Thabo Mbeki

Also known as: former President Thabo Mbeki · former South African President Thabo Mbeki · President Thabo Mbeki

Former South African President who has criticized anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa, arguing migrants are not responsible for unemployment.

2026-04-302026-07-30

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

April 2026
30 AprJoy Online
… He attributed the violence to weak institutions and entrenched cultures of extortion, recalling earlier warnings by former South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and former President Thabo Mbeki that the country’s poor education system risked making many young people unempl …
NDPC Chair calls for harmony in national development planning

Politics

Africa must pursue bold integration to maintain global influence

The News

Ambassador D.K. Osei, president of the Ghana Council on Foreign Relations, called for bold and visionary leadership across Africa, warning that the continent risks losing its influence in an evolving global order unless leaders deepen integration and speak with one voice on international issues. He argued that achieving Agenda 2063 development aspirations will require difficult decisions, sacrifices, and potential ceding of sovereignty, particularly in security and foreign policy, while questioning whether African states are prepared to strengthen the AfCFTA and pursue initiatives such as a common currency.

13 hours ago · Joy Online →

Yesterday

Africa must pursue bold integration to maintain global influence
Ambassador D.K. Osei, president of the Ghana Council on Foreign Relations, called for bold and visionary leadership across Africa, warning that the continent risks losing its influence in an evolving global order unless leaders deepen integration and speak with one voice on international issues. He argued that achieving Agenda 2063 development aspirations will require difficult decisions, sacrifices, and potential ceding of sovereignty, particularly in security and foreign policy, while questioning whether African states are prepared to strengthen the AfCFTA and pursue initiatives such as a common currency.
13 hours ago · Joy Online →
Ghana should use AU chair to advance African integration reforms
Ambassador D.K. Osei, president of the Ghana Council on Foreign Relations, has urged Ghana to use its upcoming AU chairmanship to drive continental reforms under Agenda 2063, arguing that African nations must be willing to make political and economic sacrifices to deepen integration through the AfCFTA and other initiatives, though he expressed doubt about whether countries are genuinely prepared for such bold steps.
13 hours ago · Joy Online →

Wednesday 15 July

Ghana's 2027 AU leadership offers chance to refocus continental body
Ghana's upcoming African Union presidency in 2027 represents an opportunity to reset the continental organisation after nearly a decade of drift from its founding mission to build a stronger collective African voice and shape the continent's development agenda, according to this analysis.
15 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Thursday 25 June

Xenophobia against African migrants spans multiple nations
Xenophobia in South Africa is part of a broader pattern across African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Gabon, and Mauritania turning against fellow Africans during times of tension. Recent anti-immigration campaigns in South Africa, including confrontations with migrant workers and calls for undocumented migrants to leave, prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce stricter immigration enforcement measures.
25 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 6 June

South Africa's Ramaphosa faces impeachment over farmgate scandal
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa faces possible removal from office as MPs establish a committee to recommend whether he should be impeached over a 2020 robbery at his private farm where $580,000 in cash was allegedly stolen from a sofa. The scandal, which surfaced publicly in 2022 through former spy chief Arthur Fraser's allegations that Ramaphosa hid the theft from police and tax authorities, has escalated after the country's highest court ruled that MPs had unconstitutionally blocked earlier impeachment moves.
6 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 1 June

Mbeki criticises South Africa's anti-immigrant sentiment, blames economic policy
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has criticised growing anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa, saying undocumented African migrants are not responsible for the country's unemployment and crime challenges. Nearly 300 Ghanaians returned home this week following anti-immigrant protests, as Mbeki argued South Africa's economic decline since 2009 was not caused by foreign nationals.
1 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 31 May

Undocumented African migrants not cause of SA unemployment, Mbeki says
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has rejected anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa, arguing that undocumented African migrants are not responsible for the country's unemployment crisis and that anger is being directed at the wrong targets. His remarks come as nearly 300 Ghanaians returned home following anti-immigrant protests.
31 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Mbeki defends African migrants, says blame misplaced for unemployment
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has argued that undocumented African migrants are being unfairly blamed for unemployment and crime, when South Africa's economic challenges stem from deeper structural causes dating back decades. His comments come as nearly 300 Ghanaians voluntarily returned home from South Africa amid anti-immigrant protests and safety concerns.
31 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 16 May

Wontumi campaign rejects presidential staffer's criticism of court cases
The Communication Directorate of the Wontumi Campaign has criticised remarks allegedly made by presidential staffer Rosemond Obeng suggesting that no serious political party would allow someone with active court cases to contest for chairmanship. The campaign's response cited historical examples including Kwame Nkrumah and Jerry John Rawlings to argue that legal challenges do not disqualify leaders from public office.
16 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Wontumi campaign rejects staffer's criticism of chairman's court cases
The Wontumi Campaign has condemned remarks by presidential staffer Rosemond Obeng suggesting that no serious party would allow someone with active court cases to contest for chairmanship. The campaign argues that legal challenges do not disqualify leaders from public office, citing historical examples including Ghana's first President Kwame Nkrumah and Jerry John Rawlings.
16 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 30 April

NDPC chair urges discipline, responsiveness in development planning
The NDPC chairman has called for greater discipline and responsiveness in Ghana's national development planning, warning against the proliferation of plans without effective implementation. He stressed that development must translate into concrete outcomes that improve citizens' lives, and noted that the president has directed the consolidation of multiple development frameworks into a single national development plan.
30 April 2026 · Joy Online →