MTN Group Chairman Mcebisi Jonas has delivered a sharp rebuke of rising xenophobic sentiment in South Africa, attributing the growing hostility toward foreign nationals to governance failures rather than the actions of migrants themselves.
Speaking at the funeral of Zimbabwean-born activist and public servant Thokozani Damasane, Jonas described xenophobia as a convenient political tool being exploited by leaders unwilling to tackle the country’s entrenched socio-economic challenges, including unemployment, poverty, inequality, and poor service delivery.
Jonas, a former Deputy Minister of Finance, highlighted the irony of anti-foreigner rhetoric while paying tribute to Damasane, who had devoted his life to serving South Africa after relocating from Zimbabwe in the post-apartheid years.
“I was thinking, what is home to Damasane?” Jonas said. “I understood very early in life that home is where humanity is. Home is about humanness. It is about the good of humanity and striving for the good of humanity.”
He praised Damasane for fully immersing himself in South Africa’s struggles, becoming “one of us” despite arriving as an outsider. “In Damasane’s strength, our strength as South Africans is reflected, and in his weaknesses, our own weaknesses are reflected,” Jonas added.
The MTN chairman argued that scapegoating foreigners distracts from the real issues of state failure and undermines the inclusive society envisioned in South Africa’s democracy. He urged citizens to reject divisive narratives and instead embrace shared humanity, justice, and equal opportunity for all.
As head of one of Africa’s largest telecommunications firms, which operates across 19 countries, Jonas has long championed regional integration and cross-border cooperation on the continent.
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