By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa says there has been “weaknesses” in the way his country has managed migration, announcing that the government would take “decisive” action now, a development that comes amidst anti-foreigner sentiment in the country that has seen other African nations, including Nigeria evacuate their citizens.
The Government of National Unity (GNU) formed in 2024 has placed a new focus on the issue of immigration, saying it has deported over 100,000 people in the last two years who were in the country illegally.
“The Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority, the South African Police Service, and other law enforcement agencies have been — and will — intensify the process of identifying and deporting undocumented foreign nationals residing illegally in South Africa,” he said on Sunday during a televised address.
He however warned that authorities would not tolerate anyone taking the law into their own hands.
“Only authorized government officials can act against violations of our law,” Ramaphosa said, warning that some groups were “inciting” tensions.
Anti-immigrant groups say foreigners living in the country are responsible for its high unemployment and putting pressure on public health and education services.
They have stage series of xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, destroying their business interests with dozens of deaths recorded.
The have set a June 30 deadline for foreign nationals who are in South Africa illegally to leave and have requested talks with the government.
But Ramaphosa said illegal immigration is not the cause of all of the country’s economic challenges.
“There are other causes. The answer must be faster economic growth, greater investments, industrial expansion, infrastructure development and the creation of new jobs.”
Nigeria has concluded plans to repatriate its stranded nationals, while Ghana has already brought back around 300 of its nationals, saying more will be offered the chance to return home because of what it called threats against them.
Mozambique’s government said that five of its citizens were killed in what it referred to as “xenophobic attacks” in the town of Mossel Bay on South Africa’s south coast.
South Africa has a history of violence against migrants, including in 2008 when more than 60 people were killed.
