The African Federation of Miners and Mineral Wealth (AFMMW) has strongly condemned recent attacks against African migrants and workers in South Africa.
The Federation describes the incidents as a threat to African unity, solidarity, and the dignity of workers across the continent.
In an official statement issued by its Executive Leadership, the federation stressed that African workers, particularly miners, are not enemies of the South African people but have historically played a significant role in the development of Africa and the advancement of liberation struggles across the continent.
The federation emphasized that Africans share a common history, destiny, and struggle against poverty, exploitation, and injustice, warning against allowing these shared challenges to be transformed into conflicts among Africans themselves. The AFMMW reminded South Africans and the wider African community that many African nations stood firmly with South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle, providing political, trade union, and popular support until freedom was achieved.
According to the federation, it is therefore unacceptable for African nationals to face humiliation, persecution, and violence on African soil.
The federation called on the South African government to take immediate and decisive measures to end all attacks against African workers, especially those employed in the mining sector. It further urged authorities to investigate and prosecute individuals and groups responsible for violence, incitement, and anti-migrant campaigns. The statement also called for stronger protections to guarantee the dignity, legal rights, and safety of all African nationals living and working in South Africa.
Among its recommendations, the AFMMW advocated for comprehensive national campaigns to combat xenophobia and appealed for enhanced protection of African workers in the mining, industrial, and informal sectors from discrimination, targeting, and violence.
The federation also directed an appeal to the African Union, urging the continental body to adopt a clear and principled stance on what it described as serious violations against African workers. It called for emergency consultations among African leaders to address the escalating attacks and to defend the principles of African unity, freedom of movement, and the dignity of workers throughout the continent.
Warning that silence in the face of xenophobic violence could encourage its continuation, the federation said such incidents threaten the future of African unity and solidarity. It reaffirmed its belief that Africa belongs to all Africans and insisted that the unity of African peoples remains a “red line” that must not be crossed.
The statement concluded with a call for solidarity among African workers and a strong rejection of xenophobia and violence. Signed by General Secretary Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, the federation reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights, safety, and dignity of workers across Africa.
“Long live African unity. Long live African workers’ solidarity. No to xenophobia. No to violence against Africans,” the statement declared.
