Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa (Foto: Siyabulela Duda / GCIS)
Pres. In a live address on Sunday evening, Cyril Ramaphosa announced a five-point plan to curb illegal immigration, with stricter law enforcement, better border control, action against corruption, revised immigration laws and greater cooperation with other African countries.
His speech comes amid increasing tension over illegal immigration, after recent reports of protests and violence against foreigners, as well as fears among some foreign nationals that they could be removed from South Africa.
Also read: Immigrant families flee amid marches against foreigners
Ramaphosa acknowledged that South Africans have valid concerns about migration, job opportunities, pressure on public services and security, but at the same time warned that this issue must not be misused to incite violence, intimidation or xenophobia.
He stressed that only authorized government officials may act against violations of the law, including immigration laws.
“For example, no other person may confront someone in the street to demand proof of nationality,” he said.
According to Ramaphosa, every person who is in South Africa must be here legally. Every person who works or does business here must also be legally authorized to do so.
The president said the government’s comprehensive approach to migration management had been accepted by the cabinet and endorsed by the president’s coordination council.
The five-point plan involves:
- tougher action against violations of immigration, labor and other laws;
- further steps to stop people entering the country illegally;
- rooting out corruption in the immigration system;
- strengthening immigration laws and policies; and
- cooperation with other countries, especially in Africa, to deal with migration challenges more broadly.
Ramaphosa said the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority, the police and other law enforcement agencies would intensify their efforts to track down and deport undocumented foreign nationals who are in South Africa illegally.
He adds that the Border Management Authority has stopped more than 450,000 people who wanted to enter South Africa illegally in the past year.
The government also plans to introduce dedicated immigration courts to speed up the deportation of undocumented migrants.
Employers in the sights
Ramaphosa said the police, the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Employment and Labor are stepping up inspections at companies that employ undocumented foreign nationals.
The Department of Employment and Labor has begun the phased recruitment of 10,000 inspectors for the current financial year to strengthen labor law enforcement.
Employers who violate the Immigration Act may also face harsher penalties, including prison terms, in the future.
“We cannot have a situation where employers, after being charged and convicted of violating our laws, simply pay a fine and continue to employ undocumented foreign nationals who exploit them,” he said.
Border control and refugee reception centres
He said each sovereign state has the responsibility to know who is entering its territory, why they are entering the country and how long they are allowed to stay.
“Secure borders are not a sign of hostility towards other countries. They are a fundamental requirement of a sovereign and well-governed state.”
The government will continue to invest in modern technology, infrastructure and personnel to secure borders, while continuing to facilitate legal trade, travel and economic activity.
Refugee reception centers will be moved to border posts in phases. The Tshwane center is first in line. Ramaphosa said this would help to handle asylum applications more efficiently, safely and fairly.
Green ID books on the way out
He added that the government is continuing its action against corruption and inefficiency in the Department of Home Affairs. He believes that illegal immigration is often made possible by corruption.
The government is in the process of establishing an intelligent population registry that will contain biometric data for every person in the country. This will form the basis for a digital ID.
Green ID books will eventually be phased out because they have enabled identity theft by undocumented immigrants and crime syndicates.
The Department of Home Affairs will set a date after which green ID books will no longer be recognised.
According to the president, the country’s immigration laws are fragmented and sometimes contradictory, and that legal loopholes need to be closed.
The government will also act against the abuse of traffic registration numbers, which foreign nationals need to register or buy vehicles, but which are misused as a form of identification. The Department of Transport will issue new regulations within the next three months to bring them into line with South Africa’s identification laws.
Laws and quotas
He says the government has also finalized the national labor migration policy. This policy proposes maximum quotas for the employment of documented foreign nationals and also deals with the prosecution of employers who employ undocumented workers.
The Employment Services Amendment Bill has been approved by cabinet for submission to parliament. This will empower the minister to set quotas for the employment of foreign nationals in any economic sector or occupational category.
Ramaphosa said migration pressure cannot be handled by law enforcement alone. It requires peace where there is conflict, economic growth where there is stagnation, and opportunity where there is poverty.
Cooperation with Africa
South Africa will seek sustainable solutions through the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union and bilateral relations with other countries. He will also send envoys to various African countries to explain the announced measures.
The president believes South Africa must end illegal immigration and deal with the social, economic and security challenges it contributes to, without turning against foreign nationals or each other.
“We can protect our borders while protecting human dignity. We can enforce our laws while upholding our Constitution. We can secure our communities while preserving the values of ubuntu that define us as human beings.”
Managing Migration Together https://t.co/v6mq3ye2nn
— Cyril Ramaphosa ???????? (@CyrilRamaphosa) June 7, 2026