South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a series of new measures aimed at tackling illegal immigration, responding to mounting public pressure over unemployment, crime, and border control as anti-foreigner demonstrations continue across the country.
In a national address, Ramaphosa said employers found hiring undocumented migrants would face criminal prosecution and possible imprisonment under stricter enforcement measures.
The government also plans to establish special immigration courts to fast-track cases involving undocumented migrants and introduce a nationwide biometric database for all residents in an effort to strengthen identity verification and reduce fraud.
“The law must be enforced, but citizens must not take the law into their own hands,” Ramaphosa said, urging South Africans to reject violence and vigilantism.
His remarks come as pressure grows from anti-immigration groups demanding the removal of undocumented migrants before June 30, a date that activists have declared a deadline for government action.
The immigration debate has become one of the most politically sensitive issues facing South Africa, where unemployment remains among the highest in the world and many citizens accuse authorities of failing to control the country’s borders.
Supporters of stricter immigration policies argue that undocumented migrants place additional pressure on jobs, housing, healthcare, and public services.
Critics, however, warn that growing anti-immigrant rhetoric risks fueling xenophobic attacks similar to those that have periodically erupted across South Africa over the past two decades.
The government insists its new measures are intended to improve security, strengthen immigration management, and protect the integrity of South Africa’s identification systems rather than target specific nationalities.
Meanwhile, fear has spread among migrant communities in several provinces.
Hundreds of foreign nationals from across Africa have reportedly fled their homes in recent weeks amid concerns over possible attacks. Some have sought refuge in community centers and temporary shelters, while others have chosen to leave South Africa altogether.
Malawi has already begun repatriating some of its citizens, while Mozambique has also monitored the situation closely as concerns grow among its nationals living across the border.
Others have relocated to cities such as Durban and Cape Town, hoping to avoid areas where tensions have been highest.
The latest developments follow Ghana’s decision last month to organize the voluntary return of hundreds of its citizens from South Africa after reports of rising hostility toward foreigners.
As the June 30 deadline promoted by anti-immigration groups approaches, Ramaphosa’s government faces the difficult task of addressing public concerns over migration while preventing the country from slipping into another wave of xenophobic violence.
For many migrants living in South Africa, the coming weeks are likely to determine whether the government’s tougher immigration policies can calm tensions or whether fears of further unrest will continue driving people from their homes.
