IGER Africa has called on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to take decisive and holistic action against rising xenophobic attacks in the country.
The governance, religion, and policy think tank says the President must acknowledge the continental support that contributed to South Africa’s liberation and implement strong state-level protections that classify such attacks as hate crimes.
In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Paul Abrokwah, the organization also urged the African Union to take a firm stance in demanding the protection of all Africans across the continent.
“ECOWAS must rise to protect West African citizens immediately. If we treat our own brothers with more cruelty than the West ever could, then the dream of the African Century is dead. IGER-Africa stands firm: we will not allow this injustice to destroy the image and identity of Africa. South Africa, the spirit of Ubuntu is not a marketing slogan; it is a moral obligation. Live up to it,” the statement said.
In its extended statement titled “The Betrayal of Ubuntu: South Africa Must Remember Who Carried Them to Freedom,” IGER Africa described the recent wave of xenophobic violence as both a human rights crisis and a historical betrayal.
The group condemned the growing narrative that foreign nationals are responsible for South Africa’s economic challenges, calling it “dangerous and lazy.”
According to IGER Africa, these attacks go beyond civil unrest and should be seen as a crime against humanity and a serious affront to African identity.
The statement highlights the role other African nations played during South Africa’s liberation struggle.
Countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Ethiopia are cited as key contributors—providing financial support, diplomatic backing, and safe havens for freedom fighters.
The think tank stressed that the freedom South Africans enjoy today was the result of a collective African effort.
IGER Africa acknowledged South Africa’s economic challenges, including high unemployment, but rejected the targeting of foreign nationals as a solution.
It described the scapegoating of African migrants as misguided, stating that domestic policy failures and systemic issues not foreigners are at the root of the crisis.
The group also warned that internal divisions across Africa could undermine broader continental goals, including the push for reparations for historical injustices.
Referencing efforts led by President John Dramani Mahama, IGER Africa questioned how Africa can demand justice globally while internal conflicts persist.
IGER Africa praised the swift diplomatic engagement of Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, but urged further action.
It called for a coalition of African foreign ministers to address what it described as a recurring pattern of xenophobic violence in South Africa and to push for a lasting solution.
The statement concludes with a strong appeal to African leaders and institutions:
- The African Union must demand accountability
- ECOWAS must act to protect its citizens
- African leaders must insist on the safety of all Africans
IGER Africa emphasized that President Ramaphosa must act urgently and decisively.
“The xenophobic attacks MUST STOP NOW. President Cyril Ramaphosa must address this issue holistically. He must acknowledge the continental support that birthed his nation and implement state-level protections that treat these attacks as the hate crimes they are.”
The organization reiterated its position:
“We will not allow this injustice to destroy the image and identity of Africa. South Africa, the spirit of Ubuntu is not a marketing slogan; it is a moral obligation. Live up to it.”
