馃嚳馃嚘South AfricaSouthern Africa
South Africa's Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration warns against disinformation fueling xenophobia
via The Citizen2 min read
South Africa's Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration has raised concerns about a surge of fake videos and manipulated images on digital platforms, stating that this disinformation is being used to incite violence, drive xenophobic attacks, and destabilize communities. The committee, which met in Pretoria, briefed the media on the progress of President Cyril Ramaphosa's new migration strategy. It highlighted that while significant strides have been made in implementing the strategy, there is a "false narrative" portraying South Africa as inherently xenophobic or hostile to foreign nationals. The committee emphasized that these manipulated visuals are part of a targeted disinformation campaign designed to cause panic, fuel attacks on foreign nationals, and unfairly blame them for socio-economic challenges. It added that these campaigns also aim to damage South Africa's international reputation, noting that the country has historically welcomed people from diverse countries and remains committed to the African Union Agenda 2063. The committee stressed that South Africa's approach to migration is anchored in its constitution and the rule of law, calling on all undocumented immigrants to comply with laws and employers to adhere to immigration and labor regulations. It urged South Africans to reject vigilantism and misinformation.
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