South African Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has appealed for patience and peace as the government works to strengthen immigration management. Kubayi, who chairs the Inter-ministerial Committee (IMC) on immigration, made the call during a media briefing following an engagement with various stakeholders. The meeting included iNkosi Malusi Zondi, Chancellor of the Zulu King, members of the Black Business Forum, and Binca Nation’s Ngizwe Mchunu. Kubayi emphasized that the government is actively addressing concerns and working to build a safe, united, and prosperous country.
Kubayi highlighted areas of commonality among the stakeholders, including a commitment to upholding the country’s laws and the judiciary and its judgments. However, she acknowledged that there were disagreements during the discussion, which she described as “frank.” The government is taking steps to address the concerns raised, including greater utilization of technology and enhanced efforts to reclaim hijacked state-owned buildings believed to be used for criminal activities.
The government is modernizing all ports of entry by registering foreign nationals on an electronic system. This system notes when a person arrives in the country, their expected departure date, and their telephone number. Two days before their departure is due, a foreign national will receive a message indicating that their visa is expiring and requesting them to leave. Kubayi stated that this process will also assist the government in tracking foreign nationals.
The issue of hijacked buildings was raised during the government’s meeting with the delegation. Kubayi reported that the IMC has met with Premiers, MECs, Mayors, City Managers, Metro Police, and a Saps to develop a coordinated response. The government has appointed lawyers to help with the legal process of reclaiming hijacked government buildings, as all hijacked state-owned buildings in the country’s eight metros have been identified.
The next phase will involve locating hijacked state-owned buildings in the country’s secondary cities. The public sector is working with the government to repurpose abandoned and illegally occupied buildings. Kubayi’s comments come as anti-immigration protests persist across the country, fueled by a recent Constitutional Court judgment on asylum applications that was misinterpreted as legalizing unlawful migration.
Anti-immigration movements, such as March and March, have gained significant support by promoting unverified claims that immigrants are responsible for crime, unemployment, and poor delivery of essential services. Along with these unsubstantiated claims are legitimate concerns about the country’s porous borders. A March and March protest took place in Durban, with another expected to take place in Pietermaritzburg.
Kubayi stressed that the government is not sitting idly by, but rather working to address immigration concerns. The government’s efforts aim to build a safe and united country while upholding the rule of law. The minister’s call for patience and peace is a bid to mitigate tensions and promote stability amidst the ongoing anti-immigration protests.
Key points
- The South African government is working to modernize ports of entry and track foreign nationals.
- The government has appointed lawyers to help reclaim hijacked state-owned buildings.
- Anti-immigration protests persist across the country, fueled by misinterpretation of a Constitutional Court judgment.
