South Africa's Ronald Lamola addresses xenophobia claims after WHO Director-General raises concerns

Dr. Ghebreyesus had condemned a wave of xenophobic threats in South Africa, describing it as a "tragic betrayal of the country's historic struggle for freedom and justice." He also expressed sadness over reports of renewed attacks targeting foreign nationals, which he stated had left several people dead and displaced thousands. Lamola, however, stressed that recent killings are linked to organized crime rather than xenophobia.

He specifically clarified that the deaths of five Ethiopian nationals were connected to organized crime within the Ethiopian community in South Africa, and that reports of five Mozambican deaths were inaccurate, with at least two confirmed and under investigation. Lamola affirmed that these incidents do not reflect the South African government's values and that perpetrators will face legal consequences. He also acknowledged irregular migration as a challenge that needs to be managed humanely and within the law, emphasizing that addressing migration challenges is a collective responsibility for the African continent.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration also warned against disinformation being used to incite violence and destabilize communities, stating that such campaigns aim to damage South Africa's international reputation.