Chairman of MTN Group, Mcebisi Jonas, has attributed South Africa’s recurring xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner sentiment to state failure, corruption and political opportunism rather than the presence of foreign nationals.
Chairman of MTN Group, Mcebisi Jonas
Jonas made the remarks during the funeral of Zimbabwean-born activist and public servant, Thokozani Damasane, where he delivered a strong appeal for renewed African solidarity and an end to ethnic and national divisions.
The former South African Deputy Minister of Finance said blaming migrants for the country’s socio-economic challenges ignored the real causes of inequality, unemployment and poor governance.
“Foreigners can leave tomorrow, inequality will still be with us. Foreigners can leave tomorrow, unemployment will still be with us. Our police will remain corrupt and our politicians will still be concerned with being elected and re-elected,” he said.
According to Jonas, the inability of the state to effectively manage immigration, secure borders, enforce the law and provide quality governance has fuelled public frustration, creating opportunities for politicians to exploit citizens’ grievances.
“The problem is the failure of the state. When people feel the burn, they become vulnerable to politicians whose sole purpose is to be elected and re-elected. They tell our people that the problem is not us, but foreigners,” he said.
Reflecting on Damasane’s life, Jonas described him as someone who left Zimbabwe during South Africa’s democratic transition and devoted himself to advancing the country’s development despite being considered an outsider.
“He immersed himself deeply into the struggles and pains of South Africans and became one of us. In Damasane’s strengths, our strengths are reflected, and in his weaknesses, our own weaknesses are reflected,” he said.
Jonas said the inspiration for his remarks came while driving to the funeral as he listened to anti-immigrant rhetoric circulating in the country.
“I was thinking, what is home to Damasane? Home is where humanity is. Home is about humanness and striving for the good of humanity,” he said.
The MTN chairman also challenged the notion of tribal identity, arguing that it was largely a colonial construct used to divide African societies.
He said colonial administrations deliberately promoted tribal divisions through indirect rule, adding that the legacy continues to fuel discrimination and violence.
“The tribe is a product of colonial powers. Today, it is no longer just about whether someone is South African or not. It is about tribe, about who is different, and therefore who should be persecuted. Something fundamental has been lost in our country,” he said.
Jonas criticised liberation movements, including those in South Africa, for perpetuating ethnic politics.
“Liberation movements still sustain this thing of tribes. Identity politics and ethno-nationalism are things we must banish from our country,” he added.
Recalling a past conversation involving Damasane, Jonas said the late activist once warned a young South African who questioned the presence of foreigners that one day South Africans themselves might seek opportunities outside their country.
“Damasane told him, ‘Just wait fifteen or twenty years. You will also be wanting to leave your country.’ Looking at South Africa today, with the levels of inequality, exclusion, corruption and betrayal of the dream of liberation, those words ring loudly in my ears,” he said.
Jonas urged South Africans to embrace a broader sense of national consciousness anchored on African unity and shared prosperity.
“We are a nation embedded in Africa. Without Africa, our economic growth and future are intertwined with the continent. South Africa is nothing without Africa, and Africa is nothing without South Africa,” he said.
He also urged citizens to judge people by their values and integrity rather than their country of origin.
“We cannot judge people by their origin. We cannot determine the legal status of people by their origin,” he said.
Addressing Damasane’s children, Jonas said their father’s greatest legacy lay not in material wealth but in the values he upheld.
“Sometimes merit is measured in wealth. No. It is measured in values, principles and integrity. Your father had all of that,” he said.
Jonas concluded his tribute by invoking anti-colonial thinker Frantz Fanon, saying Damasane embodied Fanon’s call for every generation to discover and fulfil its historical mission.
Damasane, who was born and educated in Zimbabwe before relocating to South Africa, was widely recognised in civic and policy circles for his commitment to public service, progressive ideals and social justice.
Jonas’ remarks come amid renewed concern over xenophobic attacks targeting African migrants, particularly nationals of Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mozambique, Malawi and other countries, incidents that have periodically strained South Africa’s diplomatic relations across the continent.
Observers say the speech represents one of the strongest public interventions by a leading African business executive on the country’s immigration debate and calls for a renewed commitment to continental unity and inclusive governance.
