The South African government has spoken out about the damaging effects of ongoing xenophobic attacks on its creative industry and other sectors.
The country’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, disclosed at a media briefing of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration.
Speaking during the event, which was aired by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on Monday, Mrs Kubayi revealed that many of the country’s artistes have lost bookings and performance opportunities across the continent.
She added that South African businesses operating abroad are also struggling amid growing perceptions of xenophobia.
She noted: “It’s our artists. The majority of South African artists perform on the continent, and many are seeing their gigs cancelled. So that’s another impact of the work because they benefit quite a lot. They perform at live performance events and everything. So they are receiving a thing.
“We’ve not been able to work together. So we’ll definitely work with arts and culture to understand the impact they’ll have. But one artist did reach out to me to say that all her gigs on the continent were cancelled. This is an income loss for South Africa. So the brand does get affected.”
Supports
She further disclosed that the government had directed a minister to engage citizens living abroad and offer them support.
“Minister Alamola has met with them, and we’re providing services, support services and consular services for those businesses on the continent and outside the continent.
“So that’s where they face a backlash, where they face difficulties, there would be one of the areas that we would have to look at as well that has come to my attention as well.”
“We’re not xenophobic”
Mrs Kubayi also maintained that the government cannot ignore the backlash directed at the country.
She said this had prompted the government to do everything possible through DECO to engage with South African businesses abroad.
“That’s why part of what we are doing is to explain that South Africans are not xenophobic. And we are also telling South Africans: let’s be responsible. And that’s why let’s deal with the issue of illegal immigrants. And that’s why all the others are saying to us, South Africa.
“We understand what you are dealing with, on the basis that these are illegal people; therefore, enforce the law. And those you have legally within the borders, please protect them as you protect South Africans. So that’s the message as well that we continue to do”, said Mrs Kubayi.
Order
Furthermore, she revealed that the government has ordered communities to reject vigilante action against foreign nationals.
“To a certain extent, to others who are not even foreign nationals in terms of language and how they look. So it’s those things we believe can not only help the brand but also strengthen our social cohesion.
“It can divide us further in terms of our cultural diversity. We’ve embraced our cultural diversity and inclusion, and we’ve welcomed each other from different tribes and communities. So if we don’t deal with this both internally, it can also hurt us internally and externally.”
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the violence against black immigrants in South Africa has claimed several lives and continues to persist.
The newspaper further reported that several African countries have evacuated their citizens from the country, with Nigeria airlifting 258 nationals and Ghana repatriating 1,000.
