President Ramaphosa addresses illegal migration amid rising anti-foreigner protests in South Africa
via The Namibian7 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged a stronger government response to migration issues while cautioning against xenophobia and vigilantism, as anti-foreigner protests spread across South Africa. Protests targeting foreigners have occurred in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape, with incidents including the targeting of homes and looting of shops. Speaking during the Presidency Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday, June 2, Ramaphosa outlined plans to strengthen immigration enforcement, emphasizing the need to address illegal migration which he stated can strain public services and hinder job creation efforts. He also stressed the importance of upholding the law and human dignity for all individuals in South Africa, regardless of their nationality, and condemned violence, xenophobia, and vigilantism. These comments come as surveys indicate a rise in anti-foreigner sentiment since the Covid-19 pandemic, with 42% of respondents in a Human Sciences Research Council HSRC survey stating they would not welcome any immigrants. The HSRC data from 2025 shows hostility towards immigrants is at its highest since 2003, with immigrants increasingly perceived as an economic threat and associated with crime. Human Rights Watch researcher Nomathamsanqa Masiko-Mpaka highlighted that while the right to protest is protected, it does not permit violence, and called for accountability for vigilante groups. Recently, nearly 300 Ghanaians reportedly fled South Africa due to xenophobic tens
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
New Zealand's All Blacks secured a 40-21 victory over Ireland in a rugby Test match at Eden Park, maintaining their 53-match unbeaten record at the venue. The All Blacks dominated the first half, scoring four of their six tries to lead 28-7 at the interval. This win marks their third consecutive victory in the inaugural Nations Championship. Ireland, playing their final game of the season, struggled with missed tackles and handling errors early on, failing to challenge New Zealand's 32-year home record. Despite improving in the second half, Ireland could not add to their recent Nations Championship wins against Australia and Japan. New All Blacks coach Dave Rennie saw an encouraging performance from his team, following earlier home wins against France and Italy. Key tries for New Zealand came from Patrick Tuipulotu, captain Ardie Savea, Will Jordan, Asafo Aumua, and Anton Lienert-Brown. Ireland's scores included tries from Jack Conan, Joe McCarthy, and Hugo Keenan. The All Blacks are now set to tour South Africa for four Tests against the world champions.
Must ReadThe World Cup final on Sunday will feature a match between reigning champions Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, aims to be the first team in 64 years to successfully defend their title. This match is expected to be the final World Cup appearance for the 39-year-old Messi, who has scored eight goals in the tournament and is on track for the Golden Boot. Messi has been instrumental in Argentina's journey, including a comeback victory against Egypt and a 2-1 win over England in the semi-finals. Argentina's head coach, Lionel Scaloni, attributes his team's success to their fearlessness and collective spirit. Spain, aiming for their second World Cup crown, reached the final after defeating France 2-0 in the semi-finals. Their team, under coach Luis de la Fuente, is known for its possession-based football and strong defense, having conceded only one goal in seven matches. Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal, 19, is expected to be a key player despite recovering from a hamstring injury. The final also sets up a personal duel between de la Fuente and Scaloni, as de la Fuente mentored Scaloni when he was studying for his professional license in 2018. The match will include a 25-30 minute half-time concert featuring Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. US President Donald Trump is expected to be among the over 80,000 spectators.
Must ReadGarry Sobers, the renowned West Indies all-rounder, has passed away at the age of 89. Widely considered one of cricket's greatest players, Sobers was celebrated for his exceptional batting, bowling, and fielding. In 93 Tests, he scored 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and took 235 wickets. He was also an agile fielder, with 109 Test catches. Australian batsman Donald Bradman, another cricketing icon, once described Sobers as "the greatest cricketer of all time." Born Garfield St Aubrun Sobers in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 1936, he made his Test debut in 1954. In 1958, he set a world record for the highest individual score in Test cricket with 365 not out against Pakistan, a record that stood until 1994. Sobers captained the West Indies from 1964 to 1972, leading them to their first series win against Australia at home. He also achieved the historic feat of hitting six sixes in a single over in 1968 while playing for Nottinghamshire. Sobers retired from Test cricket in 1974 and was knighted a year later. The International Cricket Council established the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy in his honor for the annual world player of the year.