Ramaphosa condemned violence against foreigners in South Africa and called on law enforcement agencies and law-abiding citizens to identify perpetrators and bring them to book.
Ramaphosa said there was no justification for criminality and that if communities are disaffected for any reason, their grievances must be raised with the government and within the confines of the law.
“Our economy and society today benefit from our extensive trade and investment relations with partners on our continent. Many of our continental compatriots live in South Africa, where they are making important contributions to the development of our country,” Ramaphosa said in a statement on Monday.
He added: “African development depends on the increased movement of people, goods and services between different countries for all of us to benefit. We will not allow criminals to set back these processes.”
His comments came after International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Police Minister Bheki Cele met with African diplomats accredited to South Africa on Sunday to discuss the current spate of xenophobic violence against foreigners and their properties in Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal Provinces.
Recent violence against Malawians and other foreign nationals in KwaZulu-Natal was particularly regrettable on the eve of Freedom Month this year commemorating 25 years of freedom in the country after centuries of colonialism and apartheid rule, he said.
“As South Africans, we owe our freedom to the solidarity and support given to our liberation struggle by people across our continent and around the world,” he said.