DURBAN — KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has firmly defended the province against growing accusations of xenophobia, insisting that local residents are peaceful but increasingly frustrated by regulatory failures regarding immigration.
Ntuli, who also serves as the provincial chairperson for the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), addressed journalists on Saturday during the sidelines of the party’s mayoral candidate unveiling for the City of Johannesburg. His remarks come in the wake of recent mass demonstrations across Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal targeting undocumented foreign nationals.
The Premier attributed the recent public tension directly to structural challenges around immigration rather than prejudice against foreign nationals.
"There is no xenophobia in KwaZulu-Natal. And I’m on record saying that there is no xenophobia in KwaZulu-Natal. I had an engagement with the High Commissioner from Mozambique discussing this," Ntuli stated.
Ntuli also raised concerns over the role of social media in shaping public perception, warning that unverified footage is distorting the reality on the ground.
"What is unfortunate is that people are circulating video clips, which are sending a wrong message about South Africa or KwaZulu-Natal. Foreign nationals that have been in KwaZulu-Natal have been here for a long time, living in harmony with our people, but the frustration of our people and the people of KZN is the influx of the undocumented foreign nationals."
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