Xenophobia Hurts South African Artists and Businesses

The South African government has addressed the negative impact of ongoing xenophobic attacks on its creative industry and other areas.

Mmamoloko Kubayi, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, shared this information during a media briefing of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration.

Speaking at the event, which the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) aired on Monday, Mrs Kubayi said many South African artists have lost bookings and performance chances across Africa.

She mentioned that South African businesses operating in other countries are also facing challenges due to rising perceptions of xenophobia.

She said, “It’s our artists. The majority of South African artists perform on the continent, and many are seeing their gigs cancelled. So that’s another impact of the work because they benefit quite a lot. They perform at live performance events and everything. So they are receiving a thing.

“We’ve not been able to work together. So we’ll definitely work with arts and culture to understand the impact they’ll have. But one artist did reach out to me to say that all her gigs on the continent were cancelled. This is an income loss for South Africa. So the brand does get affected.”

Mrs Kubayi also said the government has asked a minister to connect with South Africans living abroad and offer them support.

“Minister Alamola has met with them, and we’re providing services, support services and consular services for those businesses on the continent and outside the continent.

“So that’s where they face a backlash, where they face difficulties, there would be one of the areas that we would have to look at as well that has come to my attention as well.”

She stressed that the government cannot ignore the backlash directed at the country.

She said this situation has made the government try everything possible through DECO to connect with South African businesses abroad.

“That’s why part of what we are doing is to explain that South Africans are not xenophobic. And we are also telling South Africans: let’s be responsible. And that’s why let’s deal with the issue of illegal immigrants. And that’s why all the others are saying to us, South Africa.

“We understand what you are dealing with, on the basis that these are illegal people; therefore, enforce the law. And those you have legally within the borders, please protect them as you protect South Africans. So that’s the message as well that we continue to do,” said Mrs Kubayi.

In addition, she revealed that the government has instructed communities to reject vigilante actions against foreign nationals.

“To a certain extent, to others who are not even foreign nationals in terms of language and how they look. So it’s those things we believe can not only help the brand but also strengthen our social cohesion.

“It can divide us further in terms of our cultural diversity. We’ve embraced our cultural diversity and inclusion, and we’ve welcomed each other from different tribes and communities. So if we don’t deal with this both internally, it can also hurt us internally and externally.