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Government tackling illegal immigration head on, says President Ramaphosa

Government tackling illegal immigration head on, says President Ramaphosa Government is responding to the genuine concerns that South Africans have expressed regarding illegal migration and its impact on the country. The President reiterated this in his weekly newsletter published on Monday. Migration has come into sharp focus over the past few weeks with protests against illegal immigration across the country. “We are responding to real concerns that 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. Nevertheless, there is a perception among some people that our public services are being overwhelmed,” the President acknowledged. He assured that through the Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management – already adopted by Cabinet – and other interventions, government is “cracking down on violations of immigration, labour and other laws”. Some of the interventions have yielded the following results: Over the past year alone, the Border Management Authority has intercepted and stopped some 450 000 people who attempted to enter South Africa illegally. In the past three weeks alone, more than 5 000 illegal immigrants have been arrested for contravening the Immigration Act. Since 1st January 2026, law enforcement operations conducted across the country have resulted in the arrest of 34 798 illegal immigrants and in the previous financial year, 76 588 illegal immigrants were arrested. Furthermore, dedicated courts are being set up to tackle immigration and speed up support for the deportation of undocumented migrants. “We are [also] 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,” President Ramaphosa said. Managing migration The President called on collective effort to manage migration but cautioned communities from taking the law into their own hands. “[Only] authorised officials of the State may enforce our immigration laws – but there is a role for all South Africans in upholding our 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,” the President insisted. Communities are encouraged to work with government to quell tensions and “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. “We call on traditional and religious leaders, civil society, business, labour, political parties and every South African to work with government to support the actions we have announced to tackle illegal immigration. “We must actively work against efforts to divide us. 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,” the President added. He reaffirmed that South Africa will adopt a firm but fair approach to migration. “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,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za NeoB Mon, 06/08/2026 - 12:13 0

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