South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a strong warning to anti-immigration groups threatening to enforce a so-called June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country, saying immigration enforcement remains the sole responsibility of the state.
Speaking in the National Council of Provinces on Thursday, Ramaphosa emphasised that security forces were prepared to act against any unlawful activity linked to the threatened “national shutdown” campaign.
“The enforcement of immigration laws rests with the state,” he said. “The security forces are ready. Those who transgress the measures we are putting in place will meet the might of the law.”
The warning comes amid rising tensions in parts of South Africa, where protests and sporadic violence linked to anti-immigrant sentiment have already led thousands of foreign nationals to leave the country.
Anti-immigration groups have accused undocumented migrants of contributing to unemployment, though these claims have not been substantiated. They have set a June 30 deadline demanding government action, warning of nationwide disruption if their demands are not met.
The South African government says it has deported around 100,000 foreign nationals over the past two years and has also intercepted approximately half a million people attempting to enter the country without valid documentation.
Authorities maintain that while immigration remains a sensitive issue, any enforcement must be carried out legally and through official state institutions.
South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised economy, has long experienced tensions over immigration, as migrants from neighbouring countries continue to seek work opportunities.
