JOHANNESBURG, July 23 (Xinhua) -- South Africa remains committed to maintaining open and constructive engagement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on migration and regional stability, the country's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said Thursday in a statement.
The statement followed a communique issued after the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday, in which the regional bloc voiced concern over rising anti-immigration tensions in South Africa.
DIRCO said South Africa views ECOWAS as a vital pillar of African integration and remains committed to strengthening dialogue on issues of mutual concern.
"In the spirit of Pan-African solidarity, South Africa remains deeply committed to open, constructive, and action-oriented dialogue with ECOWAS Member States on matters of mutual concern, most notably regional stability and migration management," it said,
The department reiterated that South Africa "categorically rejects xenophobia, racism, homophobia, intolerance and discrimination in all their manifestations," and reaffirmed the government's commitment to upholding the rule of law by ensuring that perpetrators of violence and other unlawful acts are brought to justice.
DIRCO noted that while South Africa continues to address specific bilateral issues with West African partners, including Ghana and Nigeria, the country's largest migration flows are concentrated within the Southern African Development Community.
Meanwhile, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola welcomed the opportunity to address migration at the highest level of the African Union (AU) to ensure that migration across the continent becomes a choice rather than a necessity.
"Establishing a dedicated agenda item at the African Union to address the primary push-and-pull factors and root causes of irregular migration, focusing squarely on good governance, democracy, and economic stability, will enable a pragmatic, comprehensive approach to continental migration challenges," he said.
In the statement, DIRCO also dismissed a petition reportedly submitted to the International Criminal Court by two Ghanaian civilians over alleged xenophobic attacks in South Africa, saying it does not meet the statutory legal thresholds or jurisdictional requirements for the court to proceed. The department added that South Africa has confidence in its domestic legal framework to address hate crimes and related offences.
The statement came amid continued anti-immigration demonstrations in parts of South Africa. Following a nationwide protest on June 30, some groups have continued to organize weekly marches on Thursdays, calling for stronger enforcement of immigration laws and the removal of undocumented foreign nationals.
South African authorities have repeatedly stressed that while the constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest, any acts of violence, intimidation, vigilantism or attacks targeting foreign nationals will not be tolerated. ■