South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged closer cooperation between government and traditional authorities to ease tensions and strengthen social cohesion…reports Africa Daily News Desk
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday called for a unified and lawful approach to managing migration, stressing that while illegal immigration must be tackled, it should not become a justification for xenophobia, violence or intimidation.
Addressing a meeting of traditional leaders, including kings and queens from across the country, Ramaphosa said the government wanted to outline its approach to migration while also listening to the concerns and experiences of traditional authorities, whom he described as custodians of the country’s customs and traditions.
He noted that communities across southern Africa have long been connected through shared ancestry, language, culture and history that predate modern national borders.
Ramaphosa acknowledged growing public concern over migration, particularly illegal immigration, saying these concerns had emerged against a backdrop of persistent unemployment, poverty, crime, corruption and pressure on public services.
However, he stressed that illegal immigration was not the root cause of South Africa’s broader socio-economic challenges.
“Migration is not the cause of our problems, but it is something that we must manage constructively and collectively,” he said.
The President warned that recent mobilisation against foreign nationals posed a serious threat to communities and the country as a whole.
He said unrest, violence and intimidation damaged social cohesion, endangered lives and harmed South Africa’s international reputation. Ramaphosa also expressed concern that anti-foreigner sentiment had strained relations with other African countries and had been fuelled by misinformation and disinformation.
Referring to his national address on June 7, Ramaphosa reiterated that everyone living within South Africa’s borders must do so legally. He said enforcing immigration laws remained the responsibility of the state and warned that private individuals had no authority to demand identity documents or proof of nationality from others.
“There is no place for racism, sexism, tribalism, xenophobia, Afrophobia or any other form of intolerance,” he said.
Ramaphosa outlined the government’s five-point strategy for managing migration. These include enforcing immigration, labour and related laws more effectively, strengthening border security, tackling corruption within the immigration system through improved technology, closing legal and policy gaps, and working with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union to address the underlying conditions that drive migration.
He called on traditional leaders to support efforts to maintain peace and social stability, saying they held a unique position of trust and moral authority within their communities.
According to the President, traditional leaders could help ease tensions, promote dialogue and discourage communities from resorting to violence.
Invoking the principle of Ubuntu, Ramaphosa urged leaders to remind South Africans that compassion and shared humanity should remain at the heart of the country’s response to migration.
He said cooperation between government, traditional monarchs and other social partners would be essential in addressing the long-term challenges of poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment that often fuel social tensions.
Ramaphosa expressed hope that the meeting would strengthen collaboration between government and traditional leadership on migration, describing it as an issue that would require sustained engagement well beyond the immediate challenges facing the country.
