President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled a 5-point plan to crack down on illegal immigration, with a stern warning issued to employers not to hire undocumented foreigners, as they could face jail time.
In an address to the nation on Sunday night, Ramaphosa acknowledged that illegal immigration is placing immense strain on South Africa and that concerns expressed over the issue are legitimate.
But he has also warned against ordinary citizens taking action against undocumented foreigners, when it is only the state that is allowed to enforce the laws.
He says that while the country grapples with unemployment and crime, it is not correct to scapegoat illegal immigrants, who are not the cause of all our economic challenges.
“The answer must be faster economic growth, greater investment, industrial expansion, infrastructure development and the creation of millions of new jobs. We know that migration is a global issue. It affects all countries. Our country – like many others throughout history – is a product of migration. It is the reason for our diversity and contributes to our vibrancy. As a democracy, we have welcomed visitors to our country.”
He says a principle to which everyone agrees is that every person within the borders of South Africa should be here legally.
“Every person who works in our country must be legally permitted to work. Every person who runs a business here must be legally permitted to run a business. The challenge we have is that some people have migrated to our country irregularly and are here illegally. South Africa has a right to implement policies and measures that prevent irregular migration.”
To address shortcomings in how migration has been managed, Ramaphosa outlined 5 key steps to close the gaps.
They are:
- A full crackdown on the violation of immigration, labour and other laws.
- Prevent people from entering the country irregularly and illegally.
- Stamp out corruption in the immigration system.
- Strengthen immigration laws and policies.
- Engage other countries, including sister countries on the African continent, to forge a broader response to migration challenges across the region and continent.
Read Ramaphosa’s full speech HERE.
The President issued a stern warning to businesses that employ undocumented immigrants because their legal status means that they cannot stand up for their rights.
“Some employers hire undocumented immigrants because they pay them wages that are well below the minimum wage and make them work longer hours without due compensation. We have uncovered a number of workplaces where undocumented migrants are made to labour under very bad conditions. Employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers and exploit their vulnerability are breaking the law.”
Ramaphosa says such conduct by employers will attract far stronger penalties and far stricter enforcement.
“We are going to increase the penalties, including imprisonment, for employers who violate the Immigration Act. We cannot have a situation where employers who, after being charged and found guilty of violating our laws, merely pay a fine and continue employing undocumented foreign nationals whom they exploit.”
The President says as government works to tackle the problem, they will not allow anyone to exploit it to destabilise the country.
“We must not allow ourselves to turn against foreign nationals or each other. We must all respect the Constitution, uphold the basic human rights of all people, and consistently uphold the law of the land.”
