The South African Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has lamented that the recent waves of xenophobic attacks that have caused Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi and other African nations to evacuate their citizens from the country have led to huge loss of income by their citizens, especially artistes, abroad.
While speaking during an interview with SABC on Sunday, she said that South Africa was facing backlash abroad and that some of its artistes were having their shows cancelled across the continent.
“We cant lie about the backlash, and that is why part of the work that we are doing as government, as well through DECO, is engagement with businesses abroad, South African companies abroad.
Minister Alamola has met with them, and we are providing services, support services and consular services for those businesses on the continent and outside the continent, she stated.
Kubayi emphasised that majority of South African artistes perform on the continent, and many of them are seeing their gigs being cancelled.”
One artiste did reach out to me to say all her gigs were cancelled on the continent. This is an income lost by a South African, the Minister said. That is why lets deal with the issue of illegal immigrants. Those you have within your borders legally, please protect them as you would protect South Africans.
Recall that on June 11, South African captain, Ronwen Williams expressed disappointment at what he described as a lack of support from fellow African nations following Bafana Bafanas 2-0 loss to co-host, Mexico in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match.
According to Williams, he was surprised by the number of African football fans that appeared to back Mexico rather than an African representative like South Africa on the global stage, while at the same time calling for greater unity among Africans during major tournaments.
Africans have always supported other African countries in every World Cup tournament, but I can’t figure out why our own case is different. Many Africans supported Mexico, not us, the South Africans. We almost shed tears, but its truly sad,” he lamented.