Ramaphosa Breaks Silence on Foreign Nationals as He Delivers Strong Message to South Africans

President Cyril Ramaphosa has renewed his call for South Africans to maintain peaceful and respectful relations with people from other African countries while stressing that everyone entering or living in South Africa must comply with the country’s immigration laws.

His comments come amid continued public debate about migration, undocumented foreigners, employment, pressure on public services and border control. The government has sought to distinguish between people who enter and remain in the country legally and those who violate immigration requirements.

Ramaphosa has acknowledged that communities facing unemployment, poverty, crime and limited public resources may have genuine concerns about migration. However, he has warned that such concerns should not result in hostility or discrimination against foreign nationals.

South Africa has longstanding connections with countries across the continent. Many communities share languages, cultural traditions, family ties and histories that existed long before modern national borders were established.

At the same time, the President has maintained that welcoming fellow Africans does not mean ignoring immigration regulations. Foreign nationals entering the country are expected to follow the required legal procedures, while those seeking employment or operating businesses must have the appropriate permits and authorisation.

During his Freedom Day address, Ramaphosa said: “We must not let these concerns lead to xenophobia against individuals from other African nations or any part of the world.”

The government has identified several measures for managing migration, including stronger border controls, enforcement of immigration and labour regulations, efforts to combat corruption within the immigration system and improvements to relevant legislation.

Ramaphosa has also stressed that immigration enforcement is the responsibility of legally authorised government institutions. Members of the public and community groups are not permitted to stop people in public places and demand proof of nationality.

The President has repeatedly spoken against xenophobia, Afrophobia, violence and vigilantism while supporting the lawful enforcement of immigration regulations.

The government has also pointed to the potential economic contributions of properly managed migration, including tourism, investment, business activity and the arrival of people with valuable skills.

The broader challenge is to enforce immigration laws while respecting constitutional rights and human dignity. Ramaphosa’s position is that South Africa can maintain effective border and immigration controls while preserving peaceful relations with people from across the African continent.

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