South Africa’s president unveils crackdown on illegal migration
Cyril Ramaphosa has addressed the nation to unveil a series of new measures aimed at curbing illegal immigration amid growing tensions linked to anti-foreigner protests and rising frustration over unemployment in South Africa.
The measures announced by the president include jail terms for employers who hire undocumented migrants, the establishment of specialised courts to speed up deportation processes, and the creation of a biometric register for everyone in the country to help combat identity fraud.
At the same time, Ramaphosa cautioned citizens against taking immigration enforcement into their own hands.
In recent weeks, several African countries have begun evacuating their nationals from South Africa as fears of xenophobic violence continue to escalate. Anti-immigrant groups have demanded that undocumented migrants leave the country by June 30.
Last weekend, hundreds of African migrants reportedly fled their homes in the Overberg area of the Western Cape following reports of intimidation campaigns and the deaths of two Mozambican nationals in Mossel Bay.
Many of the displaced migrants sought refuge in community centres, beaches and nearby mountains, while some have since chosen to return to their home countries. Another group of about 140 people reportedly travelled by bus to Malawi and Mozambique over the weekend.
In Durban, several foreign nationals have camped outside the Department of Home Affairs for weeks, claiming they fear for their safety.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that illegal migration places pressure on public services and said government must address the issue responsibly.
He outlined a five-point strategy focused on stricter immigration enforcement, tighter border controls, tackling corruption within the immigration system, closing legal loopholes and collaborating with other African countries to manage migration challenges.
However, he stressed that only authorised government officials are permitted to enforce immigration laws.
“No other person is allowed, for example, to confront someone in the street to demand proof of nationality,” he stated.
Political analysts believe the resurgence of anti-migrant sentiment may be linked to local elections scheduled for November.
Ramaphosa warned that authorities would act against individuals or groups attempting to exploit public frustrations over immigration for political or criminal purposes. He also criticised misinformation campaigns targeting foreign nationals on social media.
The president further declared that there was “no space for xenophobia, racism, sexism, Afrophobia or any other forms of intolerance in South Africa.”
“Our country, like many others throughout history, is a product of migration. It is the reason for our diversity and contributes to our vibrancy,” he added.
Official figures estimate that South Africa is home to more than three million foreign nationals, although authorities believe many more undocumented migrants reside in the country.
During his address, Ramaphosa highlighted the connection between illegal migration and organised crime, revealing that the Border Management Authority had intercepted more than 450,000 people attempting to enter South Africa illegally over the past year.
He also accused some employers of exploiting undocumented migrants by paying them below the minimum wage and merely paying fines when caught. To address this, government plans to recruit 10,000 labour inspectors, while offenders could face tougher sanctions, including imprisonment.
The president further acknowledged that corruption among officials has contributed to illegal migration through the unlawful sale of identity documents.
As part of reforms, South Africa plans to phase out green ID books, which authorities say have enabled identity fraud involving criminal syndicates and undocumented migrants, and eventually introduce a digital identification system.
Another measure announced involves relocating refugee reception centres to border areas.
Ramaphosa also referenced growing anger in some communities over the number of foreign nationals operating spaza shops — small informal grocery stores commonly found in townships — which have often been targeted during previous outbreaks of xenophobic violence.
He said government would ensure all informal businesses are properly registered through the Department of Small Business Development and also introduce quotas regulating the employment of foreign nationals in different sectors of the economy.
South Africa currently has one of the world’s highest unemployment rates at about 33%, with young people particularly affected.
Ramaphosa said envoys would be dispatched to other African countries to explain the new immigration measures, adding that regional peace and economic stability remain important priorities.
He concluded by expressing hope that the reforms would help build “a secure, lawful, compassionate and prosperous” South Africa.
“South Africa has overcome far greater challenges than this. We have overcome division. We have overcome conflict. We have overcome injustice. We will overcome this challenge too,” he said.
Source: BBC
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