Chimurenga Icon Mapfumo Blasts Ramaphosa Over Xenophobic Violence

Thomas Mapfumo has launched a fierce attack on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing his administration of failing to stop escalating xenophobic violence and presiding over what he described as a dangerous collapse of leadership and human dignity in South Africa.

The legendary musician, long celebrated for using music as a weapon against injustice, said Ramaphosa entered office carrying the hopes of millions who believed he would restore stability, accountability and economic confidence in Africa’s most industrialised nation.

Instead, Mapfumo argued, South Africa has descended into fear, division and brutality targeting foreign nationals.

In a strongly worded statement, Mapfumo said the South African government had failed to confront growing hostility against migrants, warning that repeated attacks on foreigners were exposing deep cracks in governance, policing and regional diplomacy.

He described scenes of violence against African migrants as horrifying and unacceptable, saying innocent people continue to lose homes, businesses and lives while authorities appear unable, or unwilling, to restore order.

Mapfumo further accused African regional bodies, including Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU), of failing to respond decisively to recurring xenophobic unrest in South Africa.

The veteran artist said the continued attacks on foreign nationals reflect broader governance failures across the continent, where political leaders often ignore worsening poverty, unemployment and inequality until frustration erupts into violence.

He argued that ordinary South Africans, particularly those trapped in poverty-stricken communities, have increasingly been led to believe that migrants are responsible for unemployment and economic hardship, while structural problems such as corruption, weak economic policies and lack of opportunities remain unresolved.

Mapfumo said violence against foreigners has become a distraction from deeper socio-economic crises affecting millions of South Africans living in informal settlements and struggling to survive amid rising living costs and limited employment opportunities.

He warned that lawlessness and impunity were steadily eroding South Africa’s image globally, with repeated outbreaks of mob violence raising serious human rights concerns.

“The world cannot afford to ignore the human cost of lawlessness,” Mapfumo said, adding that every individual, regardless of nationality, deserves safety, dignity and protection under the law.

The outspoken musician called on Ramaphosa’s administration to urgently restore public trust, strengthen law enforcement institutions and ensure accountability for perpetrators of xenophobic violence.

Mapfumo also appealed to African leaders and the international community to speak out against attacks targeting foreign nationals, warning that silence only emboldens violence and deepens the suffering of victims.

He said South Africa’s future stability depends on confronting inequality, improving access to education and economic opportunities, and rebuilding a culture of respect for human life and African unity.

“For any leader seeking a lasting legacy, protecting human life must come first,” Mapfumo said.