South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned recent violence and intimidation directed at foreign nationals, warning that lawlessness disguised as “community activism” will not be tolerated, while simultaneously defending the government’s efforts to tighten border controls and combat undocumented migration.
In a public letter titled, ‘Everyone in South Africa must respect and uphold our laws,’ issued from the President’s desk on Monday, Ramaphosa sought to strike a balance between responding to growing public frustration over illegal immigration and reaffirming South Africa’s constitutional commitment to human rights, African solidarity and the rule of law.
His intervention comes as anti-illegal immigration protests intensify across parts of South Africa, raising concerns over vigilantism, xenophobia, human rights abuses and deteriorating relations between South Africa and other African countries whose citizens have increasingly become targets during periods of unrest.
The protests have placed pressure on regional diplomacy as governments across the continent grapple with protecting their nationals living and working in South Africa.
Addressing the tensions directly, Ramaphosa distanced both the South African government and ordinary citizens from recent attacks and intimidation targeting migrants.
“The recent violent protests and criminal acts directed at foreign nationals in parts of our country do not represent the views of South Africa’s people nor reflect our government’s policy,” Ramaphosa wrote.
“These are the acts of opportunists who are exploiting the legitimate grievances, particularly those of the poor, under the false guise of ‘community activism’.”
The president strongly criticised incidents where civilians have allegedly taken it upon themselves to stop individuals to inspect identity documents and conduct searches.
“Some of these people are assuming functions that only state officials are permitted to perform, including stopping people to check identification and conducting searches of private property,” he said.
“Such lawlessness will not be tolerated, regardless of who the perpetrators or victims are.”
Ramaphosa’s remarks come amid mounting concerns from migrant communities and human rights groups over reports of intimidation, assaults and targeting of foreign nationals during anti-immigration operations in some communities.
At the same time, the president acknowledged that undocumented migration remained a serious national concern with implications for governance, public services and economic stability.
“As a society, we need to deal decisively, and within the law, with the challenge of illegal immigration, which risks our social stability, governance and national security,” he said.
The president argued that undocumented migration was placing increasing pressure on healthcare, housing and municipal services, particularly in poor communities already struggling with unemployment and inequality.
“Undocumented migration places strain on healthcare, housing and municipal services, particularly in poor communities,” Ramaphosa wrote.
“It distorts the labour market. In a country with high unemployment, some employers are exploiting undocumented, cheaper foreign labour over hiring citizens and paying them legal wages.”
According to Ramaphosa, the exploitation of undocumented workers was fuelling social tensions while undermining labour protections won after apartheid.
“Not only is this fuelling social tension, it is actively undermining our labour protection regime and eroding the hard-won rights of workers,” he said.
The president defended his administration’s ongoing efforts to strengthen border security and reform South Africa’s migration system, saying authorities were working to balance constitutional obligations with national security concerns.
“In tackling illegal migration, we are balancing our constitutional and international obligations with safeguarding national security,” Ramaphosa said.
He revealed that the Border Management Authority (BMA) and the South African Defence Force were intensifying border operations and combating illicit cross-border activity.
“We commend the BMA for successfully intercepting some 450 000 people trying to enter South Africa illegally in the past financial year,” he wrote.
Ramaphosa also announced stricter workplace enforcement measures targeting employers who hire undocumented migrants illegally.
“We are stepping up workplace enforcement against employers who hire undocumented foreign nationals in violation of labour and immigration laws,” he said.
The president referenced an earlier announcement made during the State of the Nation Address that the government would recruit up to 10 000 labour inspectors to strengthen compliance with labour and immigration regulations.
“We continue to arrest and deport undocumented foreign nationals in accordance with the law, as we take forward the fight against corruption within the immigration system,” he added.
However, Ramaphosa stressed that undocumented migration could not be addressed by the government alone and accused some South Africans of contributing to illegal activities linked to migration and corruption.
“South African citizens who collude with undocumented foreign nationals in fake marriages, the illegal sale of state-subsidised housing or accepting bribes to facilitate access to social services only deepen the problem,” he said.
“Many South Africans are exploiting undocumented labour in households and in the informal sector.”
While affirming South Africa’s sovereign right to regulate migration and secure its borders, Ramaphosa cautioned against allowing immigration frustrations to fuel xenophobia or ethnic hostility.
“As a country, we must reject attempts to damage our country’s international reputation and to undermine the solidarity that has defined South Africa’s relations with the rest of Africa since the dawn of democracy,” he said.
The president defended South Africa’s historical commitment to African integration and refugee protection, noting that since 1994 the country had built a rights-based approach to migration and asylum.
“We have a strong refugee protection framework that prioritises integration of persons displaced by conflict, war and persecution,” he wrote.
“Refugees are not confined to camps, as happens in some other countries. In South Africa, they are able to live in communities, participate in the economy and access services like healthcare and education.”
Ramaphosa also highlighted South Africa’s broader regional ties, saying the country continued to invest heavily in African cooperation through tourism, education, academic exchanges and continental institutions such as the Pan-African Parliament.
“South Africa continues to play its part in deepening regional economic integration and travel,” he said.
“Last year alone, visitors from African countries accounted for just over eight million of a total of 10.5 million tourist arrivals.”
He warned that isolated incidents of violence risked undermining decades of diplomatic and political solidarity built across the continent since the end of apartheid.
“Our demonstrated commitment to deepening African integration and solidarity should not be undermined by isolated acts of criminality,” Ramaphosa said.
Acknowledging that migration pressures were not unique to South Africa, Ramaphosa called for cooperation between African countries in addressing migration-related tensions.
“Like every other country in the world, we will continue asserting our sovereign right to regulate migration, secure our borders and enforce our laws,” he wrote.
“But we must make it clear that there is no place in South Africa for xenophobia, ethnic mobilisation, intolerance or violence.”
He concluded by reiterating that all individuals within South Africa, regardless of nationality, remained subject to the same legal protections and responsibilities.
“Everyone in South Africa is bound by the same laws and we are committed to ensure that they are respected and upheld by citizens and foreign nationals alike,” Ramaphosa said.