Kpebu on why Ramaphosa must be brought to book over xenophobic attacks

Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, has slammed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing his administration of intentional leadership failure and allowing xenophobic violence to escalate for cheap electoral gains.

Speaking on TV3’s, The Keypoints, on May 30, 2026, the prominent human rights advocate argued that the recurring attacks on foreign nationals are being politically tolerated to make the ruling African National Congress (ANC) look tough ahead of the country's upcoming general elections.

“It's a complex matter, but I think the greatest thing we should hammer now is the failure of leadership,” Kpebu stated.

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“I think Cyril Ramaphosa has to be brought to book. He can't get away with that. I understand they are going in for another election, so it is convenient, electorally, to allow this to go on so that he would appear strong, and his party would appear strong,” he added.

Kpebu strongly condemned the strategy, questioning the ethics of endangering foreign lives for political survival.

“Come on, how can you sacrifice other nationals on the altar of elections? It just doesn't make sense,” he fumed.

The outspoken lawyer called for international pressure to properly rein in the South African government to ensure such violence never repeats.

He also urged the Ghanaian government to actively assist evacuated citizens in recovering their abandoned assets, while supporting legal actions at the continental level.

“Steps must be taken to see how those of our citizens that have come back can get their properties back; whilst they go to the African Court to seek reparations, to get compensation. Because you have your investment, and all of a sudden, one day you wake up and then you have to leave,” Kpebu stressed.

VPO