9 June 2026 | 11:35 CAT
4-minute read

Image credit: The Guardian (Protesters in Benoni, east of Johannesburg, call for the deportation of undocumented immigrants in South Africa. Photograph: Ihsaan Haffejee/Reuters)

Immigration address indicates response, not leadership

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on immigration and rising tensions targeting foreign nationals has drawn both praise and criticism. The president outlined a five-point plan aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement, securing borders, tackling corruption within the immigration system, and addressing public concerns around undocumented migration.

Supporters say the measures are necessary to restore confidence in the rule of law, while critics argue they risk reinforcing anti-immigrant sentiment without addressing the deeper social and economic drivers behind the tension.

In an interview on Radio Islam International, Dr Dale McKinley of the Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia organisation said concerns remain that the government is responding to pressure from anti-immigration activists rather than leading the immigration debate.

Anti-immigration rhetoric has been building for months, leading to xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner mobilisation in March. Driven by high socio-economic pressures—including an unemployment rate exceeding 30%—the situation has escalated drastically.

March and March, a citizen-led anti-immigration movement, has served as a central organiser behind the current wave of xenophobic unrest. Founded in Durban in 2024 by activist Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, the group has evolved into an organised nationwide advocacy network. It is part of a coalition of anti-migrant groups that have set a June 30 deadline demanding all undocumented foreign nationals leave the country.

“[The government is] particularly worried about this June 30th deadline… which has the potential to turn into real violence and destruction of property and targeting of migrants in a much more systematic and large-scale way,” Dr McKinley said.

Focus on illegal immigration risks shifting blame away from government

Analysts posit that the government’s focus on illegal immigration risks misdiagnosing the country’s problems and shifting blame away from government failures. It creates the impression that undocumented migrants are responsible for issues such as crime, unemployment and pressure on public services.

Dr McKinley notes that these problems are actually rooted in poor service delivery, weak economic growth, unemployment, failures in safety and security, as well as government mismanagement.  Rather than addressing those root causes, the government is redirecting public frustration towards undocumented migrants.

McKinley also warns that this rhetoric can act as a “dog whistle”—a political message that may encourage anti-immigrant groups and individuals by validating their narrative that migrants are to blame for the country’s problems.

Home Affairs failures contribute to problem

Critics also argue that the immigration debate cannot be separated from longstanding administrative failures within the Department of Home Affairs.

Persistent delays, backlogs and bureaucratic obstacles leave many migrants waiting months, and in some cases more than a year, to obtain or renew legal documentation. Many individuals who are legally entitled to documentation are subsequently labelled as undocumented due to failures within the system rather than any wrongdoing on their part.

Concerns have also been raised about the proposal to relocate refugee reception centres to border posts. Critics argue that the move could create further logistical challenges for thousands of migrants who are already in the country legally and rely on these facilities to process and renew their documentation. It is argued that such measures do little to address the broader documentation crisis affecting both migrants and South African citizens.

Address admin problems and unemployment first

While welcoming the President’s commitment to tackling corruption and inefficiency within Home Affairs, critics maintain that these issues appear secondary to the enforcement-focused measures announced.

Without substantial reforms to administrative systems and documentation processes, many of the underlying problems within South Africa’s immigration system are unlikely to be resolved, Dr McKinley said.

Another key resolution would be to reform unemployment and reduce poverty in poor communities, which cause frustration that is directed toward migrants who are seen as economic competitors. Analysts highlight that township and informal economies are stagnating due to a lack of government support for SMEs, limited local investment and rising joblessness.

Potential funders and enablers

Analysts suggest that significant logistics are required to sustain such movements, including transport, food and coordination, prompting speculation that backing may extend beyond grassroots activism. While no concrete evidence has been presented, some argue that elements within certain political parties with strongly anti-immigrant messaging could be linked to the rising mobilisation, alongside possible wider interests that benefit from tensions in township economies.

The discussion also pointed to ethnic undertones in some incidents, including reports of individuals being targeted based on language or perceived origin during rallies and community confrontations.

Observers further argue that the pattern reflects a broader political strategy seen internationally, where economic frustrations such as unemployment and service delivery failures are redirected towards migrants, who lack political representation.

With local government elections approaching, analysts suggest such narratives tend to gain momentum during electoral cycles, as immigration becomes a politically expedient issue that carries limited electoral consequences.

Impact on local business and taxi industry

On-the-ground impacts have also been noted, with disruptions affecting local businesses and the taxi industry, particularly in urban transport hubs where both South Africans and migrants operate. In some areas, tensions between marchers and taxi operators have already been reported, as disruptions to shops and local economies affect commuters and livelihoods alike.

Despite claims that migrants place strain on the economy, critics argue that available evidence indicates many migrants contribute to local economic activity, including job creation and participation in township trade networks.

They warn that the consequences of unrest tend to fall disproportionately on working-class communities rather than wealthier areas, raising further questions about whose interests are ultimately served by such mobilisation.

While authorities say they are monitoring the situation more closely than during the 2021 July unrest, there remains uncertainty over whether intelligence and policing capacity will be sufficient to prevent isolated incidents from spreading.

Listen to the full interview with Dr Dale McKinley on Sabaahul Muslim, presented by Moulana Habib Bobat.