…says everyone in South Africa must ‘respect, uphold our laws’

President Cyril Ramaphosa has made it clear that everyone in South Africa must respect and uphold the country’s laws, while condemning the ongoing xenophobic attacks.

There have been escalating xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which reportedly claimed the lives of two Nigerians and heightened fears within Nigerian communities.

This led to the Federal Government announcing plans to evacuate Nigerians willing to return home, with more than 130 individuals already registered for voluntary repatriation flights.

Reacting to the rising attacks on Monday via a post on his official X account, President Ramaphosa condemned the recent violent protests and criminal acts targeting foreign nationals in South Africa, stating they do not reflect the people’s views or government policy and are acts of opportunists exploiting grievances.

The accompanying official letter alsl acknowledged strains from illegal immigration on services, housing, and the labor market amid high unemployment while outlining actions like enhanced border security, workplace inspections, arrests, and deportations.

“Dear Fellow South Africans, the recent violent protests and criminal acts directed at foreign nationals in parts of our country do not represent the views of South Africa’s people nor reflect our government’s policy,” he said.

“These are the acts of opportunists who are exploiting the legitimate grievances, particularly those of the poor, under the false guise of ‘community activism’. Some of these people are assuming functions that only state officials are permitted to perform, including stopping people to check identification and conducting searches of private property. Such lawlessness will not be tolerated, regardless of who the perpetrators or victims are.

“At the same time, as a society, we need to deal decisively – and within the law – with the challenge of illegal immigration, which risks our social stability, governance and national security. Undocumented migration places strain on healthcare, housing and municipal services, particularly in poor communities.

“It distorts the labour market. In a country with high unemployment, some employers are exploiting undocumented, cheaper foreign labour over hiring citizens and paying them legal wages. Not only is this fuelling social tension, it is actively undermining our labour protection regime and eroding the hard-won rights of workers.”

In tackling illegal migration, Ramaphosa said the government is balancing its constitutional and international obligations with safeguarding national security.

He explained that the Border Management Authority (BMA) and the Defence Force are strengthening border security and combating illicit cross-border activity.

The president also commended the BMA for successfully intercepting some 450,000 people trying to enter South Africa illegally in the past financial year.

“As we strengthen our borders, we continue to reform our migration and citizenship framework,” Ramaphosa said.

“We are stepping up workplace enforcement against employers who hire undocumented foreign nationals in violation of labour and immigration laws. We announced in the State of the Nation Address that we would be hiring up to 10,000 inspectors through the Department of Labour and Employment to ensure that our labour and immigration laws are adhered to.

“We continue to arrest and deport undocumented foreign nationals in accordance with the law, as we take forward the fight against corruption within the immigration system.”

According to Ramaphosa, this is a society-wide challenge in which the private sector and government should all play a constructive part.

He warned that South African citizens who collude with undocumented foreign nationals in fake marriages, the illegal sale of state-subsidised housing or accepting bribes to facilitate access to social services only deepen the problem.

The president lamented that many South Africans are exploiting undocumented labour in households and in the informal sector.

He advised that: “As a country, we must reject attempts to damage our country’s international reputation and to undermine the solidarity that has defined South Africa’s relations with the rest of Africa since the dawn of democracy.

“Since 1994 we have actively advanced a culture of human rights, all the while deepening the cause of African integration, cooperation and solidarity. We have a strong refugee protection framework that prioritises integration of persons displaced by conflict, war and persecution.

“Refugees are not confined to camps, as happens in some other countries. In South Africa, they are able to live in communities, participate in the economy and access services like healthcare and education.”

Ramaphosa stated that South Africa continues to play its part in deepening regional economic integration and travel, explaining that last year alone, visitors from African countries accounted for just over 8 million of a total of 10.5 million tourist arrivals.

He added that South Africa invests significantly in strengthening academic, cultural and institutional ties with the rest of Africa through hosting students and academics from Africa in the country’s universities, through people-to-people exchanges and though our hosting of the Pan-African Parliament.

Ramaphosa warned that South Africa’s demonstrated commitment to deepening African integration and solidarity should not be undermined by isolated acts of criminality.

“South Africa is not unique in confronting the pressures associated with undocumented migration. Many countries across the world, including in Africa, are themselves grappling with similar tensions. This calls for cooperation and understanding between countries on the continent and further afield,” he said.

“Like every other country in the world, we will continue asserting our sovereign right to regulate migration, secure our borders and enforce our laws. We must make it clear that there is no place in South Africa for xenophobia, ethnic mobilisation, intolerance or violence.”

Ramaphosa insisted that everyone in South Africa is bound by the same laws and the government is committed to ensure that they are respected and upheld by the citizens and foreign nationals alike.