South African Minister says Xenophobia crisis damaging country’s image, hurting artists

South African Minister says Xenophobia crisis damaging country’s image, hurting artists

South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has admitted that the country’s ongoing anti-migrant crisis is triggering real economic consequences for its citizens beyond its borders.

Speaking during a public broadcast, Kubayi revealed that some South African artists are currently losing performance bookings across the continent as a direct result of the backlash the country has been receiving around the world over the crisis.

She said the government is, however, working to contain the damage to South Africa’s image and business interests abroad.

She acknowledged that the international backlash over the country’s handling of migration issues is now visible and cannot be denied.

Kubayi said the widespread cancellations directed at South Africans are leading to a direct income loss for South African performers who rely heavily on bookings across the continent.

The minister explained that the government is working to engage the arts and culture sector to fully understand the scale of the crisis. However, she also pushed back on the broader perception people have about what is driving the cancellations.

On the underlying immigration concerns, Kubayi insisted that legitimate grievances should be addressed through enforcement of the law rather than attacks on foreign nationals.

Kubayi warned that vigilantism and hostility toward foreign nationals risk causing damage that extends beyond South Africa’s international reputation into its own social fabric.

She said attacks on foreign nationals often extend to South African citizens who are mistaken for foreigners based on language or appearance, and that unchecked hostility could deepen divisions along the country’s existing lines of cultural and tribal diversity.

The minister’s remarks come amid a renewed wave of xenophobic attacks against African migrants, including Nigerians, in South Africa that has continued unabated since April 2026. The situation has strained relations between South Africa and several African countries.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) confirmed the development on June 11, in a statement released through its official X account.

The move comes as Nigerian authorities continue efforts to ensure the safety and return of citizens affected by rising tensions and attacks targeting foreigners in parts of South Africa.