the loss of at least five Ethiopian nationals and five Mozambicans in Mossel Bay, framing these deaths as part of a targeted campaign against migrants.
In a direct response issued this past Monday, the Presidency expressed profound concern over the global narrative being constructed around these deaths. To address these discrepancies, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has been tasked with initiating high-level diplomatic engagements with the WHO. The objective of these discussions is to ensure that the international health body is provided with accurate, verified, and reliable data. The government argues that portraying these complex incidents through a singular, potentially flawed lens undermines the nuance of the internal security challenges South Africa is currently working to manage through regulated channels.
Central to the government’s rebuttal is the clarification surrounding the deaths of the Ethiopian nationals. The Presidency explicitly disputed the WHO’s characterization of the tragedy, stating that the information provided to the international body was factually incorrect. Rather than being the victims of targeted xenophobic violence, the Presidency clarified that the incidents in question fall squarely within the domain of organized crime. By categorizing these deaths as criminal rather than social-political incidents, the government emphasized that law enforcement agencies are actively pursuing these cases as standard criminal investigations, distancing the tragedy from the broader, more controversial discourse surrounding migration and xenophobia.
Regarding the separate incidents involving Mozambican nationals in Mossel Bay, the government maintains that the situation is being handled with the utmost seriousness. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that these matters remain under active and rigorous investigation. By emphasizing that these cases are currently in the hands of the authorities, the Presidency hopes to reassure the international community that the rule of law is being applied consistently and that no act of violence—regardless of the nationality of the victim—is being ignored or treated with impunity by the state.
The Presidency also reiterated the administration’s unwavering stance on public order and the rule of law. Drawing on the directives of President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, the statement stressed that the enforcement of immigration and criminal law is the sole responsibility of duly authorized state agents. The government cautioned against vigilantism or individuals taking the law into their own hands, reaffirming that the state remains the only legitimate entity empowered to address immigration challenges. This reinforces a policy of maintaining social cohesion while simultaneously ensuring that national laws are upheld transparently and fairly.
In its closing remarks, the Presidency expressed its deepest condolences and regret regarding the loss of life, affirming that in South Africa, “one life lost is one too many.” While the government remains adamant about correcting the record to prevent the international stigmatization of the country, it emphasized that its sympathy for the affected families and communities remains profound. By balancing the need for diplomatic accuracy with a humanitarian acknowledgment of the victims, the Presidency aims to de-escalate international tensions while demonstrating that the state is committed to addressing both the complexities of migration and the eradication of criminal activity within its borders.
