Ramaphosa unveils immigration crackdown, warns against xenophobia

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a sweeping package of measures aimed at tightening immigration enforcement, securing South Africa’s borders and cracking down on employers who hire undocumented migrants, as government seeks to respond to growing public concern over illegal immigration while containing rising tensions over anti-foreigner protests. In a nationally televised address from the Union Buildings on Sunday evening, Ramaphosa acknowledged failures in migration management, corruption within the immigration system and mounting public frustration over unemployment, pressure on public services and crime. At the same time, he warned against xenophobia, vigilantism and attempts by private groups to police foreign nationals. “The responsibility for enforcing immigration laws rests with the state and the state alone,” Ramaphosa said. The address comes days after Ramaphosa announced that South Africa would dispatch special envoys to a number of African countries following growing concern over anti-foreigner protests and their impact on relations across the continent. While insisting that illegal immigration is a significant challenge, Ramaphosa rejected efforts to blame migrants for South Africa’s broader economic problems. “Illegal immigration is not the cause of all our economic challenges,” he said, arguing that faster economic growth, investment, industrial expansion and job creation remained the long-term solution. The president announced five pillars of government’s new migration strategy: intensified enforcement of immigration and labour laws, stronger border controls, a crackdown on corruption within the immigration system, legislative reforms and greater cooperation with African countries on migration challenges. Among the most significant measures is the establishment of dedicated immigration courts to speed up the deportation of undocumented migrants. Ramaphosa said the Department of Home Affairs, Border Mana