JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa says government has taken decisive steps to tackle illegal immigration in South Africa.
Addressing the country on Sunday, Ramaphosa said while the country respects the rights of everyone in South Africa. The violation of the country's laws will not be tolerated.
"The responsibility of enforcing immigration laws rests with the state and the state alone," he said.
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Anti-immigration groups have taken to the streets since March demanding for tougher action against illegal immigrants in the country. Some of the protests have gotten violent, with properties in some provinces being damaged.
Ramaphosa addressed the country on Sunday ahead of anti-immigration group March and March giving illegal immigrants a so-called deadline of 30 June to leave the country. The deadline also demands government act.
The president said while South Africans have the right to protest and expect better, they too, are not allowed to violate the law.
He said Cabinet adopted a comprehensive approach to migration management last week.
The approach has been endorsed by the President's Coordinating Council. The Council includes premiers, MECs and local government officials.
Ramaphosa said government's objective is to ensure that everyone who enters South Africa's borders, does so legally.
"We want a South Africa where immigration laws are respected and enforced," he said.
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The following measures will be implemented:
- Ramaphosa says there will be a crackdown on the violation of South Africa's immigration, labour and other laws.
- Government will continue to prevent people from entering the country irregularly and illegally.
- The president says they will stamp out corruption in the immigration system.
- The country's immigration laws and policies will be strengthened.
- Special envoys will engage various African countries. This is to forge a broader response to immigration challenges across the region and the continent.
Ramaphosa said the Department of Home Affairs, Border Management Authority (BMA), the SAPS have been intensifying the process of identifying and deporting undocumented foreign nationals.
"In the past year, the BMA has intercepted over 450,000 people entering into the country illegally," he said.
He adds that dedicated courts will be set up to speedily deal with immigration, support the deportation of undocumented migrants.
"We know that illegal immigration undermines our efforts to create decent work for our people," he said.
Ramaphosa also highlighted employers who employ illegal migrants and then exploit them. The illegal migrants are paid below the country's minimum wage and work long hours without due compensation.
Such employers, Ramaphosa said, are breaking the law.
"They undermine our labour laws and standards, they undermine fair competition and they undermine opportunities for South Africans," he adds.
The police, Home Affairs and Department of Labour of Employment have, according to Ramaphosa, increased their inspections at various businesses.
"We are going to increase penalties, including imprisonment for employers who violate our Immigration Act," said the president.
"We cannot have a situation where employers who, after being found guilty, pay mere fines and then continue employing undocumented foreign nationals."