South Africa faces economic fallout over Xenophobia as artists report cancelled bookings across continent 

South Africa’s government has admitted that growing concerns over xenophobia and anti-migrant sentiment are taking a toll on the country’s international reputation and economic interests, with local artists among those bearing the consequences.

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi said the government is grappling with negative reactions from other African countries over South Africa’s handling of migration-related issues and is engaging businesses to mitigate the impact.

Speaking during a public broadcast, Kubayi said authorities were working with South African companies operating abroad and providing support where necessary.

“We can’t 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,” Kubayi said.

“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.

“So that where they face a backlash, where they face difficulties, there would be one of the areas that we would have to look at as well that has come to my attention as well.

“It is our artists. Majority of South African artists perform on the continent and many of them are seeing their gigs being cancelled. That is another impact of the work because they benefit quite a lot.”

According to the minister, the entertainment industry has begun to experience the effects of the backlash, with some performers losing opportunities across the continent.

“They perform at live performance events and everything. So they are receiving a thing. We have not been able to work together. So we will definitely work together with arts and culture to understand the impact for them to get,” Kubayi said.

“But one artist did reach out to me to say all her gigs were cancelled on the continent. This is an income lost by a South African.

“So, the brand does get affected and that is why part of what we are doing is to explain that South Africans are not xenophobic, and we are also saying to South Africans, let’s be responsible.”

Kubayi stressed that concerns surrounding illegal immigration should be addressed through legal and institutional channels rather than through violence or attacks on foreign nationals.

“That is why let’s deal with the issue of illegal immigrants. And that’s why all the others are saying to us, South Africa, we understand what you are dealing with, with the basis that these are illegal people, therefore enforce the law,” she said.

“Those that you have within the borders legally, please protect them like you would protect South Africans. So that is the message as well, that we continue to do.”

She also warned that acts of vigilantism and hostility toward foreigners could deepen divisions within South African society and further damage the country’s standing abroad.

“Hence, we are calling for vigilantism to be rejected by communities, for attacks on foreign nationals because they do, to a certain extent, extend to others who are not even foreign nationals in terms of language and how they look,” Kubayi said.

“It is those things that we do believe that it can even not only hurt the brand, but can hurt our social equation. It can divide us further in terms of our cultural diversity.

“We have welcomed our cultural diversity and inclusion and welcomed each other from different tribes and different communities. If we don’t deal with this both internally, it can also hurt us internally and externally.”

Her comments come amid renewed criticism over reports of xenophobic attacks targeting African migrants in South Africa, a recurring issue that has strained relations between Pretoria and several African nations.

The latest wave of anti-migrant violence, which reportedly intensified in April 2026, has prompted countries including Nigeria, Ghana and Malawi to evacuate hundreds of their citizens from South Africa.

(SAHARA REPORTERS)