Ramathuba Hits Back at Zim Man: “You Left Poverty, Yet You Came Here to Boast About SAn Tenders”

Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba has criticised remarks allegedly made by a Zimbabwean man about South African women during an incident at a restaurant in Sandton.

According to accounts of the exchange, the man allegedly described South African women as poor while discussing his financial success and business activities in South Africa.

Ramathuba reportedly challenged the comments, questioning why someone who had left Zimbabwe for South Africa and benefited from opportunities in the country would make disparaging remarks about South Africans.

She also referred to claims that the man had made millions through government tenders in South Africa after previously experiencing financial difficulties in Zimbabwe.

The premier’s response comes amid continuing public debate over migration, economic opportunities and the involvement of foreign nationals in South Africa’s economy.

Ramathuba has previously spoken strongly about undocumented migration and its alleged impact on public resources, while calling for greater enforcement of immigration laws. Her comments on migration and foreign nationals have attracted both support and criticism.

The latest exchange has also drawn attention to questions surrounding government procurement and the extent to which businesses, including those owned by foreign nationals, benefit from state contracts.

Ramathuba has previously questioned whether certain government services should routinely be outsourced through tenders. In 2024, she said her administration wanted to strengthen the province’s capacity to undertake some infrastructure projects internally rather than automatically relying on external contractors.

The Sandton incident has therefore become part of a broader discussion about economic participation, public procurement and relations between South Africans and foreign nationals.

However, the specific remarks attributed to the Zimbabwean man, as well as details surrounding the encounter, remain based on reported accounts. The claims have not been independently established in the material provided.

Ramathuba’s response has nonetheless brought renewed attention to questions of dignity, economic opportunity and the responsibilities of individuals conducting business in South Africa.

https://x.com/MDNnewss/status/2102733067651576288

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