PIETERMARITZBURG, KWAZULU-NATAL — As anti-immigration protests sweep across the nation, the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) is pushing back against the narrative of scapegoating migrants for the country’s economic challenges. Spokesperson Sibusiso Mboto argues that the root of the crisis lies in deep-seated structural failures rather than foreign nationals, urging the government to address systemic inequality and corruption instead of fueling xenophobic sentiment.
During a recent broadcast interview, Mboto contextualized the current wave of anti-illegal immigration demonstrations by drawing parallels to the tragic xenophobic attacks of 2008 and the current socio-political climate of 2026. He acknowledged the genuine frustration of impoverished South Africans who feel that undocumented foreign nationals are accessing state benefits meant for citizens. However, he countered this narrative by highlighting the reality of vulnerable individuals from across the African continent who are simply migrating in search of a better life for their families.
Rather than directing anger at immigrants, Mboto pointed to a severe deficit in state investment, stagnant economic growth, and profound inequality as the true drivers of poverty and collapsing service delivery. He illustrated this economic decline by pointing to the deindustrialization of historically vibrant hubs. Pietermaritzburg, he noted, was once a bustling center for the shoe manufacturing industry and home to major employers like the Rainbow Chicken plant. Similarly, he referenced the Eastern Cape, where the automotive manufacturing sector previously ensured community prosperity.
Mboto also highlighted the collapse of the national railway sector as a prime example of public sector neglect. He explained that goods were once efficiently transported by rail between Durban and Johannesburg, which kept the highways clear. Today, the decay of the rail network has forced a reliance on trucks, leading to severe road congestion and signaling a broader failure to invest in critical infrastructure.
This lack of investment is compounded by severe fiscal mismanagement, according to the advocacy group. Mboto criticized the phenomenon of “fiscal dumping,” where government departments fail to spend their budgets on concrete programs as the financial year draws to a close. He noted that funds are often dispersed without clear direction, resulting in a lack of accessible goods and services. This underspending is particularly evident in the health and education sectors, leaving rural communities still struggling to secure basic water and electricity. Mboto referenced numerous municipalities and government departments that have appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, where evidence frequently reveals that public funds are improperly utilized, directly crippling service delivery.
The human cost of these systemic failures was underscored by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sherwood, Durban. Mboto referenced live scenes of thousands of Malawian nationals forced to camp in an open field, relying entirely on water tankers for survival. He stressed that such living conditions are entirely unsustainable. Furthermore, he emphasized that the movement of people in search of “greener pastures” is a global phenomenon, and South Africa has historically been viewed as a beacon of opportunity on the continent.
When questioned about the ongoing repatriation efforts in Durban, Mboto described the solution as a “two-way street.” He firmly stated that any foreign nationals found to be in the country illegally and actively involved in criminal activities must be prosecuted and repatriated, noting that this is standard practice for sovereign nations worldwide. However, he strictly condemned any violence directed at foreign nationals. He insisted that the state must first ensure that South African citizens are properly cared for and can access essential services without feeling they are in direct competition with undocumented immigrants.
Mboto concluded by challenging the government to prove its competence and address the actual causes of economic exclusion. He proposed a definitive test: if all undocumented individuals are removed and criminal elements are deported, yet public services continue to fail and corruption flourishes, it will definitively prove that immigration has merely been used as a political scapegoat. Pointing out that the country is grappling with the exact same service delivery crises in 2026 as it did in 2016 and 2008, he called for deep state introspection. He urged the government to move beyond empty rhetoric, establish strict accountability, protect local jobs, and foster regional economic cooperation to build a properly capacitated state capable of serving all its people.