DStv Channel 403 Monday, 29 April 2024

ANC calls for immigration policy overhaul

The ANC is calling for a complete overhaul of immigration policy and laws in the country.

JOHANNESBURG - The ANC denies its new stance on illegal immigration is merely jumping on the bandwagon.

It says it's in the best interest of locals as they should not be competing for services with illegal immigrants.

The party is calling for a complete overhaul of immigration policy and laws in the country.

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JJ Tabane was speaking to spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri on Power to Truth.

"The national interests needs to be prioritised and the national interests in this case is access to services, health services and all of that that needs to be done to ensure that the gains of our democratic order are really felt by South Africans in the first instance, having conducted an assessment on how illegal immigration has threatened that noble idea," she said.

"To be able to do that, we need to sort out the border management situation to ensure that the porous borders are addressed in a way that protects the sovereignty of our state and protects the national interest.

"It's a realisation that it's important for us to move with speed to secure this national interest.

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"Women when they need to go to hospitals, public clinics they have to compete with people that are in the country illegally," Bhengu-Motsiri said.

"So it's the ANC just taking a stronger position to try and protect the national interest and a number of international instruments that we are enjoined to that needs to be reviewed in order to secure this national interest.

"The decision is basically that we need an overhaul of immigration laws in the country.

"Here's the official position of the ANC: South Africa belongs to all who live in it. A foreign national or a local person, as long as their here legally."

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