Herman Mashaba Blasts Thami Ntuli Over Comments on Foreign Nationals, South Africans Debate
- ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has publicly challenged KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli over his recent comments
- The KZN Premier was discussing the status of African nationals in the country and how they could be integrated into communities
- South Africans weighed in on Mashaba's comments, with many agreeing with his stance on Ntuli's comments
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
KWAZULU-NATAL — ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has publicly hit out at Thami Ntuli after the KwaZulu-Natal Premier voiced support for integrating foreign nationals into local communities.
Speaking from the scene of a multidisciplinary law enforcement raid targeting undocumented workers at the Isithebe Industrial Zone in Mandenid, Ntuli described African nationals as victims who deserve protection and inclusion.
Ntuli said his office had received information confirming that foreign nationals in the province are in the country legally but are reluctant to return to their communities out of fear. The Premier framed social cohesion as the appropriate response, arguing that it extends beyond South African residents and must include people from other African nations.
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Mashaba questions Ntuli's priorities
Responding on X within hours of the broadcast, Mashaba directed sharp criticism at Ntuli, accusing the Premier of prioritising asylum-seekers over the South Africans who voted him into office.
"Hold on, Premier. Are you saying the complaints of the people who put you in office matter less than those who boldly threaten their lives because they are asylum seekers? Does the safety and security of South Africans mean so little to you?" Mashaba wrote on X.
ActionSA has been supportive of groups like March and March, as they voice concerns about the illegal immigration situation in the country. Recently, the party's Xolani Khumalo was seen assisting police in the arrest of an alleged drug dealer in Durban. Mashaba, who is the Johannesburg Mayoral candidate, previously urged foreign nationals to return home as well.
How did South Africans react?
The post drew significant public reaction, with many users siding with Mashaba's position while others defended Ntuli's remarks as constitutionally grounded.
@izimbovana questioned the state's model, writing:
"We were never consulted about the fact that refugees will be accepted in the country and be unleashed into our communities. That model is a recipe for rampant criminality."
@MphalaborwaS raised concerns about democratic participation:
"Are people forced to integrate with foreigners without being consulted? Like, don't the people have a say besides the ballot on this matter?"
@kede41 pushed back against Mashaba directly, arguing:
"Mr Mashaba, you're too desperate now, and you can't even hide it anymore that you hate Africans. Premier is talking about legal migrants. Your role as a leader is to educate the people you lead sometimes, as opposed to agreeing with everything even when it's against the Constitution."
@Simon_Sithole20 called on the Premier to walk back his remarks:
"Premier Ntuli must retract this statement. Foreigner nationals are all over, breaking more and more of our laws."
@ruthlessRSA added:
"They don't care about us. They only care about illegal immigrants."
Mashaba says country's anti-illegal immigration concerns aren't xenophobic
Briefly News reported on Mashaba's comments about the ongoing protests against anti-illegal immigrants in the country.
The City of Tshwane Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, also explained why South Africans were taking to the streets to demonstrate.
South Africans took to social media to share varied reactions about ActionSA's stance on the ongoing protests in the country.
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Source: Briefly News
