Omanghana
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a strong warning to anti-immigrant and vigilante groups threatening nationwide protests over undocumented migrants, declaring that the government will not tolerate unlawful actions and will use the country’s security forces to maintain public order.
Addressing the National Council of Provinces in Cape Town, Ramaphosa stressed that only the state has the legal authority to enforce immigration laws, verify identity documents, and carry out deportations. He warned that any individual or organization attempting to take the law into its own hands would face legal consequences.
“The responsibility for enforcing immigration laws belongs to the state,” the president said, adding that those who incite violence or lawlessness would “meet the might of the law.”
Tensions Rise Ahead of June 30
The president’s remarks come as a coalition of more than 20 anti-illegal immigration groups has called for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa by June 30, 2026.
The coalition, led by the activist movement March and March and supported by political groups including ActionSA, has threatened to organize a nationwide shutdown and large-scale demonstrations in major cities such as Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and Cape Town if its demands are not met.
Although leaders of the movement have maintained that their planned demonstrations are intended to be peaceful, they have also stated they would not accept responsibility for any violence that might occur during the protests.
Government Rejects Vigilante Action
Ramaphosa dismissed the self-imposed June 30 deadline as unlawful and unnecessary, emphasizing that South Africa’s Constitution does not permit private individuals or organizations to enforce immigration regulations.
The presidency reiterated that no citizen has the legal authority to stop people in public, demand identity documents, or force anyone to leave their homes or communities.
Authorities have urged the public to report suspected immigration violations to the appropriate government agencies rather than resorting to vigilante action.
Security Forces on High Alert
The South African government has announced heightened security measures ahead of the planned demonstrations.
Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, together with provincial police commissioners, has pledged significant deployments of law enforcement personnel across areas considered at risk of unrest.
Officials said police would respond decisively to any acts of intimidation, violence, property damage, or attempts to forcibly remove foreign nationals from communities.
In response to criticism that the government has not done enough to address illegal immigration, authorities disclosed that approximately 100,000 undocumented foreign nationals have been deported over the past two years. Officials also reported that security agencies intercepted more than 450,000 illegal border crossings during the past year.
Growing Concerns Among Migrant Communities
The approaching deadline has heightened anxiety among migrant communities, reviving fears of the xenophobic violence that has periodically erupted in South Africa over the past two decades.
Reports indicate that many foreign nationals have begun leaving the country voluntarily or making arrangements to return home, with increased activity at transport hubs serving neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Malawi.
Labor Unions Oppose Planned Shutdown
South Africa’s four largest labor federations have also condemned the proposed nationwide shutdown, warning workers against participating in unlawful demonstrations.
The unions argued that blaming foreign nationals for the country’s economic challenges would not solve unemployment or other structural issues, urging the government and stakeholders to focus instead on long-term economic reforms and job creation.
As June 30 approaches, authorities remain on high alert, with the government emphasizing that while peaceful protest is protected under the Constitution, any acts of violence, intimidation, or vigilantism will be met with swift law enforcement action.
Source: Omanghana
