By Mohammed Ghani
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – South African opposition leader Mmusi Maimane has launched a scathing attack on President Cyril Ramaphosa and the governing African National Congress (ANC), accusing them of “folding their arms” in the face of Zimbabwe’s enduring political and economic crisis. Maimane contends that this inaction is directly contributing to a significant burden on South Africa’s public institutions and straining service delivery, as Zimbabweans flee their country.
In a strong statement, Maimane asserted that South Africa’s problems, particularly the surging number of immigrants and the subsequent strain on resources, stem from the ANC’s alleged support for “corrupt parties” like Zimbabwe’s Zanu-PF and Mozambique’s FRELIMO.
“The ANC supported two corrupt parties in the SADC region, and as those countries failed, their citizens came to South Africa—some through legal routes, others illegally,” Maimane stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He highlighted that Zimbabweans and Mozambicans constitute the two largest immigrant populations in South Africa, attributing this to the ruling parties in those nations having “looted their nations, causing mass poverty” and having “rigged elections.”
Maimane directly accused the ANC of endorsing these questionable election results instead of condemning them, thereby enabling continued tyranny and economic collapse in the neighboring state.
The remarks come amidst growing anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa, where foreign nationals, particularly Zimbabweans, have recently faced heightened discrimination when seeking medical assistance in public facilities. Maimane directly linked these domestic challenges to Zimbabwe’s governance issues.
“The problems in our hospitals and clinics are a result of the dictatorship in Zimbabwe. Those thugs who run that country stole everything—including elections. We must be honest about this part of the issue,” he argued.
While acknowledging the need for stronger border controls, Maimane emphasized that addressing the “root causes” – specifically the actions of Zanu-PF and FRELIMO – is crucial. He also cautioned against using immigration as a scapegoat for internal failures, stating, “Let us also be aware that some are trying to bury their own failures under the guise of immigration.”
South Africa is estimated to be home to over two million Zimbabweans, many of whom have crossed the Limpopo River seeking refuge from their country’s protracted economic collapse.
Maimane urged the South African government to fundamentally re-evaluate its foreign policy and hold Zimbabwe’s government accountable for human rights violations and electoral malpractices.
“This problem must be addressed at the foreign policy level. We must stop supporting these corrupt parties and their dictatorships. We need to demand free and fair elections in every SADC nation,” he stressed. “We must hold election riggers accountable. We must push for electoral reforms before those elections are due. The ANC must realize there is a new revolution in Africa.”
He concluded by distinguishing between historical liberation movements and current governance, declaring, “The oppressed are now being oppressed by Zanu PF and FRELIMO. They are not the good guys anymore—they are part of the problem.”
