MTN Group Chairman Mcebisi Jonas has called on South Africans to reject xenophobia, describing anti-foreigner sentiment as a threat to both the country’s democratic values and its long-term economic prospects.
Addressing mourners at a funeral service in South Africa, Jonas argued that growing hostility toward foreign nationals risks diverting attention from the country’s more pressing governance and socio-economic challenges.
He maintained that South Africa’s future is closely tied to the progress of the African continent, stressing that the country’s economic success cannot be separated from that of its neighbours.
“We are a nation embedded in Africa. And without Africa, our growth as a country, economically, our fortune is intertwined with the growth of Africa. South Africa is nothing without Africa. And Africa is nothing without South Africa.”
His comments come against the backdrop of renewed public debate over immigration, unemployment, and social tensions, amid recurring incidents of xenophobia and anti-immigrant rhetoric that have drawn concern from human rights organisations and regional leaders.
Jonas urged citizens to reject discrimination based on nationality or place of origin, insisting that every individual deserves equal treatment regardless of where they come from.
“We cannot judge people by their origin. We cannot determine the legal status of people by their origin.”
He further warned against portraying foreign nationals as the source of South Africa’s economic and social difficulties, arguing that such narratives obscure the structural problems that require meaningful policy interventions.
Jonas concluded by calling for stronger African solidarity, saying deeper regional cooperation is essential to unlocking the continent’s economic potential and ensuring sustainable development for all.
CNR