THERE IS NO XENOPHOBIA IN SOUTH AFRICA – DEPUTY PRESIDENT, PAUL MASHATILE

May 6, 2026 • Dons Eze • 1 min read

Deputy President Paul Mashatile says South Africa remains open to African investment and is not anti-foreigner, but will not tolerate illegal migration.

He was speaking to SABC News on the sidelines of the World African Heritage Day celebrations in Midrand (Johannesburg), hosted by the African World Heritage Fund, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

Mashatile insists there is no xenophobia in South Africa, only opposition to illegal migration. He cautioned against lawlessness, urging citizens not to take matters into their own hands.

“Well, South Africa is not anti-foreigners. What we have been doing for years, we have been against illegal people come into our country, whether they are from Africa or anywhere in the world. It’s something we will not allow, but we will not be chasing Africans for the sake of it. What we are saying is that let people come to our country. Yes, we want investments. We want to work with them to develop our own country, but must be done legally.”

Dons Eze

DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.