CAPE TOWN - The South African government cannot tackle porous borders alone.
Portfolio Committee on International Relations Chairperson Supra Mahumapelo urges neighbouring countries to step up and share responsibility.
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Last week, the Committee partnered with the International Organisation for Migration and Wits School of Governance to host a symposium exploring the causes of migration.
"All these South Africans who are raising these problems, whether it's March and March, Dudula and all other NGOs and so on, they are right that there are just too many people in South Africa who have come into the country illegally," Mahumapelo said.
"Secondly, related to that, there are other incidents of crime which are related to some of the foreign nationals who are here. It may be legal and illegal foreign nationals.
"Some of them are working with South Africans. So we need to look at these matters on an issue-by-basis and say, crime is crime. It must be dealt with, whether it's a South African, foreign national, illegal or legal."