President Cyril Ramaphosa has come under fresh criticism over the renewed wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, with ARISE TV analyst Rufai Oseni accusing him of failing to stop violence against African migrants.
Speaking during What’s Trending with Ojy Okpe on Tuesday, June 30, Oseni alleged that the South African President had not done enough to arrest those behind repeated attacks on foreign nationals.
He argued that the government’s failure to identify and prosecute the leaders of xenophobic campaigns had encouraged further violence against immigrants.
His comments came as anti-immigration protests took place in Johannesburg, Durban and other cities, following a June 30 deadline issued by campaigners demanding undocumented foreigners leave the country.
Although Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Monday, Oseni faulted his remarks suggesting that South Africans had the right to protest against illegal immigration.
According to Oseni, issues relating to illegal immigration should be handled by security agencies and other lawful institutions rather than by street protests.
He warned that such demonstrations had contributed to attacks, destruction of property and the killing of innocent people.
Oseni also cautioned that once foreigners become targets, the violence could eventually spread among South Africans themselves.
Drawing a comparison, he recalled how Ramaphosa strongly defended South Africa when former US President Donald Trump accused the country of committing genocide against white citizens.
He further expressed concern that the African Union had remained largely silent despite repeated attacks on African migrants living in South Africa.
Oseni said the continued violence threatened African unity and questioned why the AU had not taken stronger action.
He also demanded justice for a Nigerian businessman known as Big Joe, insisting that those responsible for his killing must be brought to justice.
Big Joe was reportedly shot dead outside his shop in Witbank, also known as Emalahleni, in Mpumalanga Province.
Eyewitnesses said unidentified gunmen opened fire on him several times before fleeing the scene, leaving him fatally wounded.
Videos shared on social media showed the businessman lying in a pool of blood as residents and fellow traders gathered around him.
The President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Smart Nwobi, confirmed the killing of Big Joe and another Nigerian ahead of the June 30 protests.
Meanwhile, South African authorities deployed additional police officers across major cities amid fears that anti-immigration demonstrations could become violent.
Police said about 25,000 undocumented migrants, mostly from other African countries, had already been repatriated, while many others reportedly left voluntarily to avoid attacks.
Authorities also confirmed the arrest of five people for allegedly looting a foreign-owned shop in Soweto and another five for breaking into a tuck shop in Hammarsdale, as several businesses in Johannesburg and Durban remained closed during the protests.
The latest developments have heightened concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa, with growing calls for stronger government action to curb xenophobic violence and protect lives.
