Xenophobia: ‘We can’t judge people by their origin’ - MTN Chairman slams attacks on migrants

MTN Group Chairman, Mcebisi Jonas has delivered a rebuke of rising anti-foreigner sentiment in South Africa, warning that xenophobic attitudes pose a serious threat to the country's values and long-term prosperity.

According to a report by myjoyonline.com, on June 27, 2026, Jonas made the remarks during a funeral service in South Africa, where he argued that hostility toward foreign nationals is largely being used as a smokescreen for “deeper governance failures and socio-economic challenges” that the country has yet to adequately address.

The former South African investment envoy stressed that the country's fortunes are not different from those of the broader African continent, calling for a renewed embrace of African unity and solidarity.

"We are a nation embedded in Africa. And without Africa, our growth as a country, economically, and our fortune is intertwined with the growth of Africa. South Africa is nothing without Africa. And Africa is nothing without South Africa," he said.

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Jonas pushed back firmly against the tendency to scapegoat foreign nationals for unemployment and social tensions, insisting that such narratives only serve to distract from the structural problems that demand urgent policy attention.

"We cannot judge people by their origin. We cannot determine the legal status of people by their origin," he stated.

His comments come amid outbreaks of xenophobic violence in South Africa, which have drawn sharp criticism from human rights organisations and regional leaders alike.

ID/VPO

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