South Africa’s Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has acknowledged that xenophobia-related backlash is costing South African businesses and artistes income across Africa, even as she insisted recent mass evacuations targeted only illegal immigrants and were “devoid of xenophobia.”
South Africa’s government is finally admitting what many had suspected — the xenophobia backlash is biting, and it’s biting hard.
Speaking on SABC on Sunday, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi tried to set the record straight on a recent mass evacuation exercise, insisting it was aimed squarely at illegal African immigrants and had nothing to do with xenophobia.
But she didn’t stop there. Kubayi admitted the country is now facing real consequences across the continent — South African artistes are losing bookings, and businesses operating abroad are feeling the heat too.
“We can’t lie about the backlash, and that is why part of the work that we are doing as government, as well through DECO, is engagement with businesses abroad, South African companies abroad,” she said.
According to the minister, government isn’t just watching from the sidelines. “Minister Alamola has met with them, and we are providing services, support services and consular services for those businesses on the continent and outside the continent,” she added.
The Punch reported that the admission comes amid growing reports of cancelled shows for South African performers across Africa, as anger over the country’s treatment of foreign nationals continues to simmer. For a nation that prides itself on its cultural exports and pan-African ties, the reputational hit — and the lost income — appears to be mounting by the day.
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