President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned protesters not to take immigration enforcement into their own hands
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed an ultimatum by anti-illegal immigration groups demanding that undocumented foreigners leave the country by June 30, warning that the government will not tolerate attempts to create instability.
Speaking on the sidelines of Youth Day commemorations at Nasrec on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said government was already implementing measures to address immigration challenges.
The deadline was set by anti-illegal immigration organisations, including the March and March movement, which has called for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa by June 30 and warned of further action should its demands not be met. Government has, however, distanced itself from the ultimatum, maintaining that immigration enforcement remains the responsibility of the state.
”The so-called 30th of June, in my view, is not an event that is even necessary because we are addressing the challenges that our people are facing,” Ramaphosa said.
He said the measures announced by government had largely been welcomed by South Africans as important and immediately effective steps. Ramaphosa urged citizens not to take the law into their own hands, saying immigration enforcement was the responsibility of government officials.
”No South African must take any action against any person from any of our African sister countries. That is the responsibility of government and government officials,” he stressed.
The president warned that authorities would not tolerate any attempts to create instability under the guise of addressing concerns about illegal immigration. ”We must not allow South Africans to be duped and to be misled by those who want to foster instability in our country. We will not allow that.” Ramaphosa added that security forces would ensure there was no disruption to the lives of South Africans.
On marches linked to illegal immigration, Ramaphosa said some of those involved appeared intent on destabilizing the country. ”With regards to a number of those who are making a lot of noise about these marches that are taking place, there does seem to be an intention to destabilize the country. The clear message is that we are not going to allow that,” he said.
He added that government would not allow the concerns of citizens to be misused by people with what he described as “nefarious intentions”.
”Our people have heard the message, and we are taking action and we are implementing the interventions that are, in the end, going to address those needs,” Ramaphosa said.
The president also responded to criticism that government had only begun acting after pressure from organizations campaigning against illegal immigration. ”We have actually been doing a lot of work changing our immigration laws and also empowering our immigration officials to address these specific issues,” he said.
Ramaphosa described migration as a broader economic challenge, saying many people who entered South Africa were seeking better opportunities. ”The challenge of immigration that we’re facing is, in the end, an economic one because those who come to our country are, in the main, economic migrants or refugees,” he said.
Ramaphosa also rejected claims that South Africans were xenophobic, saying misinformation was being spread about developments in the country. “There’s a lot of disinformation that is aimed at tarnishing the image of South Africa,” he said.
”The one thing that South Africans are not is xenophobic. South Africans are not xenophobic and we are addressing their concerns.”
The president revealed that he had recently spoken to Malawi’s President, who had expressed understanding of South Africa’s challenges and pledged cooperation. He said South Africa would also send envoys to various countries on the continent to explain government’s position and counter misinformation. ”We are addressing these issues, both the concerns of those who are outside our country and those who are inside our country.”
