Former South African President Thabo Mbeki delivers a powerful message on unemployment, poverty, undocumented migration and the history of migrant labour in South Africa during "A Conversation with Former President Thabo Mbeki" at UNISA.
In this thought-provoking part of the conversation, former President Thabo Mbeki challenges South Africans to look beyond easy explanations for the country’s economic problems and confront the underlying causes of unemployment and poverty. He argues that blaming undocumented migrants will not solve South Africa’s economic challenges and calls for a more accurate diagnosis of the problems facing the nation.
Mbeki also explores South Africa’s long history of regional migration, highlighting the contributions of workers from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Malawi to the development of the mining industry and the country’s economy.
KEY ISSUES DISCUSSED
• South Africa’s unemployment and poverty crisis
• Undocumented migration and the enforcement of immigration law
• The difference between identifying a scapegoat and addressing root causes
• The historical contribution of migrant workers to South Africa
• Xenophobia, African identity and regional interconnectedness
• Economic accountability, governance and the need for solutions
A Conversation with Former President Thabo Mbeki, hosted by the University of South Africa (UNISA).
Do you agree with Thabo Mbeki that South Africa must focus on the root causes of unemployment and poverty rather than blaming undocumented migrants?
What do you believe are the biggest causes of unemployment in South Africa today?
Share your perspective in the comments. Keep the discussion respectful, constructive and focused on solutions.
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© Africa Web TV 2026
00:00 – Thabo Mbeki: Unemployment, Poverty and Migration
01:24 – Who Is Really Responsible for South Africa’s Poverty?
02:25 – The Need to Diagnose the Real Economic Problems
03:24 – “Why Are You Protecting the Culprit?”
04:23 – Why Deportations Won’t Solve Unemployment
05:18 – South Africa’s History of Migrant Labour
07:09 – A Million Migrants and the Complexity of Identity
08:37 – The Story of the South African Identity Card
10:37 – Tackling Poverty Without Blaming the Wrong People
#africannarratives #thabombeki #southafrica