Ramaphosa apologises to Mozambique over xenophobic attacks during SADC summit
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa formally apologized to Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo for violence against Mozambican nationals amid anti-migrant protests.
During a lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, President Cyril Ramaphosa offered a formal apology to Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo for assaults on Mozambican citizens during recent anti-migrant unrest in South Africa. The Mozambican foreign minister, Maria dos Santos Lucas, received the apology, acknowledging errors in handling the crisis while refraining from harsh criticism. At the subsequent SADC summit in Durban, Ramaphosa denounced the xenophobic violence and stressed the need for collective action on migration’s root causes.
He highlighted that South Africa’s diversity stems from migration and warned against exclusionary practices. Analyst Sipho Seepe described the conciliatory tone as a sign of weakening regional influence, urging stronger accountability for illegal migration. Anti-migrant vigilante groups remain active, with the March and March movement setting a new deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
Why it matters
The apology signals regional diplomatic tension over xenophobic violence and highlights South Africa's struggle to manage migration and social unrest.
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