President Cyril Ramaphosa has delivered a warning to anti-foreigner vigilante groups, declaring that the mandate to police and enforce immigration laws belongs strictly to government institutions.
Addressing the nation from the Union Buildings on Sunday June 7, 2026, the President drew a sharp line against rising lawlessness, insisting that unauthorized civilian operations targeting foreign nationals will not be tolerated.
“Only the State has the authority to enforce the law,” President Ramaphosa stated, explicitly condemning the actions of private groups that have taken to the streets in recent weeks. “No person or group has the right to take the law into their own hands. No one has the right to stop people in the street, to inspect identity documents, to raid businesses, or to intimidate and assault people. Such actions are unlawful and must be condemned by all South Africans.”
The televised national address follows an escalation of anti-immigrant protests across several provinces, driven by different groups demanding the immediate removal of undocumented migrants.
President Ramaphosa warned that security agencies will act decisively against any actors attempting to exploit public frustration for malicious gain, noting that certain forces are seeking to “incite lawlessness and violence” to advance “their own political, personal and criminal agendas.”
While maintaining a zero-tolerance stance on vigilantism, the President acknowledged that underlying public anxieties regarding economic stability, employment, and public infrastructure are valid.
He noted that regular citizens are raising “difficult but legitimate questions” about border security and the strain placed on essential public services, affirming that “these concerns are real” and “deserve to be addressed.”
To address these systemic gaps without resorting to street-level violence, Ramaphosa announced that the Cabinet has formally adopted a Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management.
The new framework aims to secure borders lawfully while preserving the country’s democratic principles.
“We know that South Africans are not xenophobic as there is no space for xenophobia, racism, sexism, Afrophobia or any other forms of intolerance in South Africa,” Ramaphosa said, urging communities to resist divisive narratives. He concluded by emphasizing that the government’s enforcement measures will remain anchored in institutional legality, ensuring that South Africa “remains true to its constitutional values and its commitment to human dignity.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
