President Cyril Ramaphosa says African leaders understand South Africa’s challenges with undocumented immigration and support efforts to enforce immigration laws and manage cross-border movement responsibly.
Image: Cyril Ramaphosa / X
President Cyril Ramaphosa says some of his peers on the African continent understand South Africa’s challenges with undocumented immigration and have expressed support for the country’s approach to managing the issue.
Speaking on the sidelines of a voter registration drive in Atteridgeville outside Pretoria on Sunday afternoon, Ramaphosa said he had been in contact with several fellow African leaders directly, while envoys were also being dispatched to other countries in the coming days.
“Our peers and those that I've spoken to and my envoys are going to be leaving in the next few days. My peers, either on the phone or interacting directly with them, they all say we understand the challenges that you are going through,” Ramaphosa said.
He said African peers had explained that South Africa’s relatively advanced economy made it a destination for migrants from across the continent, similar to how other global economies attract migration.
“And they say we understand that people from the rest of the continent have thronged to South Africa because they see South Africa as an economic oasis,” he said.
“You are the most developed country on the continent, and therefore you are attractive.
''Just like many other people from Latin America, they throng to the United States because it is the biggest economy in the world. So that's how people tend to operate,” Ramaphosa said.
The President reiterated government’s position that only documented migrants should be in the country, and said those without documentation must regularise their status or leave.
“We are, however, saying, and they understand this, we say we want people who are only documented to be in the country.
''Those who are not documented should not be here. And they should regularise their own situation,” he said.
Ramaphosa said migrants should enter South Africa through proper channels and on a documented basis, adding that enforcement efforts were being strengthened to ensure compliance with immigration laws.
“They come into the country on a need and documented basis. So they understand that,” he said.
He added that government was also mindful of the human impact of migration enforcement, including injuries and deaths linked to migration-related tensions, and extended condolences to affected families.
“And of course we regret the injuries and the death of those who have been most unfortunate to be caught in the situations that they get in. And we pay our condolences,” Ramaphosa said.
The President said some African leaders had expressed support for South Africa’s approach to immigration management, and emphasised that government would continue to enforce the law.
“And some of them even say we support you in what you are doing,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the government’s focus remained on restoring law and order, ensuring compliance with immigration laws, and addressing undocumented employment in the country.
“So our work is tough, it's cut out for us, but we are going to continue ensuring that we bring law and order in our country, and documented people, yes, can do work here.
''But those who are not documented, we're putting pressure on employers to make sure that those people are not employed in South Africa,” he said.
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