Ramaphosa, King Misuzulu hold talks on migration amid rising tensions

Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has held high-level talks with AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini at Mahlamba Ndlopfu, as government intensifies consultations on South Africa’s approach to migration management amid rising tensions over immigration enforcement.

The meeting, hosted at the official presidential residence in Pretoria, forms part of what the Presidency described as ongoing engagements with key traditional leaders and social partners on migration policy and enforcement.

According to the Presidency, discussions focused on the state’s responsibility to enforce immigration laws and the importance of maintaining public order during rising anti-immigrant sentiment in parts of the country.

President Ramaphosa stressed that immigration enforcement remains a constitutional obligation of the state, while warning against unlawful actions by members of the public.

“The President emphasised the responsibility of the state to enforce immigration laws and that no individual may stop another to demand documentation or proof of nationality,” the Presidency said.

The President also appealed for calm in communities where protests linked to undocumented migration have taken place, urging leaders to promote peaceful expression of grievances.

“He also called on the King to add his voice to calling for peaceful demonstrations by those protesting against illegal immigration,” the statement added.

President @CyrilRamaphosa met with His Majesty King Misuzulu Zulu as part of government’s ongoing engagement with traditional leaders on the management of migration.

The President reaffirmed government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, enforcing immigration legislation… pic.twitter.com/otMCdbEwW7

— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) June 28, 2026

The engagement comes against a backdrop of heightened political and social debate over migration in South Africa, including renewed calls by some groups for stricter border control and the deportation of undocumented migrants. Authorities have in recent months warned against vigilante-style enforcement and xenophobic violence, saying such actions undermine the rule of law.

Traditional leaders, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, have increasingly been drawn into national discussions on migration, given their influence in rural governance and community mobilisation.

The Presidency has framed the consultations as part of efforts to build broader consensus on migration management while balancing security concerns with constitutional rights and social cohesion.