The President tonight unveiled a comprehensive package of measures to tackle illegal immigration, promising tougher enforcement, legal reforms and regional cooperation while warning against vigilantism and xenophobia.
Speaking to the nation, he acknowledged widespread public anxieties driven by high unemployment, strained public services and competition for jobs, but said illegal immigration is not the root cause of South Africa’s economic woes. “The answer must be faster economic growth, greater investment, industrial expansion, infrastructure development and the creation of millions of new jobs,” he said.
Key elements of the plan include stepped‑up identifications and deportations of undocumented migrants, the establishment of dedicated immigration courts to speed proceedings, and intensified inspections of employers who hire undocumented workers. Authorities named to lead the drive include the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority and the South African Police Service. The President said penalties for employers who exploit undocumented labour will be increased, including imprisonment.
Border security will be strengthened through investment in technology, infrastructure and personnel, and refugee reception centres will be relocated closer to border posts beginning with Tshwane to accelerate asylum processing. The government also announced plans to create an Intelligent Population Register with biometric data as a basis for a future Digital ID and to phase out the green ID book, which officials say has enabled identity fraud.
The administration pledged a crackdown on corruption inside Home Affairs, promising dismissals and criminal prosecutions for officials who sell documents or facilitate unlawful entry. On the policy front, Cabinet has finalised a National Labour Migration Policy proposing quotas for the employment of foreign nationals, and an Employment Services Amendment Bill empowering the Minister to set sectoral quotas is headed to Parliament. Small and informal South African businesses will be supported through registration drives and a Spaza Shop Fund, officials said.
The President stressed that only authorised state actors may enforce immigration laws and urged communities not to take the law into their own hands. He repeatedly condemned xenophobia, tribal slurs and violence, saying “we must not be tempted to turn against people who were not born in South Africa.” He warned against misinformation on social media and said the state will act against groups exploiting migration concerns to destabilise the country.
Regional diplomacy will form part of the response: envoys will be sent to sister African countries, and the government will work through SADC and the African Union to address the root causes of migration such as conflict and poverty.
Implementation will be coordinated by an Inter‑Ministerial Committee on Migration, with NATJOINTS and provincial structures directed to strengthen operational cooperation among law‑enforcement and intelligence agencies. The Department of Employment and Labour has begun recruiting 10,000 inspectors to bolster labour enforcement, the President said.
Analysts welcomed the focus on corruption and employer enforcement but warned of practical and human‑rights risks. “Effective, rights‑respecting implementation will be critical,” said an expert on migration policy, noting that rapid deportations or poorly resourced processing could generate humanitarian problems and inflame tensions.
The President framed the policy as balancing enforcement with compassion: “We can protect our borders while protecting human dignity. We can enforce our laws while upholding our Constitution.” He urged unity, lawfulness and a long‑term economic strategy to create opportunities for South Africans.
Cabinet will review progress regularly, the Presidency said, as the government moves to translate the announced measures into action.