Gayton McKenzie has rejected allegations of xenophobia against South Africa during this year’s Africa Day celebrations in the North West Province.
The annual commemoration was overshadowed by widespread marches against illegal immigration held across the country. Interest groups and ordinary South Africans took to the streets to protest what they described as an alarming rise in illegal immigration, arguing that it is placing severe pressure on service delivery and public resources.
The main Africa Day event was hosted at Moruleng Stadium outside Rustenburg, where McKenzie addressed the growing debate surrounding immigration and accusations of xenophobia.
“South Africa is facing many false allegations. They say we are a genocidal country, which is untrue. Another accusation is that we are xenophobic and hate foreigners. That is also false,” McKenzie said.
The Minister also defended the concerns being raised by South African citizens regarding illegal immigration.
“All we are asking is for leaders to listen to their people. Leaders cannot ignore the concerns of citizens. If you have a job and medical aid, you should be cautious when commenting on illegal immigration. Our people are not overreacting when they express frustration on this matter. It is unacceptable that South Africans face unemployment and poor service delivery while illegal migrants continue to benefit from basic services,” he said.
McKenzie further called on African leaders to take responsibility for the welfare of their own citizens rather than relying solely on South Africa.
According to the Minister, meaningful African unity cannot be achieved while illegal immigration remains a major challenge for the country. He concluded his address by reiterating calls for undocumented migrants to return to their countries of origin.
McKenzie’s remarks coincided with a Virtual Imbizo hosted by the South African Human Rights Commission, which aimed to engage citizens on recent immigration-related developments.
Many participants expressed dissatisfaction with the Commission’s handling of the issue. In response, the SAHRC welcomed the recommendations raised during the engagement and encouraged members of the public to use lawful and appropriate channels to voice their grievances.
