JOHANNESBURG, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Recent violent attacks targeting foreign nationals have severely damaged South Africa's diplomatic and trade relations with its African neighbors, major business associations warned on Friday.
In a joint statement, Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) expressed their grave concern over rising anti-immigrant sentiment and outbreaks of violence across the country.
BUSA and BLSA emphasized the reciprocal nature of African commerce, noting that numerous South African companies operate extensively across the continent, driving external investment and job creation. Conversely, enterprises from various African countries operate within South Africa, providing vital employment opportunities for local citizens.
"South Africa benefits enormously from legal investments, as well as the genuine entrepreneurship, skills, and talent drawn from other African countries," the associations said.
"Hostility disrupts vital corporate operations, strains diplomatic ties with regional partners, and threatens the safety of personnel and infrastructure along cross-border trade corridors," they added.
Both associations warned that they have observed retaliatory sentiments and negative reactions brewing in other African nations, which could jeopardize South African businesses abroad.
"We strongly urge swift action to ensure a return to the rule of law," BLSA and BUSA said. "We firmly believe that South Africa requires strong, steady leadership from the government to guide immigration, enforce labor laws, and foster social cohesion."
The two associations emphasized that South Africa's future prosperity remains intrinsically linked to the broader economic development of the continent, in alignment with the African Union's Agenda 2063 blueprint for regional integration.
