Wamkele Mene, who leads the African Continental Free Trade Area secretariat, has slammed the violence targeting foreign nationals in South Africa as a betrayal of the continent's trade vision. He said such attacks undermine the core goals of the AfCFTA, which exists to enable the seamless movement of goods, capital and people across Africa's 55 member nations.
The trade bloc depends on trust between governments and businesses that people can safely live, work and trade across borders without fear. Mene told reporters the xenophobic attacks clash directly with Pan-African ideals and damage efforts to build a unified African marketplace.
"This behaviour is inconsistent with the values of Pan-Africanism and it is abhorrent to the very idea of the single market we are trying to build," Mene said in a statement released this week. He described the displacement of foreign nationals as running counter to the AfCFTA's fundamental mission.
"I reject xenophobia in all its forms," Mene added, expressing deep concern about what he called "xenophobic vigilantism" by a minority in South Africa. He praised the government's response and its pledge to prosecute those attacking foreign nationals, whether documented or undocumented.
South Africa has positioned itself as an early leader in AfCFTA benefits, tapping into a single market worth roughly $3.4-trillion in combined economic output. Since 2024, the country has exported goods valued at about R2bn under the agreement, with Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Rwanda, Cameroon and Algeria among top buyers.
Imports from AfCFTA partners including Kenya, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia reached roughly R610m during the same timeframe. The figures underscore how crucial cross-border confidence is to the pact's success.
The African Union has called on South Africa to prosecute those behind the anti-migrant violence and strengthen safeguards for affected communities. Police arrested 900 people during countrywide protests on June 30, with some demonstrations turning violent in parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said in June that he'd send diplomatic envoys across Africa to discuss migration with other governments and find joint solutions. That initiative hasn't yet launched, however.
The government is simultaneously tightening border controls to address migration pressures. The Border Management Authority deported 37,356 undocumented migrants between April 2025 and March 2026, supported by aerial surveillance along four key border sections.
Officials also barred 10,512 inadmissible or prohibited foreign nationals at ports of entry during that period. The department of home affairs confirmed plans to build a one-stop border post at Beitbridge to speed trade with Zimbabwe and ease congestion.
