Southern Africa: Ramaphosa Issues Apology Over Violence Against Foreigners

What the report says

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa apologized to Mozambican President Daniel Chapo for recent attacks on African foreigners, including Mozambicans, according to AllAfrica’s reporting from AIM. The remarks were described as being made in Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal province, during a University of KwaZulu-Natal lecture on the sidelines of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in August 2026.

Mozambique’s foreign minister, Maria dos Santos Lucas, said the apology was offered in the context of violence that led to looting, harassment, displacement and deadly riots in informal settlements. The article said thousands of Mozambicans were forced from their homes and livelihoods, while others faced threats, assaults and property damage. Ramaphosa’s apology was presented as part of a broader effort to address the fallout from xenophobic violence in South Africa.

The report also said the issue was raised during a SADC political, defence and security meeting and would remain on the regional agenda during the summit. Lucas said leaders needed to continue talking in order to help “heal the open wounds,” while acknowledging that the matter had not been well managed. Separately, she noted that the summit was expected to consider the 2026-2027 SADC budget and progress on the regional development fund, a mechanism tied to deeper economic integration.