‘We won’t allow anyone to exploit immigration to destabilise SA’ – Ramaphosa

Immigration

Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that government will not allow groups to use the issue of illegal immigration to fuel violence or destabilise South Africa, amid growing anti-illegal immigration protests and a planned nationwide shutdown on 30 June.

Speaking at the Union Buildings on Sunday evening, Ramaphosa said law enforcement agencies and security services were prepared to maintain public order and protect critical infrastructure.

“As we work to tackle the problem of illegal immigration, we are determined that we will not allow anyone to exploit this problem to destabilise our country,” he said.

The president added: “Our law enforcement agencies and security services, working with other State entities and key stakeholders, are ready to act to protect public safety, maintain law and order, and safeguard critical infrastructure.”

His remarks come after a series of anti-illegal immigration marches across the country, some of which have been accompanied by incidents of violence, looting and the harassment of foreign nationals.

Ramaphosa reiterated that the enforcement of immigration laws is the responsibility of the state alone and warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands.

“No other person is allowed, for example, to confront someone in the street to demand proof of nationality,” he said.

The president also rejected xenophobia and intolerance, insisting that South Africans are not hostile towards foreign nationals.

“We know that South Africans are not xenophobic, as there is no space for xenophobia, racism, sexism, Afrophobia or any other forms of intolerance in South Africa.”

Ramaphosa said government would continue addressing illegal immigration through lawful enforcement measures while ensuring that public safety and social cohesion are maintained.

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