Here is how Ramaphosa defends migration measures amid rising tensions

Ramaphosa

Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended government’s new measures to tackle illegal immigration, while warning against xenophobia, vigilantism and efforts to divide communities as tensions over migration continue to rise across South Africa.

In his weekly newsletter on Monday, Ramaphosa said government was responding to “real concerns” raised by South Africans about illegal immigration, border security and the enforcement of immigration laws.

The President’s remarks follow his national address on Sunday evening, in which he outlined government’s comprehensive plan to manage migration and strengthen enforcement against undocumented foreign nationals.

Ramaphosa acknowledged growing public concern about the impact of illegal immigration on employment, business opportunities and public services.

“We are responding to real concerns that communities have about the effects that unchecked illegal immigration has on jobs and economic opportunities,” he said.

He noted that some employers were illegally hiring and exploiting undocumented foreign nationals, while there was also a widespread perception that foreign-owned spaza shops were undermining local traders.

Ramaphosa said many South Africans believed illegal immigration was placing additional strain on clinics, hospitals and schools, although available statistics showed foreign nationals accounted for only a small proportion of users of public services.

“Nevertheless, there is a perception among some people that our public services are being overwhelmed,” he said.

Ramaphosa also addressed concerns linking illegal immigration to crime, saying organised criminal syndicates were exploiting weaknesses in the immigration system to engage in activities such as drug trafficking, illegal mining and extortion.

However, he stressed that most foreign nationals living in South Africa were law-abiding residents.

“While there are organised syndicates that exploit weaknesses in our immigration system to commit crimes, we know that the overwhelming majority of foreign nationals in South Africa have no involvement in crime,” he said.

The President said Cabinet had adopted a Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management aimed at strengthening border security, improving immigration systems and cracking down on violations of immigration and labour laws.

According to Ramaphosa, government would deploy additional resources and technology to secure the country’s borders, intensify efforts to root out corruption within the immigration system and improve administrative efficiency.

He also announced plans to introduce legislative changes that would allow for quotas on foreign nationals in specific sectors of the economy and ensure informal businesses are properly registered.

“We are introducing legislation which allows quotas for foreign nationals in different sectors and ensuring that informal businesses are properly registered,” he said.

Ramaphosa said government was also working with countries across Southern Africa and the continent to address the conflict, instability and economic hardship that often drive migration.

While emphasising that migration management was a shared responsibility, the President warned communities against taking the law into their own hands.

“The task of managing migration belongs to all of us. That does not mean that communities should take the law into their own hands – only authorised officials of the state may enforce our immigration laws,” he said.

His comments come amid growing anti-illegal immigration protests in several parts of the country and increasing calls for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa.

Ramaphosa urged South Africans to reject violence, intimidation and misinformation, warning that some groups were attempting to exploit public frustrations for political or destabilising purposes.

“We must stand together against violence, intimidation and intolerance. Importantly, we must not allow anyone to exploit the genuine concerns of South Africans to incite violence, spread misinformation or destabilise our country,” he said.

The President called on traditional leaders, religious organisations, business, labour, civil society and political parties to support government’s efforts to tackle illegal immigration while preserving social cohesion.

“We must actively work against efforts to divide us. We must confront racism, sexism, xenophobia and Afrophobia,” he said.

Ramaphosa concluded by reiterating that South Africa remained a nation shaped by migration and diversity, arguing that stronger enforcement of immigration laws could be achieved without abandoning constitutional values.

“By strengthening our laws and enforcing them fairly, we can tackle illegal immigration while remaining true to our Constitution and to our shared humanity,” he said.

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