TSHWANE - President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a “comprehensive approach to migration management” Sunday evening, vowing to crack down on illegal immigration and employers who hire undocumented workers while warning South Africans not to turn frustration into xenophobic violence.
Addressing the nation from the Union Buildings at 18:00, Ramaphosa said Cabinet last week adopted a national plan to deal with rising public anger over undocumented immigration and a surge in anti-foreigner protests ahead of a June 30 deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.
The President laid out five pillars of government’s response:
- Crack down on violations of immigration, labour and other laws.
- Prevent irregular and illegal entry into the country.
- Stamp out corruption in the immigration system.
- Strengthen immigration laws and policies.
- Engage other African countries on a regional response to migration.
“The first part of our response is a concerted crackdown on violations of existing immigration, labor, and other laws,” Ramaphosa said.
He confirmed government will increase penalties, “including imprisonment for employers who violate our immigration act”.
This echoes his State of the Nation pledge to hire 10,000 additional labour inspectors this year and ensure “employers who hire foreign nationals without the required visas will face the full might of the law”.
Ramaphosa reiterated that “illegal immigration poses a risk to our security, stability and economic progress”. He said funding to strengthen border security will be prioritised, covering infrastructure, technology and personnel, with key border posts redeveloped through public-private partnerships.
Drones and tech are already being deployed along the border line.
The Electronic Travel Authorisation System will be extended to all countries that require a visa, all international airports and the busiest land ports.
While promising tougher enforcement, Ramaphosa warned against vigilante action. “We should not allow the legitimate concerns of our communities about illegal migration to breed prejudice and hatred towards our fellow Africans,” he said.
“We must not allow these concerns to give rise to xenophobia… Instead, we must insist that the law of our country be upheld and enforced”.
He specifically criticized groups blocking undocumented migrants from clinics and schools: “No foreign national should be unlawfully barred from accessing public facilities, including health facilities and schools”.
“To those who are here legally, respect us as South Africans, respect our laws… as you would want us to respect the laws and traditions of your own country”.
The address comes amid “increasing tensions surrounding immigration, unemployment, crime concerns, and demonstrations involving foreign nationals”. Cabinet approved a National Action Plan on migration developed by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration to address social tensions linked to undocumented migration.
The Presidency said the plan aims to balance enforcement, humanitarian obligations, and national stability.
The speech outlined an implementation roadmap for the National Action Plan, focusing on border reforms, compliance systems, and measures to address protest action. SAPS, Home Affairs and Labour inspectors will work together on enforcement.