Africa-Press – South-Africa. The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced a package of new measures to combat illegal immigration in a speech to the nation, amid rising tensions following anti-foreign protests and increasing dissatisfaction with high unemployment rates.
These measures include imprisoning employers who hire undocumented workers, establishing specialized courts to expedite the deportation of illegal immigrants, and creating a biometric register for “everyone in the country” to eliminate identity theft. However, he also warned South Africans against resorting to violence.
In recent weeks, several African countries have organized evacuations for some of their citizens due to growing fears of violence.
Anti-immigration groups are demanding that illegal immigrants leave the country, setting a deadline of June 30. Last weekend, hundreds of African migrants fled their homes in the Overberg area of the Western Cape province after reports of house-to-house intimidation, as well as the killing of two Mozambican citizens in Mossel Bay.
Many sought refuge in community halls, on the beach, or in nearby mountains, while some chose to return to their home countries. Over the weekend, another group of about 140 people boarded buses heading to Malawi and Mozambique. In Durban, foreigners have been protesting outside the Department of Home Affairs for several weeks, expressing fear for their lives.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that illegal immigration places an unfair burden on public services in South Africa and that this issue needs to be addressed by his government.
He outlined a five-point strategy to achieve this:
– Tightening penalties for immigration law violators
– Enhancing border security
– Eradicating corruption in the immigration system
– Closing loopholes in immigration laws
– Collaborating with other African countries to address the issue.
However, he cautioned against resorting to violence outside the law, stating: “I must make it clear that only authorized government officials are permitted to take necessary actions against violations of the law, including immigration law violations. No one else, for example, is allowed to confront anyone on the street to demand proof of citizenship.”
Some analysts have noted that the resurgence of anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa may be linked to the upcoming local elections scheduled for November.
The president stated that authorities would not allow groups to exploit legitimate fears “to destabilize” the country by inciting violence. He added: “We will take action against forces that exploit our people’s fears about illegal immigration for their political, personal, or criminal interests,” warning against social media campaigns that spread misinformation and lies about foreigners.
He also assured South Africans that “there is no place for xenophobia, racism, sexism, or hatred of Africans, or any other form of intolerance in South Africa.”
He stated: “Our country – like many countries throughout history – is a product of migration… This is why we are diverse and contributes to our vitality.” South Africa is home to over three million foreigners, approximately 5% of the population, according to official statistics, but it is believed that there are many more living without documentation.
During his 30-minute speech, the president highlighted the scale of the problem and how “the pathways of illegal immigration increasingly intersect with organized crime.”
He said: “Last year alone, the border management agency was able to intercept and stop more than 450,000 people attempting to enter South Africa illegally.”
Ramaphosa explained how unscrupulous employers pay illegal immigrants much lower wages than the minimum wage, only facing a fine if caught.
He added that plans have been launched to employ 10,000 inspectors to combat these activities, and that offenders will face harsher penalties “including imprisonment.” The president acknowledged that corruption often facilitates illegal immigration, explaining how officials sell documents.
He clarified that authorities would halt the green identity document that has facilitated identity theft by illegal immigrants and criminal gangs, adding that this is part of plans to provide a digital identity for everyone in the future.
Among other imminent changes announced is the relocation of refugee reception centers to border crossings. Ramaphosa noted the anger expressed by many local communities regarding the number of foreigners running small grocery stores in impoverished neighborhoods, known as “spaza” shops.
These shops have been repeatedly targeted during waves of violence against foreigners that have erupted in South Africa over the past few decades. Ramaphosa stated that efforts will be made to ensure that all informal shops are properly registered with the small business development department. He also added that quotas will be established “for employing foreigners in any economic sector or professional category.”
South Africa is among the countries with the highest rates of illegal immigration. The global unemployment rate is around 33%, significantly affecting the youth.
Ramaphosa announced that he would send envoys to other African countries to present these new measures, adding that peace and economic growth in other parts of the world are important factors.
He concluded his remarks on a positive note, expressing hope that these changes will contribute to building a “safe, law-abiding, compassionate, and prosperous” nation. He stated: “South Africa has overcome much greater challenges than this. We have overcome division, we have overcome conflict, we have overcome injustice. And we will overcome this challenge too.”
