South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced tougher measures against illegal immigration while strongly condemning xenophobia, vigilantism, and attacks on foreign nationals.
In a national address, Ramaphosa said concerns over illegal immigration must be addressed through lawful channels, stressing that only authorised government agencies have the power to enforce immigration laws.
“There is no space for xenophobia, racism, Afrophobia or any form of intolerance in South Africa,” Ramaphosa declared.
The president warned citizens against taking the law into their own hands by demanding identification documents from people on the streets or denying foreigners access to public services.
According to him, violence, intimidation, and harassment of migrants have no place in a democratic society and undermine South Africa’s constitutional values.
While condemning xenophobic actions, Ramaphosa also acknowledged growing public concerns over illegal immigration and vowed that his administration would intensify efforts to enforce immigration and labour laws.
“Government will take action to address the expectations of our people in dealing with violations of our immigration laws,” he said.
The South African leader also accused some employers of exploiting undocumented migrants by paying them below the minimum wage and subjecting them to poor working conditions.
“Employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers and exploit their vulnerability are breaking the law,” Ramaphosa stated.
As part of the new measures, the government has approved a Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management, aimed at tightening border security, tackling corruption within the immigration system, and improving enforcement of immigration laws.
The strategy includes stronger deportation processes, the establishment of dedicated immigration courts, enhanced border surveillance, and the introduction of new biometric identity systems.
Ramaphosa revealed that South Africa’s Border Management Authority intercepted more than 450,000 attempted illegal border crossings within the last year.
The president also announced plans to deploy special envoys to African countries to explain the government’s actions and ease tensions arising from recent anti-foreigner protests.
“We want a South Africa where every person who enters the country does so lawfully and where immigration laws are respected and enforced,” he said.
Despite the tougher immigration measures, Ramaphosa insisted that all people living in South Africa, regardless of nationality or immigration status, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
Source: South African Presidency.
