ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says South Africa faces a serious illegal immigration challenge.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the party is not against the concerns raised by anti-migrant group March and March over undocumented foreign nationals and warned that undocumented migration poses risks to national security.
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday following the ANC’s recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, Mbalula said undocumented immigration was linked to human trafficking, drugs and other criminal activity.
“We've got a challenge of illegal immigrants, which manifests itself through human trafficking, drugs and all of that,” he said.
He said weak border controls had contributed to the problem and pointed to the government’s establishment of border management structures to strengthen enforcement.
His remarks come amid growing protests over illegal immigration across the country.
March and March, which has led demonstrations against undocumented foreign nationals across the country, has threatened a national shutdown on June 30 if the government fails to address its concerns.
The group is calling for stricter visa regulations, a review of asylum policies, action against businesses employing undocumented migrants, accountability for corrupt police officers and restrictions on public services for undocumented migrants.
Mbalula said the ANC’s position was focused on the broader issue rather than the movement itself.
“Our statement is not against or for March and March. We are focused on diagnosing the challenge facing the country,” he said.
According to Mbalula, the government has already begun implementing measures to address undocumented migration, including the deployment of 10,000 labour inspectors announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
He warned businesses against employing undocumented migrants at the expense of South African workers, saying the Department of Employment and Labour and other agencies would act against companies found to be violating labour and immigration laws.
Mbalula also raised concerns about the ownership of small township businesses, claiming many spaza shops were operated by undocumented foreign nationals.
“An old man or family running a small business in the township disappears, and then somebody else comes in and the business flourishes,” he said.
He alleged that some businesses were involved in the sale of counterfeit goods and said government intervention was needed to protect local businesses and citizens while avoiding lawlessness and violence.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says concerns over undocumented foreign nationals are legitimate, as anti-migrant group March and March threatens a national shutdown.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers
“The role of government and the state is to tighten the laws to protect citizens, while ensuring protests are not exploited by people with nefarious intentions,” he said.
Mbalula stressed that South Africans should not be labelled xenophobic because of calls for stronger immigration enforcement.
“We must never allow ourselves to be characterised as xenophobic because of a failure to enforce our laws,” he said.
He added that undocumented immigration was a global issue, pointing to immigration enforcement measures in the United States under President Donald Trump.
“Trump has gone to the house, and they gave him billions of rands to execute what is called ICE. People have been taken up and down, arrested in America, and all of that has been victimized, and so on. We don't want to degenerate at that level.”
“We have a problem in South Africa with undocumented people entering the country, and that poses a national security risk,” Mbalula said.
At the same time, he warned against the issue descending into lawlessness or being exploited by groups with hidden agendas.
He maintained that South Africans were not xenophobic and did not hate other Africans, but wanted immigration laws enforced consistently.
“The issue is undocumented people in the country, not their nationality,” he said.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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