South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned xenophobia and vigilante actions against foreign nationals, emphasising that immigration enforcement is solely the responsibility of the state. In a national address on Sunday, June 7, Ramaphosa asserted that South Africa has no place for xenophobia, racism, or any form of intolerance, particularly in light of rising tensions surrounding illegal immigration and recent anti-foreigner campaigns by certain groups.
His comments come amid renewed concerns about the treatment of migrants and foreign nationals in South Africa, following incidents that have sparked fears of xenophobic attacks. “The responsibility for enforcing immigration laws rests with the state and the state alone,” Ramaphosa declared. He stressed that no individual or group is authorised to stop people in public spaces and demand identification documents, warning that such actions undermine the rule of law.
“I must make it clear that only authorized government officials may act against violations of the law, including breaches of our immigration laws,” he stated. While recognising public concerns about illegal immigration, Ramaphosa cautioned against allowing those concerns to fuel hostility towards foreign nationals.
“As communities and as a society, we must not be tempted to join those who want us to turn against people who were not born in South Africa and who are in our midst,” he said. Ramaphosa also warned against groups seeking to exploit immigration-related concerns for political, personal, or criminal purposes, saying authorities would act against anyone inciting violence or lawlessness.
“We will not allow groups to use the legitimate concerns of South Africans to destabilise our country through inciting lawlessness and violence,” he added. Meanwhile, Ghana has evacuated 1,500 Ghanaian nationals who voluntarily opted to be repatriated from South Africa following recent waves of xenophobic attacks and anti-immigrant protests against foreign nationals.
Source: Isaac Appiah Kubi
