South Africa is “nothing” without the rest of the continent, the MTN Chairman warned, while condemning the country’s failures.

MTN Group Chairman Mcebisi Jonas has delivered a strong and unequivocal condemnation of the ongoing anti-foreign sentiment and xenophobic violence in South Africa.

He argued that the country’s economic future and wealth are closely intertwined with those of other countries on the African continent and that South Africa is “nothing without Africa.” Jonas made the remarks in a highly political speech at the funeral of Thokozani Damasane, a Zimbabwean-born activist and civil servant.

As a prominent figure in the African business world, Jonas firmly rejects the notion that expelling foreign nationals will solve South Africa’s deep-rooted socio-economic problems, such as inequality, unemployment and corruption. Instead, he attributes the country’s current crises to gross “state failure” and cynical politicians exploiting people’s fears.

“Foreigners may leave tomorrow – inequality will be upon us,” Jonas told the congregation. “Foreigners will be gone tomorrow – unemployment will be upon us. Foreigners will be gone tomorrow – our police will remain corrupt. Foreigners will be gone tomorrow – our politicians will still be thinking about one thing: being elected and re-elected.”

He openly blamed the South African government for failing to manage immigration, secure its borders, and enforce the law, thereby creating conditions ripe for political manipulation. “The problem is state failure. The state doesn’t manage immigration. The state doesn’t manage its borders. The state doesn’t enforce law enforcement. The state doesn’t manage education. What do you expect?” he asked.

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Jonas explains how this state failure leaves citizens vulnerable to political opportunists who offer false solutions. “When people feel the impact, they become vulnerable to politicians whose main goal is to be elected and re-elected. Some of them don’t have any credibility. Yet they lead demonstrations and tell our people that the problem is not us, it’s foreigners.”

Beyond current political failures, Jonas provides a historical critique of tribalism and ethno-nationalism. He describes it as a colonial invention designed to create divisions among African peoples, which has now mutated into contemporary xenophobia. “Tribes are a product of colonial power,” he said, noting that ethnic divisions have historically been reinforced to enforce indirect rule.

He laments that this colonial logic has become the driving force behind modern anti-foreigner violence. “You will see on the streets, it is no longer about whether you are from South Africa or not. It is about ethnicity, it is about who you are, you are not like us, and you are different, and therefore we have to persecute you. Something fundamental has been lost in our country. Something fundamental has been lost in our country,” said Jonas.

Jonas did not shy away from his criticism of the liberation movements, accusing them of maintaining ethnic divisions for their own political gain. “The liberation movement still defends things related to tribes – Zulu and Xhosa – and we defend these things as if they were real. These things are in our minds. We created them because they make us feel big. Identity politics – we have to get rid of them in our country. Ethno-nationalism is something we have to get rid of in this country.”

Reflecting on the life of Damasane, who made South Africa his home after apartheid, Jonas speaks of the late activist’s deep commitment to his adopted country. “He immersed himself in the struggle, the suffering of the South African people, and he became one of us,” Jonas said. “In Damasane’s strength, our strength as South Africans and South Africans is reflected. And in his weakness, our own weakness is also reflected.”

Jonas recounts a powerful conversation in which Damasane warns a young South African that one day they may want to leave their own country. He noted how tragic these words were considering the challenges South Africa faces today. “As I stand today, I look at South Africa. The level of oppression and inequality, the level of exclusion of our people, the level of corruption, the betrayal of the dream of liberation – Damasane’s words ring in my ears.”

He ended his speech with a call for continental solidarity, and reminded his readers of the deep economic interconnectedness of all African countries. “We are a country located in Africa. And without Africa, our growth as a country – economically – our wealth will be tied to the growth of Africa. South Africa is nothing without Africa. And Africa is nothing without South Africa… We cannot judge people based on their origins. We cannot determine a person’s legal status based on their origins.”