Ramaphosa warning to vigilantes fails to quell South Africa's anti-migrant protests

Ramaphosa weighs border crackdown against anti-migrant protests in South Africa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to tighten the country's borders and clamp down on undocumented foreign nationals, while at the same time rejecting claims of xenophobia and calling migration a continental challenge. The remarks came as hundreds of anti-migrant protesters marched through a township outside Johannesburg, and as several African countries organised the return of their citizens.

The protests reflect a growing wave of anti-foreigner sentiment in South Africa, with vigilante groups having ordered undocumented foreigners to leave by June 30. Marches were reported in Kwa-Thema, a township about 40 kilometres southeast of Johannesburg, as well as in the Western Cape and Limpopo provinces. Participants called for tougher government action against illegal immigration, with some carrying sticks and placards reading "Go home."

In a national address on Sunday, Ramaphosa acknowledged public concerns over illegal immigration but warned that the authorities would not tolerate anyone taking the law into their own hands. "We will and must not allow groups to use the legitimate concerns of South Africans to destabilise our country through inciting lawlessness and violence," he said, according to Africa News. He also stated that no one "is allowed, for example, to confront someone in the street to demand proof of nationality," and declared that there is "no space for xenophobia, racism, sexism, Afrophobia or any other forms of intolerance in South Africa."

Ramaphosa also announced plans to intensify the process of identifying and deporting undocumented foreign nationals, while acknowledging that illegal immigration is not the cause of all of the country's economic challenges. "There are other causes. The answer must be faster economic growth, greater investments, industrial expansion, infrastructure development and the creation of new jobs," he said, as reported by AllAfrica. He promised "decisive" action, noting that the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority, the South African Police Service, and other law enforcement agencies would intensify their efforts.

At least two Mozambican citizens have been killed in the latest wave of unrest, and several countries, including Mozambique and Ghana, have organised the return of some of their citizens. According to AllAfrica, Ghana has already repatriated around 300 of its nationals, while chartered flights carried Ghanaians wishing to leave South Africa over the weekend. In the Western Cape, three buses left from the Kleinmond Town Hall to take undocumented foreign nationals to the Lindela Repatriation Centre, and the Mozambican Embassy sent a bus to pick up citizens who wished to depart, according to a statement by Overstrand municipal manager Dean O'Neill.

Coverage and perspectives

The protests and the government's response have drawn divergent reactions. South African opposition leader Musi Maimane criticised liberation movements across the continent, singling out ZANU PF and President Emmerson Mnangagwa for contributing to the immigration crisis. "Liberation movements have destroyed Africa. They have betrayed the promise they made to the people. They have become a cabal of criminality, corruption and cronyism," Maimane said, according to AllAfrica. He argued that "the enemy of South Africa is Emmerson Mnangagwa and not Kudzai the Uber driver," and that regional leaders should be held accountable for creating economic and political conditions that force citizens to leave.

Former cabinet minister David Coltart echoed similar sentiments, telling Ramaphosa to hold his counterpart, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to account. Coltart warned that if the faction within ZANU PF pushing for Constitutional Amendment Bill 3 gets its way, Zimbabwe will be further destabilised, driving even more Zimbabweans into economic and political exile in South Africa. "The historical facts show that the overwhelming majority of migrants to South Africa come from Zimbabwe. All South Africa's internal measures to deal with this crisis will come to naught if the push factor coming from Zimbabwe is not dealt with," Coltart said, as quoted by AllAfrica. He also accused the South African government of shielding ZANU PF over its handling of the economy.

Ramaphosa, meanwhile, has rejected accusations of xenophobia and instead described migration pressures as a continental challenge that requires African-led solutions. Speaking during President William Ruto's State Visit to Pretoria, Ramaphosa said, "I explained that South Africans are not xenophobic. South Africans are Africans. They want to live with other Africans peacefully." President Ruto echoed this sentiment, arguing that migration pressures are largely the result of uneven economic development across the continent. "I think part of the challenge South Africa is facing is that it is a much more developed country and therefore it is easier for people to come here in search of services and opportunities," Ruto said, as reported by AllAfrica.

Key claims

• Hundreds of anti-migrant protesters marched through Kwa-Thema, a township outside Johannesburg, and similar marches were reported in the Western Cape and Limpopo provinces.
• At least two Mozambican citizens have been killed in the latest wave of unrest.
• Several countries, including Mozambique and Ghana, have organised the return of some of their citizens; Ghana has repatriated around 300 of its nationals.
• Ramaphosa announced plans to tighten the country's borders and clamp down on undocumented foreign nationals, while also rejecting claims of xenophobia and describing migration as a continental challenge.
• Ramaphosa acknowledged that illegal immigration is not the cause of all of the country's economic challenges, citing Census 2022 data showing that immigrants comprise approximately 3.9% of the country's population.
• Thousands of Zimbabweans have migrated to South Africa in search of better economic opportunities, according to Maimane.
• Maimane and Coltart criticised liberation movements, particularly ZANU PF and President Mnangagwa, for contributing to the immigration crisis, accusing them of corruption and poor governance.