PRETORIA, Gauteng — A coalition of 130 civil society organizations operating under the banner of Siyafana Sonke has called for urgent government accountability and the protection of migrants’ rights in South Africa. The advocacy group warns that widespread public anger regarding unemployment and collapsing public services is being dangerously misdirected at vulnerable foreign nationals, allowing political and economic elites to evade responsibility.
Urgent Intervention Sought from the State
The Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign, whose name translates to “we are all the same,” recently held a critical meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster. The primary objective of the engagement was to seek urgent state intervention to address escalating tensions and protect vulnerable communities.
Dr. Lubna Nadvi, an academic and spokesperson for the campaign, emphasized that while South African citizens have legitimate grievances regarding service delivery, poverty, and joblessness, foreign nationals are being unfairly scapegoated for the country’s systemic failures.
“We have to ensure that while this conversation is happening, foreign nationals and immigrants in the country are not subjected to any kind of violence or intimidation,” Dr. Nadvi stated. She noted that the heightened anti-migrant rhetoric has already resulted in severe consequences, including fatalities.
Humanitarian Crisis on the Ground
Speaking from KwaZulu-Natal, Dr. Nadvi highlighted the dire situation faced by foreign nationals on the ground. She reported that documented refugees and immigrants have been forcefully expelled from their homes and are now living in the open on pavements for more than six weeks. Concurrently, the government is processing the repatriation of large numbers of Malawian nationals.
To address the immediate needs of displaced families, the campaign has launched a 200,000 rand fundraising drive to provide emergency shelter, food, and essential supplies. The coalition is pushing the government to uphold its constitutional duty to protect everyone within the country’s borders.
Looming June 30 Deadline and Historical Context
A major focal point of the coalition’s engagement with the state was the looming date of June 30. This deadline, circulated by what Dr. Nadvi described as “fear groups,” has sparked widespread anxiety about potential violence or a “bloodbath” targeting foreign nationals.
Dr. Nadvi acknowledged the exhaustion of an angry citizenry, drawing parallels to the July 2021 unrest. She noted that while those riots were triggered by other legal ramifications, they also devolved into widespread xenophobic attacks. “When people see that government is not doing anything, then they turn to those that they feel are the transgressors,” she explained, emphasizing that the initial frustration is always directed at the state’s failure to act.
Siyafana Sonke has pressed the government for a concrete security plan to ensure the safety of all residents leading up to the June 30 date. In response to the growing unrest, authorities have reportedly allocated 600 million rand and deployed additional police and security officials to maintain order and prevent vigilante attacks.
Four Key Demands for the Government
During their meeting with the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, the civil society coalition presented four specific demands to de-escalate the crisis:
- Humanitarian Intervention: Immediate provision of emergency shelter, food, and supplies for displaced refugees and documented foreign nationals.
- Coordinated Security: Enhanced collaboration between state security apparatuses and civil society humanitarian teams on the ground to ensure vulnerable people are actively protected.
- Accountability for Violence: Strict prosecution of individuals perpetrating acts of violence, intimidation, and xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals.
- Responsible Public Discourse: The state must take responsibility for the public narrative and halt anti-migrant scapegoating, reinforcing the fact that migrants are not the cause of South Africa’s unemployment crisis.
Dr. Nadvi concluded by reiterating that the ultimate responsibility lies with the government to address the valid concerns of its citizens while simultaneously upholding the human rights and safety of all individuals residing within South Africa.
