By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has strongly condemned and cautioned against vigilante action against the undocumented migrants.
Lamola was speaking on the sidelines of his meeting with Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe.
He said migration must be managed by the state alone and cautioned against vigilante action against undocumented migrants.
‘There is no excuse for violence against foreign nationals in our society,’ he said, adding that intimidation, looting and forced removals of migrants were ‘reprehensible acts of vigilantism’ that undermine constitutional values.
His remarks come amid recent violent anti-immigration protests in parts of South Africa, where tensions over undocumented migrants have escalated.
Violent clashes erupted in Durban as Malawian migrants at the Sherwood Hall transit site demanded deportation home.
South Africa has fast-tracked deportation hearings, while Malawi is seeking donations to help repatriate stranded citizens.
Lamola said enforcement of immigration laws is the responsibility of the state and warned that individuals or groups cannot demand identity documents or expel people from communities. He added that government would act against those who exploit migration concerns for political or criminal purposes.
At the same time, he acknowledged growing public pressure linked to migration, noting that South Africa hosts between 3 and 4 million migrants, many from SADC countries, and that irregular migration is a challenge shared by many countries globally.
He also pointed to rising negative attitudes toward migrants across Africa and internationally, citing survey data showing increasing public hostility and declining support for refugees.
Lamola said economic stagnation, unemployment and inequality are key drivers of resentment, warning that migrants are often wrongly blamed for deeper structural problems.
He stressed that uncontrolled migration can strain public services such as housing, healthcare and education, especially in a weak economic environment, and called for better-managed migration systems, stronger border control and enforcement against employers who exploit undocumented workers.
The minister also raised concerns about misinformation and fake news inflaming tension including false claims about migrant-related violence. He said South African authorities had verified that only two Mozambican nationals were killed in recent unrest in Mossel Bay, and denied widely circulated claims about the deaths of Nigerian, Ghanaian or Ethiopian nationals.
Meanwhile Lamola says South Africa and Rwanda are working from a strong base.
“It is important we redouble our efforts to ensure that levels of trade and investment are increased for the mutual benefit of our countries. Rwanda hosts numerous SA companies, and it is, therefore, important that the presence of Rwandan companies in South Africa is also increased. “
Nduhungirehe said relations between Rwanda and SA are entering a new chapter. The talks include efforts to improve cooperation in trade, tourism, and health.
The two nations have been striving for a diplomatic detente since 2018, four years after a flurry of expulsion following the murder of a Rwandan dissident in Johannesburg.