South African President Cyril Ramaphosa looks on as he attends a Presidential Youth Dialogue, a meeting with young people organised by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) on 19 June 2019, at the South African Parliament, in Cape Town. Photo: AFP/Rodger Bosch
Robert Mugabe funeral: President Cyril Ramaphosa apologises for xenophobia in SA
President Cyril Ramaphosa took to the stage at Robert Mugabe’s funeral service and apologised for the acts of violence “directed at nationals of other African countries.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa looks on as he attends a Presidential Youth Dialogue, a meeting with young people organised by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) on 19 June 2019, at the South African Parliament, in Cape Town. Photo: AFP/Rodger Bosch
A wave of jeers, boos and whistles interrupted Ramaphosa at the Harare national stadium as he started his eulogy at the state funeral for Mugabe, who died age 95 last week.
“On behalf of the people of South Africa, I’d like to express my profound condolences to the Mugabe family, to Zanu PF and the people of Zimbabwe, on the passing of the Founding Father of Zimbabwe.”
He added that Mugabe “was a friend of the African National Congress (ANC), and the people of South Africa.” President Cyril Ramaphosa continued:
“[Robert Mugabe] stood by us during our darkest hour. He was unwavering in his support for our liberation struggle. Under his leadership, Zimbabwe and especially Zanu PF gave both moral and material support to us at the time when our leadership was forced into exile and our people were suffering under the yoke of Apartheid.”
He added that President Mugabe was the first African head of state received by the late President Nelson Mandela when South Africa became a democracy in 1994.
Apology for xenophobia in South Africa
Ramaphosa said Mugabe was “an African hero,” and thanked him for his contribution and sacrifices during the struggle. Ramaphosa also apologised for acts of violence “some of which where directed at nationals of other African countries.”
At this stage, the crowd interrupted in boos and jeers, but cheered when Ramaphosa added:
“I stand before you as a fellow African to express my regret and to apologise for what has happened in our country. What has happened in South Africa goes against the principals of the unity of the African people that President Mugabe and President Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and the great leaders of our continent stood for. [..] We are working very hard to encourage all our people to embrace people from all African countries.”
Ramaphosa reiterated that South Africans “are not xenophobic, South Africans are not against nationals from other countries.” He added that people from other countries are welcome in South Africa.
“We welcome people from other countries and we are working hard to encourage and promote social cohesion of all the people of South Africa, working and living side by side with people from other parts of our continent. […] We want to embrace a spirit of unity.”
Violent attacks in South Africa
At least 12 people have been killed this month in a surge in violence and mob attacks against foreign-owned businesses in and around Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city.
Shops and homes burned and looted and clashes between armed mobs of looters and police. In addition, hundreds of nationals from Mozambique and Zimbabwe have fled to shelters.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s government has flown around 600 of its citizens home from Johannesburg after some of them were targeted in the violence.
