South Africa's President Unveils Crackdown on Illegal Migration

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa Announces New Measures to Crack Down on Illegal Migration

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has addressed the nation to announce a raft of new measures to crack down on illegal migration.

Over the last few weeks, several African nations have been organising the evacuation of some of their nationals as fears of violence grow. Anti-migrant groups are demanding that undocumented migrants leave the country, and have set 30 June as the deadline. This comes as several hundred African migrants fled their homes in the Overberg region of South Africa's Western Cape Province after reports of door-to-door intimidation, as well as the deaths of two Mozambicans in Mossel Bay.

Many migrants sought shelter in community halls, at the beach or nearby mountains. Some have opted to return home, and this weekend another group of around 140 people boarded buses to Malawi and Mozambique. In Durban, foreigners have been camping outside the city's home affairs department for several weeks, saying they fear for their lives. Ramaphosa acknowledged that illegal migration was putting unfair pressure on South Africa's public services – and that the issue needed to be addressed by his government.

He set out a five-point strategy to do so, by cracking down on immigration law violators, strengthening border security, stamping out corruption within the immigration system, closing loopholes in immigration law, and working with other African countries to tackle the problem. However, he warned against vigilantism, stating that only authorised government officials may act against violations of the law. 'No other person is allowed to confront someone in the street to demand proof of nationality,' he said.

Ramaphosa also told South Africans that there was 'no space for xenophobia, racism, sexism, Afrophobia or any other forms of intolerance in South Africa'. He pointed out that their country is a product of migration, which is the reason for their diversity and contributes to their vibrancy. 'It is the foundation of our nation,' he said.

South Africa is home to more than three million foreigners, about 5% of the population, according to official figures – but there are believed to be many more without papers. During his 30-minute speech, Ramaphosa noted the scale of the problem and how 'illegal migration routes increasingly overlap with organised crime.' He pointed out that in the past year alone, the Border Management Authority managed to intercept and stop over 450,000 people who were attempting to enter South Africa illegally. 'This shows the severity of the issue,' he said.

Ramaphosa also explained how unscrupulous employers pay undocumented migrants well below the minimum wage and 'merely' pay a fine if caught. He announced plans to hire 10,000 inspectors to crack down on such businesses, and those found guilty would face tougher penalties, including imprisonment.

Illegal migration was also often enabled by corruption, he acknowledged. Officials sold documents to undocumented immigrants, who then used them to access public services. To combat this, the authorities will discontinue green ID books, which have enabled identity theft by undocumented immigrants and criminal syndicates. Ramaphosa added that this was part of plans to have a digital ID for everyone in the future.

Another imminent change announced was the relocation of refugee reception centres to border posts. Ramaphosa made reference to the anger expressed by many communities about the number of foreign nationals running small grocery stores in townships, known as spaza shops. These have often been targeted during waves of xenophobic violence that have erupted in South Africa over the last few decades.

Ramaphosa said efforts would be made to ensure all informal shops were properly registered by the Small Business Development Department. Quotas were also to be set for the employment of foreign nationals in any economic sector or occupational category, he said.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the world at around 33%, mainly affecting young people. Ramaphosa said he would be speaking further on the issue in the coming weeks. He urged South Africans to be patient and not to take the law into their own hands. 'We will act against forces who are exploiting the concerns of our people about illegal immigration to further their own political, personal or criminal agendas,' he said, cautioning against social media campaigns that spread misinformation and lies about foreign nationals.

South Africa's economy has struggled in recent years, with a significant portion of its workforce unemployed. The government has been trying to address the issue of high unemployment, which has led to protests and demonstrations. The relocation of refugee reception centres to border posts is expected to improve the management of the refugee crisis in South Africa. The government has stated that it will provide support to those who are deemed to be genuine refugees.

Key Statistics on South Africa's Immigration System

South Africa has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the world at around 33%. Over 450,000 people were intercepted and stopped from entering South Africa illegally in the past year. 5% of the population in South Africa are foreigners, but there are believed to be many more without papers. 3 million foreigners are living in South Africa. Green ID books have been discontinued due to their use in identity theft.