Standard Bank Africa chief calls out leaders who exploit anti-immigration protests

Standard Bank Africa regions CEO Lungisa Fuzile has called out political leaders who seek to exploit the prevailing anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa for political expediency, saying the continent is better off connected than pursuing nationalist agendas.

Fuzile, who is no stranger to the machinations of the state, having served as National Treasury director-general before joining the ranks in the private sector, said great responsibility falls on political leaders to shape public discourse on immigration.

“Leaders have to rise above this. One might have space to tolerate this being entertained by average citizens , but when this gets entertained by leaders, we have a problem,” Fuzile told Business Day on the sidelines of the group’s Africa Unlocked conference held in Cape Town last week.