France, May 8 -- In recent weeks, demonstrations targeting foreign nationals have erupted in several major South African cities, at times turning violent.

The unrest has prompted concern from countries including Nigeria, Ghana and Mozambique, while United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres has also voiced alarm.

Speaking at a press briefing this week, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya insisted that South Africa should not be labelled xenophobic, arguing that the protests reflect broader tensions surrounding migration, crime and economic pressures rather than hostility towards foreigners as a whole.

"South Africa is not xenophobic. South Africans are not xenophobic," Magwenya said. "What is happening is that we have sev...