Ramaphosa Warns SADC Cannot Preach Integration While Practicing Exclusion on Streets

• President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the immigration debate during a public lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the 46th SADC Ordinary Summit
• Ramaphosa called on the 16-country bloc to tackle migration collectively, arguing Southern Africans are historically products of regional movement
• KZN Premier Thami Ntuli and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola also weighed in on what regional unity must look like in practice

DURBAN — President Cyril Ramaphosa has cautioned that Southern African nations risk undermining the region's integration agenda if anti-immigrant sentiment on local streets contradicts the unity pledged at diplomatic forums.

Ramaphosa made the remarks during a public lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Westville campus in Durban, speaking days before the 46th SADC Ordinary Summit. He framed the recent tensions around undocumented immigration not as a national problem, but as a regional challenge requiring a coordinated bloc-wide response. He made the remarks after condemning the treatment of foreign nationals at the Summit.

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Ramaphosa calls for regional solidarity on migration

The President reminded his audience that Southern Africa's people are themselves the product of centuries of cross-border movement, and that the region's post-apartheid freedom was secured through collective sacrifice. He expressed particular gratitude to the SADC bloc for its role in ending apartheid, describing South Africa's liberation as the result of regional solidarity rather than isolated national struggle.

Ramaphosa urged member states to overhaul the bloc's trade architecture, dismantle existing trade barriers, and pursue an industrial transformation that would reduce economic dependence across the region. His argument was that persistent inequality and limited opportunity, not immigration itself, drive the vulnerabilities communities feel.

SADC vision 2050 must deliver tangible benefits, says Lamola

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli backed the call for unity, proposing that member states embed regional history in school curricula, broaden media coverage of neighbouring countries' affairs, and establish student exchange programmes across SADC universities. Ntuli named cities including Durban, Harare, Pietermaritzburg, and Windhoek as potential hubs for cross-border student movement.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa condemns treatment of foreign nationals during address to SADC leaders

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola, who is currently chairing the SADC Council of Ministers, stressed that the regional ambitions set out under SADC Vision 2050 must translate into measurable outcomes for ordinary citizens. He called for the building of an industrialised, peaceful and prosperous Southern Africa, adding that the University of KwaZulu-Natal deserved recognition for its adaptability and innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lecture came amid a broader national conversation about immigration policy and the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa, following protests and community tensions earlier this year.

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Julius Malema praises Ramaphosa

In a related article, Briefly News reported on EFF president Julius Malema's unexpected support for President Cyril Ramaphosa's address at the recent SADC summit, where he emphasized the importance of African unity and economic prosperity. This surprising alignment from a long-time critic prompted a heated online debate, raising questions about Malema's motivations and the broader implications for regional integration.

Source: Briefly News