Ramaphosa calls for firm migration management, warns against scapegoating migrants

President Cyril Ramaphosa told the Pan-African Parliament that South Africa would continue enforcing immigration laws while protecting human dignity, saying migrants should not become scapegoats for broader social and economic challenges PresidentCyril Ramaphosahas called for a balanced approach to migration, saying South Africa must enforce its immigration laws while protecting the rights and dignity of migrants. Addressing the first ordinary session of the seventh legislature of thePan-African Parliament in Midrand on Monday, Ramaphosa said migration challenges facing the continent required a collective response that addressed the root causes driving people to leave their countries. His comments come amid ongoing concerns in South Africa overillegal migration, tensions involving foreign nationals and allegations of anti-migrant sentiment.

Ramaphosa said South Africa had experienced “outbreaks of anti-migrant sentiment and incidents of intimidation and violence directed at foreign nationals”, which he said had been fuelled partly by misinformation and prejudice. “As the South African government, we have taken a firm stance against any form of intimidation, vigilantism or violence directed at foreign nationals,” Ramaphosa said. He said government had taken steps to strengthen and enforce immigration laws, reduce tensions and ensure that all people within South Africa’s borders respected the rights of others.