Blame Broken Systems, Not Migrants – MTN Chairman, Mcebisi Jonas Rejects Xenophobia In South Africa

MTN Group Chairman, Mcebisi Jonas, has issued a blistering critique of the tendency to scapegoat migrants for domestic failures, urging South Africans to look inward at broken systems rather than outward at fellow Africans. Speaking at the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation Seminar on July 23, 2036, Jonas rejected xenophobia as a flawed response to systemic socioeconomic challenges.

Jonas argued that the frustration fueling anti-migrant sentiment is often a symptom of poor governance and failing infrastructure. “Blame broken systems, not migrants,” Jonas stated emphatically, arguing that the displacement of anger onto foreigners serves as a convenient distraction from the urgent need for domestic institutional reform. Jonas further hinted at the government’s lack of control and attention towards alarming immigration issues in the country by stating, “The real blame should fall on institutions that have failed to enforce law and secure borders.”

The Chairman’s remarks highlight a growing tension within South Africa as the nation debates immigration laws. However, Jonas maintained that discrimination is an affront to the spirit of the continent. He emphasised that MTN, as an organisation, stands firmly against any form of xenophobia, viewing such prejudices as detrimental to the social fabric and the collective pursuit of African prosperity.

Industry experts suggest that Jonas’s position is echoed by the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a “borderless” Africa. According to World Bank data, remittances and intra-African migration contribute significantly to the GDP of several nations, yet political rhetoric often ignores these gains in favour of populist narratives. Jonas warned that such narratives jeopardise the security of investments across the region.

Closing his address, Jonas called for a shift in the national dialogue – from one of suspicion to one of systemic solving. He asserted that the only way to ensure a stable South Africa is to fix the systems of delivery, employment, and housing, rather than targeting the migrants who are often navigating those same broken systems in search of opportunity.

Tony Elumelu, Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Mr Aliko Mohammad Dangote (GCON), Dangote Group and Dangote Refinery and Mcebisi Jonas, MTN Group Chairman, were some of the other dignitaries who spoke on African unity and the move forward for the continent.