Together we can manage migration and stay true to our shared humanity

Dear Fellow South African,

In recent months, many South Africans have raised concern about illegal immigration, asking whether our borders are secure and our laws are being enforced.

It is in this context that I addressed the nation last night on the actions government is taking to manage migration in the country and specifically to address the challenge of illegal immigration.

We are responding to real concerns that communities have about the effects that unchecked illegal immigration has on jobs and economic opportunities. We know that some companies employ – and exploit – undocumented foreign nationals in violation of the law. There is also a perception that spaza shops owned by foreign nationals are squeezing out local traders in communities.

People are also concerned that illegal immigration puts increased pressure on public services like clinics, hospitals and schools. In reality, when one looks at the statistics, foreign nationals account for a very small proportion of users of these public services. Nevertheless, there is a perception among some people that our public services are being overwhelmed.

Some people associate illegal immigration with crime. While there are organised syndicates that exploit weaknesses in our immigration system to commit crimes like drug trafficking, illegal mining and extortion, we know that the overwhelming majority of foreign nationals in South Africa have no involvement in crime.

In conditions of unemployment and poverty, crime, violence and service delivery challenges, people often direct their frustrations at those perceived to be competitors for jobs and resources.

As we work to address the causes of our economic challenges – by driving faster and inclusive economic growth, infrastructure development, industrial expansion and the creation of new jobs – we are taking decisive action to tackle illegal immigration.

Through the Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management that was adopted last week by Cabinet, we are cracking down on violations of our immigration, labour and other laws. We are deploying more resources and technology to secure our borders. Government is also stamping out corruption and improving the efficiency of our immigration system.

Another part of our comprehensive approach is to close the gaps in our citizenship and immigration laws. We are introducing legislation which allows quotas for foreign nationals in different sectors and ensuring that informal businesses are properly registered.

Lastly, we are seeking to work with countries across our region and continent to address the conflict, instability and economic hardship that compel people to leave their homes.

The task of managing migration belongs to all of us. That does not mean that communities should take the law into their own hands – only authorised officials of the state may enforce our immigration laws – but there is a role for all South Africans in upholding our laws and building social cohesion.

As we undertake all these actions, we are guided by our Constitution, our laws and our international obligations. As a society, we must hold firmly to the rule of law.

We must work to reduce tensions in our communities. We must stand together against violence, intimidation and intolerance. Importantly, we must not allow anyone to exploit the genuine concerns of South Africans to incite violence, spread misinformation or destabilise our country.

We call on traditional and religious leaders, civil society, business, labour, political parties and every South African to work with government to support the actions we have announced to tackle illegal immigration.

We must actively work against efforts to divide us. We must confront racism, sexism, xenophobia and Afrophobia. Our goal must be to build united and cohesive communities where all laws are respected and upheld.

We are a nation built by migration and we are more diverse, dynamic and stronger for it. By strengthening our laws and enforcing them fairly, we can tackle illegal immigration while remaining true to our Constitution and to our shared humanity.

With best regards,