Mabuyane backs Ramaphosa’s action on illegal immigration

Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has acknowledged growing public frustration over unemployment and economic hardship, while backing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for tougher enforcement against illegal immigration and the employment of undocumented foreign nationals. Mabuyane was speaking on Wednesday after receiving a memorandum from anti-illegal immigration group March and March, which marched to his offices in Bhisho demanding stronger action against undocumented foreigners and businesses that employ them. The demonstration followed Ramaphosa’s recent address in which he warned businesses against hiring undocumented foreign nationals for jobs that could be filled by South Africans or legally documented migrants.

Addressing fewer than 100 protesters outside his offices, Mabuyane said the government understood the pressures communities were facing but cautioned against conflating all foreign nationals with illegal immigrants. “He [Ramaphosa] has issued a very clear stern warning on illegal things, including illegal immigrants, and that people should be in a country legally,” Mabuyane said. “I think that the security cluster has been given that responsibility to make sure that the laws of the country are enforced.

“In doing that we are not a xenophobic country, this has got nothing to do with xenophobia, but our people are feeling pressure. “Our people are unemployed, the economy is not growing, these are real challenges that we are dealing with.” Mabuyane said the province was working within the country’s three-tier system of government and would align itself with national efforts to address illegal immigration. He has given an instruction and where there are gaps we will discuss them with his colleagues,” he said. The march, organised by KuGompo City activist Azola Mrano, was the second immigration-related protest staged by the organisation this year.