Picture: RSA president, Cyril Ramaphosa
By BAKANG MOKOTO
8 June 2026- The Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa said in recent months, many South Africans have raised concerns about illegal immigration, asking whether our borders are secure and our laws are being enforced. Ramaphosa said it is in this context that he addressed the nation last night on the action’s government is taking to manage migration in the country and specifically to address the challenge of illegal immigration.
“We are responding to real concerns communities have about the effects that unchecked illegal immigration has on jobs and economic opportunities. We know that some companies employ – and exploit – undocumented foreign nationals in violation of the law. There is also a perception that spaza shops owned by foreign nationals are squeezing out local traders in communities.
“People are also concerned that illegal immigration puts increased pressure on public services like clinics, hospitals and schools. In reality, when one looks at the statistics, foreign nationals account for a very small proportion of users of these public services,” he said.
Ramaphosa further said nevertheless, there is a perception among some people that the public services are being overwhelmed. He added that some people associate illegal immigration with crime.
“While there are organised syndicates that exploit weaknesses in our immigration system to commit crimes like drug trafficking, illegal mining and extortion, we know that the overwhelming majority of foreign nationals in South Africa have no involvement in crime.
“In conditions of unemployment and poverty, crime, violence and service delivery challenges, people often direct their frustrations at those perceived to be competitors for jobs and resources,” said Ramaphosa.
He said as they work to address the causes of the economic challenges – by driving faster and inclusive economic growth, infrastructure development, industrial expansion and the creation of new jobs – they are taking decisive action to tackle illegal immigration. Ramaphosa further said through the Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management that was adopted last week by Cabinet, they are cracking down on violations of the immigration, labour and other laws.
“We are deploying more resources and technology to secure our borders. Government is also stamping out corruption and improving the efficiency of our immigration system. Another part of our comprehensive approach is to close the gaps in our citizenship and immigration laws.
“We are introducing legislation which allows quotas for foreign nationals in different sectors and ensuring that informal businesses are properly registered. Lastly, we are seeking to work with countries across our region and continent to address the conflict, instability and economic hardship that compel people to leave their homes,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the task of managing migration belongs to all of them. He said that does not mean that communities should take the law into their own hands – only authorised officials of the state may enforce the immigration laws – but there is a role for all South Africans in upholding the laws and building social cohesion.
“As we undertake all these actions, we are guided by our constitution, our laws and our international obligations. As a society, we must hold firmly to the rule of law. We must work to reduce tensions in our communities.
“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,” said Ramaphosa.
He said they call on traditional and religious leaders, civil society, business, labour, political parties and every South African to work with the government to support the actions they have announced to tackle illegal immigration. Ramaphosa said they must actively work against efforts to divide them.
“We must confront racism, sexism, xenophobia and Afrophobia. Our goal must be to build united and cohesive communities where all laws are respected and upheld. We are a nation built by migration and we are more diverse, dynamic and stronger for it.
“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 concluded.
The Guardian 