President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned recent violent protests and criminal acts targeting foreign nationals in South Africa, saying such actions do not represent the values of the country or the position of government.

In a statement issued on Monday, Ramaphosa said some individuals were taking advantage of the frustrations faced by poor communities to engage in unlawful activities, including demanding identification documents from people and conducting illegal searches of private property.

The South African leader said the government would not tolerate acts of intimidation, violence or lawlessness directed at foreign nationals.

“Such actions will not be tolerated,” Ramaphosa said, adding that everyone living in South Africa, including citizens and foreign nationals, was required to obey the law.

He stressed that while concerns around illegal immigration remained a challenge for government, they must be addressed through lawful and constitutional means rather than through vigilantism or attacks on migrants.

“The government is implementing measures to deal with undocumented migration in a manner that protects social stability, national security and public services,” he said.

According to the president, undocumented immigration has placed growing pressure on key public services such as healthcare, housing and municipal infrastructure in several communities across the country.

“The labour market had been affected, with some employers accused of exploiting undocumented foreign workers by paying them lower wages instead of employing South African citizens,” he added.

President Ramaphosa warned that criminality and violence would only worsen tensions and undermine efforts to find lasting solutions to the country’s socio-economic challenges.

The statement comes amid rising tensions in parts of South Africa where protests linked to immigration and unemployment have sparked concern among civil society groups and regional leaders.

The government has repeatedly called for calm and urged communities to work with law enforcement authorities instead of taking the law into their own hands.

By Staff Reporter

Ngizwe Mchunu is facing backlash after allegedly saying foreign nationals should leave Durban within six days.

The comments came after a video circulated on social media showing him reportedly assaulting a 21-year-old foreign student in South Africa.

In the video, Mchunu is seen confronting the student, which has caused public anger and renewed concern over attacks on foreign nationals. The video has not been independently verified, but it has already gone viral.

He is also reported to have said that some people are “hungry for the blood of foreigners,” a statement that has been widely criticised as dangerous and inflammatory.

Human rights groups and members of the public have called for investigations and urged authorities to take action.

They say such behaviour, if confirmed, promotes violence and harms community relations.

Police have not yet released an official statement on the incident, while the matter continues to attract strong public attention.

The Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) today hosted members of the Foreign Military Attachés Association at its Antelope Estate for a familiarisation tour of key development projects being implemented across the country.

The visit offered the delegation an opportunity to appreciate Zimbabwe’s agricultural transformation efforts on the ground, particularly initiatives aimed at boosting productivity and strengthening food security.

Speaking on the sidelines of the tour, Defence Attaché for the United Kingdom to Zimbabwe, Lieutenant Colonel Alastair Kern, commended ARDA’s efforts to strengthen national food security and deliver meaningful socio-economic benefits within surrounding communities.

Echoing these sentiments, Zambia’s Defence Attaché to Zimbabwe, Brigadier General Maggie Nakamba, described the programme as impactful and worth emulating, noting that she would explore the possibility of implementing similar initiatives in her home country.

The delegation also expressed keen interest in the wheat production programme, with ARDA targeting 65,000 hectares this season as Zimbabwe consolidates gains towards wheat self-sufficiency. In Matabeleland South Province, a total of 4,000 hectares has been set aside for wheat production, with ARDA responsible for 3,100 hectares.

ARDA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tinotenda Mhiko, confirmed that planting is progressing well and remains on course to meet, and potentially surpass, the provincial target.

Director Operations Mr. Washington Katiyo shared the same sentiments, noting that ARDA remains committed to good agronomics in driving productivity and ensuring optimal yields.

The delegation comprised defence attachés from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Zambia, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Belarus, Mozambique and Namibia, reflecting growing international interest in Zimbabwe’s agricultural development trajectory.