President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned recent violent protests and criminal acts targeting foreign nationals in South Africa, saying such actions do not represent the values of the country or the position of government.
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Read E-PaperIn a statement issued on Monday, Ramaphosa said some individuals were taking advantage of the frustrations faced by poor communities to engage in unlawful activities, including demanding identification documents from people and conducting illegal searches of private property.
The South African leader said the government would not tolerate acts of intimidation, violence or lawlessness directed at foreign nationals.
“Such actions will not be tolerated,” Ramaphosa said, adding that everyone living in South Africa, including citizens and foreign nationals, was required to obey the law.
He stressed that while concerns around illegal immigration remained a challenge for government, they must be addressed through lawful and constitutional means rather than through vigilantism or attacks on migrants.
“The government is implementing measures to deal with undocumented migration in a manner that protects social stability, national security and public services,” he said.
According to the president, undocumented immigration has placed growing pressure on key public services such as healthcare, housing and municipal infrastructure in several communities across the country.
“The labour market had been affected, with some employers accused of exploiting undocumented foreign workers by paying them lower wages instead of employing South African citizens,” he added.
President Ramaphosa warned that criminality and violence would only worsen tensions and undermine efforts to find lasting solutions to the country’s socio-economic challenges.
The statement comes amid rising tensions in parts of South Africa where protests linked to immigration and unemployment have sparked concern among civil society groups and regional leaders.
The government has repeatedly called for calm and urged communities to work with law enforcement authorities instead of taking the law into their own hands.
