Deputy President Paul Mashatile has moved to reassure African investors and the continent at large that South Africa is not anti-foreigner, while firmly stating that the country will not tolerate illegal migration.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World African Heritage Day celebrations in Midrand—hosted by the African World Heritage Fund, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, marking 20 years of the Fund’s existence—Mashatile responded to recent immigration-related protests.
“South Africa is not anti-foreigners,” Mashatile said. “What we have been doing for years, we have been against illegal people coming into the country, whether they are from Africa or anywhere in the world. That is something we will not allow. But we will not be chasing Africans for the sake of it.”
He urged citizens not to take matters into their own hands, cautioning against lawlessness. “What we are saying is that let people come to our country. Yes, we want investments. We want to work with them to develop our own country, but it must be done legally.”
Addressing rising living costs linked to Middle East tensions, Mashatile said the government is doing “all in its power to cushion people at the lower end of the economy, ensuring that where we can reduce prices as much as we can.” He cited the war between the US and Iran as making crude oil difficult to transport to South Africa, but noted that efforts are underway, including sourcing petroleum from West Africa and other parts of the continent, as well as increasing domestic capacity. “With time, prices should come down,” he added.
On cultural heritage, Mashatile stressed Africa’s responsibility to safeguard and promote its rich history. “Africa has never lacked cultural or natural wealth. What we lacked, especially then, was sufficient African-led capacity, coordination, and sustainable financing to protect, preserve, and leverage that heritage to benefit our people.”
He noted that women, men, and youth who keep the sector alive “advocate for more than just recognition but resources too.” The establishment of the African World Heritage Fund was, he said, “a decisive act of African agency, a collective recognition that Africa must lead in the protection of its own heritage, supported by strong partnerships, but grounded in African ownership, priorities, and vision.”
Hosted by the South African government through the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and operationalized through the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the Fund has evolved into a unique continental mechanism. Since its designation as a UNESCO Category 2 centre in 2010, it has served as a dedicated platform.
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie pointed out that Africa remains underrepresented on the World Heritage list, accounting for only 12% of all inscribed sites, with many sites underfunded or threatened by conflict and climate change. “It cannot be,” McKenzie said. “My message was very straightforward. We should stop looking outwards for money. African governments, including South Africa, we should put our hands in our pocket and we should raise that 25 million US dollars. We can’t always stand with a begging bowl like we don’t have minerals here, like we don’t have industry here. We are not a poor continent.”
May also marks Africa month, a reminder of the continent’s commitment to unity, self-determination, and shared progress.