MTN Chairman Faults Government Failures, Says Xenophobia Won’t Solve South Africa’s Problems

Chairman of MTN Group, Mcebisi Jonas, has blamed South Africa’s growing wave of xenophobia on failures of governance, warning that targeting foreign nationals will neither resolve the country’s economic challenges nor address the underlying causes of inequality and unemployment.

Jonas made the remarks while delivering a eulogy at the funeral of Zimbabwean-born activist and public servant, Thokozani Damasane, in Johannesburg.

His comments come against the backdrop of renewed anti-immigrant demonstrations in parts of South Africa, where protesters have reportedly issued a June 30 ultimatum for foreign nationals to leave the country. Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Mozambicans and other African migrants have repeatedly been victims of xenophobic attacks in the country over the years.

Addressing the issue, Jonas said blaming immigrants for South Africa’s socio-economic problems diverts attention from the government’s inability to effectively manage critical sectors.

“Foreigners can leave tomorrow, inequality will be with us. Foreigners will leave tomorrow, unemployment will be with us. Foreigners will leave tomorrow, our police will remain corrupt,” he said.

He argued that the country’s biggest challenge is the failure of state institutions to deliver effective governance.

“The problem is the failure of the state. The state doesn’t manage immigration. It doesn’t manage its borders. It doesn’t enforce law enforcement. It doesn’t manage education,” Jonas stated.

According to him, public frustration over poverty and unemployment has created fertile ground for politicians who seek electoral advantage by portraying foreign nationals as the source of the country’s difficulties rather than addressing structural governance failures.

Reject Ethnic Nationalism

The MTN chairman also criticised tribalism and ethnic nationalism, describing them as colonial legacies that continue to divide African societies.

He urged South Africans to reject identity politics and embrace a broader sense of African solidarity.

“The tribe is a product of colonial powers,” Jonas said, adding that modern political actors continue to exploit ethnic divisions for political gain.

He stressed that South Africa’s prosperity is closely linked to the success and stability of the African continent.

“We are a nation embedded in Africa. South Africa is nothing without Africa. And Africa is nothing without South Africa,” he said.

Jonas further maintained that people should not be judged simply because of where they come from.

“We cannot judge people by their origin. We cannot determine the legal status of people by their origin,” he added.

Damasane’s Life Symbolised African Unity

Jonas said the life of the late Thokozani Damasane demonstrated the ideals of inclusion and shared humanity.

Born in Zimbabwe, Damasane relocated to South Africa after the end of apartheid, where he became actively involved in community development and public service.

Reflecting on his legacy, Jonas said Damasane embraced South Africa’s struggles and made meaningful contributions to the country’s development despite not being born there.

“He immersed himself deeply into the struggles, into the pains of South Africans, and he became one of us,” he said.

Call for Greater African Integration

The MTN chairman’s comments come days after the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Mupita, cautioned against growing calls in some African countries to boycott pan-African businesses.

Mupita warned that such actions could undermine youth employment, digital innovation and the broader objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

With MTN operating in 19 countries across Africa, Jonas said the continent’s future depends on stronger cooperation, inclusive governance and a rejection of xenophobia, warning that lasting solutions to South Africa’s socio-economic challenges lie in institutional reforms rather than hostility towards foreign nationals.