President Cyril Ramaphosa has unequivocally refuted allegations that any group in South Africa is enduring “genocide,” labeling such assertions as entirely false, misleading, and detrimental to the nation’s unity and its standing on the international stage. He asserted that South Africa operates as a constitutional democracy, where legal frameworks are in place to safeguard all racial groups, and that the pervasive issue of crime impacts every individual, rather than being selectively aimed at a particular community by the state. According to President Ramaphosa, these narratives of genocide are being strategically deployed to instill fear, create divisions among communities, and tarnish the country’s global image, particularly concerning potential investors and tourists.

However, the President was also careful to underscore that South Africa is not an authoritarian regime. He explicitly stated that individuals would not face arrest merely for engaging in discussion, critiquing government policies, or expressing their personal opinions, as freedom of speech is a fundamental right enshrined within the Constitution. Arrests are only permissible when an individual transgresses the law, such as through inciting violence, disseminating hateful rhetoric that precipitates attacks, or committing actual criminal offenses.

Ramaphosa's core message can be summarized as follows: there is no governmental policy advocating for racial persecution; no genocide is occurring within South Africa’s borders; crime, while a grave national concern, is not orchestrated by the state along racial lines; fabricated stories and exaggerated accounts undermine national cohesion and fuel discord; and the judiciary, not political figures, holds the authority to determine who is arrested. He strongly urged all South Africans to cease propagating panic and foreign propaganda, and instead redirect their collective efforts towards resolving the nation’s genuine challenges, including crime, unemployment, corruption, inequality, and fostering economic growth. The President concluded by emphasizing the critical need for unity, adherence to facts, and calm, constructive dialogue, as opposed to circulating rumors that possess the potential to fracture the nation and cultivate fear in situations where cooperation is paramount.