Pretoria, South Africa — South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has emphasized the need for a shift in the continent’s migration debate, calling for a focus on root causes rather than finger-pointing. This stance comes amidst recent anti-immigration protests and diplomatic concerns raised by several African countries over the treatment of their nationals in South Africa. During a government media briefing, Lamola highlighted the importance of managing migration through existing African frameworks that promote legal, orderly, and regulated movement.
He criticized the current debate as one of finger — pointing and political scoring against South Africa. South Africa, Lamola said remains the continent’s largest destination for migrants, both documented and undocumented. He argued that addressing migration pressures requires confronting underlying factors such as unemployment, poor economic opportunities, governance challenges, armed conflict, and climate change.
The African Union Executive Council meeting, scheduled for 28-29 July in Addis Ababa, is expected to feature prominently on the issue of migration. Lamola stated that South Africa is open to a comprehensive AU discussion or a fact-finding mission, provided the debate addresses migration as a continental challenge. Lamola’s comments come at a time when concerns have been raised about incidents involving vigilante groups targeting migrants rather than South Africa’s legal enforcement of immigration rules.
He emphasized the importance of dealing with irregular and illegal migration in a human way, by law enforcement rather than private individuals. South Africa’s approach to migration and asylum has been a topic of contention, with President Cyril Ramaphosa calling for the AU to focus on the root causes of migration during the South Africa Investment Conference in March 2026.
As the continent grapples with the complexities of migration, Lamola’s advocacy for a shift in the debate underscores the need for a more nuanced and collaborative approach to address the challenges facing Africa’s migration landscape.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africa.businessinsider
Source: Solomon Ekanem
