By Adesakin Adefemi
South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has raised alarm over the economic and cultural fallout from rising xenophobic sentiment on the continent, saying South African artists are losing performance opportunities and businesses are facing backlash abroad.
Speaking in an interview with SABC on Sunday, Kubayi acknowledged the growing backlash against South Africa and stressed that recent mass evacuation exercises in the country targeted illegal immigrants, not legal residents. She said the perception of xenophobia was damaging South Africa’s image and hurting citizens working outside its borders.
“We can’t lie about the backlash, and that is why part of the work that we are doing as government, and also through DECO, is engagement with businesses abroad, South African companies abroad,” Kubayi said. She added that Minister Alamola had met with affected businesses and that the government was providing consular and support services for South African firms operating on the continent and beyond.
The minister highlighted the impact on the creative sector, noting that many South African artists depend on gigs across Africa for income. She revealed that at least one artist had contacted her office after all scheduled performances on the continent were cancelled.
“One artiste did reach out to me to say all her gigs were cancelled on the continent. This is an income lost by a South African,” Kubayi stated. She urged host countries to protect South Africans living legally within their borders just as South Africa protects foreign nationals.
Kubayi emphasized that the government’s priority was addressing the issue of illegal immigration while ensuring that legal migrants are not targeted. “That is why let’s deal with the issue of illegal immigrants. Those you have within your borders legally, please protect them as you would protect South Africans,” she said.
The comments come amid renewed concern over xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which have prompted Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi and other African countries to evacuate their citizens in recent weeks. The situation has also spilled into sports, with South Africa’s national football captain Ronwen Williams expressing disappointment after Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 loss to Mexico in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match.
Williams said he was surprised to see many African fans supporting Mexico instead of South Africa. “Africans have always supported other African countries in every World Cup tournament, but I can’t figure out why our own case is different,” he said. “Many Africans supported Mexico, not us, the South Africans. We almost shed tears, but it’s truly sad.”
As South Africa seeks to repair diplomatic and cultural ties, Kubayi said government engagement with businesses and artists abroad would continue. The challenge now, she suggested, is to separate the enforcement of immigration laws from the treatment of legal residents and to rebuild trust across the continent.
