President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that enforcing immigration laws is the responsibility of the State, warning citizens against vigilantism and xenophobic actions.
Responding to questions in the National Council of Provinces on Thursday, June 25, 2026, Ramaphosa stressed that no “individual has the authority to stop people and demand identification or proof of nationality”.
He said South Africa “has no place for xenophobia, Afrophobia, sexism or any other form of intolerance”, insisting that the country remains committed to protecting human rights and upholding constitutional values.
The President acknowledged that illegal immigration remains “a major challenge but noted that Government has introduced stronger law enforcement measures, tighter border security, immigration reforms and regional cooperation” to address the issue.
Amid concerns over planned demonstrations on 30 June 2026, Ramaphosa said security Agencies, including the South African Police Service and other law enforcement bodies, are fully prepared to maintain law and order.
He added that the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) is coordinating contingency measures to prevent any violence or instability.
The President expressed confidence that South Africans are peace-loving people and urged political leaders and communities to work with authorities to prevent any attempts to destabilize the country, while ensuring that all actions against illegal immigration remain within the confines of the law.