Many questions around plan to tackle illegal migration

For some time, there has been rising public frustration, growing social tensions and increasing incidents of anti-foreigner violence across SA. Some political formations and civic groupings have joined the bandwagon and have turned the crisis into a campaign tool. The government has been accused of not doing enough to address the crisis.

In its response, albeit late, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday. His diagnosis is correct in recognising that many South Africans are concerned about the impact of undocumented migration on public services, employment opportunities and community safety. Citizens expect the state to know who enters the country, who remains legally, and who does not.

At the same time, Ramaphosa’s warning against taking the law into private hands deserves strong support. No democracy can allow citizens or organised groups to demand identity documents in the streets, intimidate foreign nationals or conduct their own immigration enforcement. Such actions undermine the rule of law and risk turning public frustration into dangerous xenophobic violence.

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In his address, Ramaphosa also unveiled an elaborate plan of action to address the immigration crisis. While some of the ideas make a lot of sense, many of us are asking: What’s new? To what extent will these plans be implemented? He said the government would crack down on the violation of the country’s immigration and labour laws.

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