Immigration is a fault line in South Africa – and President Cyril Ramaphosa says there are people deliberately using it to damage the country's name.
Ramaphosa took questions in the National Assembly on Tuesday, and the very first one, from EFF leader Julius Malema, went straight for the throat on immigration – the issue that has dominated the past year, marked by a spate of anti-foreigner protests that turned violent.
Malema: "We know who the perpetrators are"
Malema told the House the violence against foreign nationals has a face.
"We know who the perpetrators are."
He said there were instances where police were present during violence against foreign nationals and nobody was arrested – creating the impression the violence was state sponsored.
"This hardens the attitude of our sister nations on the continent."
He asked:
"Why have the perpetrators of this violence not been arrested?"
Malema said two of the leaders of the anti-foreigner protests had met with Ramaphosa – an apparent reference to the President's meeting with protest leaders Ngizwe Mchunu and Nkosikhona Ndabandaba on 29 June, the day before nationwide anti-immigration protests.
"You should have locked them up when they came to meet you."
Ramaphosa: "Of direct interest to the police"
Ramaphosa responded that he had been informed police were following up on information and that a number of people had been arrested over the violence. The people who led the protests, he said, were "of direct interest to the police".
"We are obviously concerned about the actions that have been taken against many Africans in our country."
He said government had made it clear that those who break the law must be dealt with.
The "economic oasis" argument
DA MP Ryan Smith said that while anti-immigration group March and March had shone a spotlight on immigration, the country could not keep using sovereignty as a reason to ignore brutal dictatorships in neighbouring countries "placing the burden of mass migration on South Africa's doorstep".
Ramaphosa said the main driver was economic: South Africa is perceived as an "economic oasis", and immigrants believe they can have a better life here.
"What we have to be mindful of is that we need to advance the interests of South Africans. That is why we have taken the steps we have taken."
"We respect the sovereignty of other countries. As we respect their sovereignty, we expect them to respect our sovereignty."
He added that South Africa would act in tandem with regional bodies, which he said would take a "firm view" of what needs to be done.
"We are not lone rangers, we know that we belong to a community of nations."
"We are a product of our region. We are a member of our region, and we must act in unison with our region."
SADC put on notice
UDM MP Thandi Nontenja said South Africa had tolerated failed economies on the continent and was, unfortunately, drawing immigrants – arguing March and March was a symptom of a bigger African immigration problem.
Ramaphosa said South Africa had raised the issue on its own accord with other African countries at the recent Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, where it "took the time to explain what had happened, and we put on the table the actions we are taking".
He said he had called on the region and the continent to help South Africa deal with the matter, and that those discussions would lead to managing the reasons people leave their countries – which comes down to economic development.
Then came the line that raised eyebrows:
"This issue has been seen as a fault line and those who want to use other people to achieve their own ends are utilising this to tarnish the name of South Africa, but also to weaken South Africa."
He did not elaborate.
Phala Phala thrown back at him
The second question turned to recent developments in Madagascar and South Africa's role as interim chair of SADC, which "places a particular responsibility on the republic to contribute to the preservation of constitutionalism, democratic governance, peace and stability in the SADC region".
MK Party chief whip Philasande Mkhize asked how Ramaphosa could reconcile demanding constitutional accountability for Madagascar with his "continued refusal to submit to full accountability on the Phala Phala matter".
Ramaphosa's answer was short.
"The matter that Parliament is dealing with is the preserve of Parliament and will continue to be dealt with by Parliament."
He said he had always maintained Parliament must deal with it.
"So, as far as I'm concerned, that matter is being handled."
The session was held virtually, with MPs spread across the country on the election campaign trail. It continued into Tuesday afternoon.
