The South African government has acknowledged that ongoing alleged xenophobic incidents are hurting the country's creative sector as well as other areas of the economy.

Speaking at a media briefing on June 15, 2026, South Africa's Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, stated that several South African artistes have begun losing performance opportunities across Africa due to concerns linked to xenophobia.

She also indicated that South African-owned businesses operating in other countries are experiencing challenges as negative perceptions about the country continue to grow.

“It’s our artistes. The majority of South African artistes perform on the continent, and many are seeing their gigs cancelled. So that’s another impact of this because they benefit quite a lot. They perform at live events and everything. So they are receiving a hit.

“We’ve not been able to work together. So we’ll definitely work with arts and culture to understand the impact this will have. But one artiste did reach out to me to say that all her gigs on the continent were cancelled. This is an income loss for South Africa. So the brand does get affected,” she noted.

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Mmamoloko Kubayi further disclosed that the government had tasked a minister with engaging South Africans living abroad while ensuring support services are available to them.

“Minister Alamola has met with them, and we’re providing services, support services, and consular services for those businesses on the continent and outside the continent. So where they face a backlash, where they face difficulties, that would be one of the areas that we would have to look at as well, which has come to my attention,” she said.

According to her, the government cannot overlook the criticism and consequences stemming from xenophobic incidents. She said authorities have therefore intensified efforts through DECO to engage South African businesses operating beyond the country's borders.

“That’s why part of what we are doing is to explain that South Africans are not xenophobic. And we are also telling South Africans: let’s be responsible. And that’s why we must deal with the issue of illegal immigrants.

“And that’s why all the others are saying to us, ‘South Africa, we understand what you are dealing with, on the basis that these are illegal people; therefore, enforce the law. And those you have legally within the borders, please protect them as you protect South Africans.’

“So that’s the message as well that we continue to communicate,” Kubayi said.

She also disclosed that the government has instructed communities to refrain from taking the law into their own hands when dealing with foreign nationals.

“To a certain extent, this affects others who are not even foreign nationals because of language and how they look. So it’s those things we believe can not only help the brand but also strengthen our social cohesion.

“It can divide us further in terms of our cultural diversity. We’ve embraced our cultural diversity and inclusion, and we’ve welcomed each other from different tribes and communities. So if we don’t deal with this both internally, it can also hurt us internally and externally,” she added.

“Majority of South artists who perform on the African continent are seeing their gigs getting cancelled. One artist reached out to me and said all her gigs were cancelled.” - South Africa Justice Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi pic.twitter.com/WV3zKX3v5V

— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) June 15, 2026