Xenophobia: South Africa Is Nothing Without Africa — MTN Chairman

Chairman of MTN Group, Mcebisi Jonas, has said South Africa’s progress and stability are deeply rooted in the support and solidarity of the African continent, warning that rising xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiments could undermine that shared history.

Jonas made the remarks at the funeral of Zimbabwean-born activist and public servant Thokozani Damasane, where he stressed that South Africa’s socio-economic challenges would not be resolved by targeting foreign nationals, insisting that the country is nothing without Africa.

His comments come amid renewed anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa, where foreign nationals, including Nigerians and Zimbabweans, have faced growing hostility over worsening economic conditions and rising unemployment.

According to him, blaming immigrants for the country’s challenges diverts attention from the structural issues affecting the nation.

“Our problems as a nation cannot be solved by turning against fellow Africans. Xenophobia is not a solution to unemployment, poverty or state failure,” Jonas said.

He argued that inequality, unemployment, corruption and weak institutions would remain even if foreign nationals left the country.

“Foreigners can leave tomorrow, inequality will be with us. Foreigners will leave tomorrow, and unemployment will be with us. Foreigners will leave tomorrow – our police will remain corrupt,” he said.

Jonas said the country’s real challenge lies in the inability of state institutions to effectively manage critical sectors such as immigration, border control, law enforcement and education.

“The problem is the failure of the state. The state doesn’t manage immigration. It doesn’t manage its borders. It doesn’t enforce law enforcement. It doesn’t manage education. What are you expecting?” he said.

He also warned against political exploitation of public frustration, saying some leaders often shift blame to foreigners instead of addressing systemic failures.

“When people feel the burn, they become vulnerable to politicians whose sole purpose is to be elected and re-elected. Some of them have no credibility whatsoever. But they lead marches and tell our people that the problem is not us – it is foreigners,” he said.

Reflecting on the life of Damasane, Jonas described him as a man who made South Africa his home and contributed meaningfully to the country’s struggles and development.

“I was thinking, what is home to Damasane? Because I understand, and I understood very early in life, that home is where humanity is. Home is about humanness. It is about the good of humanity and striving for the good of humanity,” he said.

He added, “He immersed himself deeply into the struggles, into the pains of South Africans, and he became one of us. In Damasane’s strength, our strength as South Africa and South Africans are reflected. And in his weaknesses, our own weaknesses are reflected.”

Jonas further stressed that South Africa’s history and progress are closely linked to the support it received from other African countries during the anti-apartheid struggle.

“South Africa is nothing without Africa. We cannot forget that in our darkest days, the continent stood with us. To now treat fellow Africans as enemies is to betray that history,” he said.

Meanwhile, his remarks have renewed debate over xenophobia in South Africa, where repeated attacks on migrants have continued to raise concerns about social cohesion, economic inequality and governance in Africa’s most industrialised economy.