KINSHASA, DRC, Thursday. President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Kinshasa with a message that cut to the heart of one of South Africa’s most divisive debates: no single country can solve migration on its own.
Speaking after talks with Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix Tshisekedi, Ramaphosa addressed the tensions that have spilled onto South African streets in recent days. Citizens have protested against the presence of foreign nationals, and Ramaphosa did not dismiss their frustration. Unemployment and poverty, he acknowledged, drive much of that discontent.
But he was equally direct about what the government owes to migrants. “Yes, there are those who have been protesting because they are concerned about their own livelihoods, unemployment and poverty,” Ramaphosa said. “Our government has heeded that, but it has also heeded the quest for safety and security of those who may not be South Africans.”
That dual obligation sits at the center of how Ramaphosa frames the government’s approach. South Africans struggling with joblessness deserve a response. So do migrants, documented or not, who need safety and dignity. The country’s Constitution, he said, guides policy toward respecting the human rights of all people within its borders.
During nationwide protests earlier this week, security forces worked to maintain order while protecting vulnerable populations, including foreign nationals regardless of documentation status. Ramaphosa described this as the government’s core responsibility: ensuring that no resident, South African or otherwise, is subjected to violence, and that the rule of law holds.
Meanwhile, the government is taking the conversation beyond its own borders. Ramaphosa announced that envoys will be sent to other African countries to discuss migration on what he called a “balanced basis,” moving away from isolated national responses toward a coordinated continental strategy.
Proper documentation featured prominently in his remarks. Ramaphosa stressed that all countries require residents to be properly documented, framing it not as a barrier to migrants but as a mechanism that protects everyone by clarifying legal status and entrenching rights.
Tshisekedi, for his part, affirmed the DRC’s recognition of South Africa’s sovereign right to manage its borders, while calling for a humanitarian approach. He appealed for a “balanced attitude in line with the values of African solidarity” that respects fundamental rights, and expressed confidence in South Africa’s leadership.
The two leaders also discussed the Ebola outbreak and broader regional cooperation during the Kinshasa talks. Tshisekedi captured the shared conviction plainly: “It is together, in a spirit of African solidarity and shared responsibility, that we can protect our populations, strengthen our health systems, consolidate peace, and promote the integration of our continent.”
Ramaphosa’s visit reinforced the close ties between the two countries. Whether the diplomatic envoys he promised can translate that solidarity into a workable continental framework, and what that means for the families and communities caught in the middle of this debate, remains the open question.