ANC calls on govt to enforce immigration laws amid growing anti-foreigner sentiment

Mashatile briefed the media on Monday following the party’s three-day national executive committee meeting held over the weekend.

An apparent uptick in anti-immigrant sentiments in some areas of Gauteng over the past few weeks have led to violent clashes between South Africans and foreign nationals in Alexandra and Soweto.

The clashes come on the back of an increase in the visibility of Operation Dudula members and an ongoing campaign to remove foreign business owners and replace them with South Africans.

 Mashatile says the party’s policies support the regulation of borders and the enforcing of immigration laws.

“The ANC welcomes and supports the steps being taken by the Minister of Home Affairs Home Affairs, Comrade Aaron Motsoaledi to fulfil this mandate. The ANC supports the measures being undertaken by government to ensure effective border management, strengthen Home Affairs systems to prevent illegal activities, and address equitable access to employment for SA citizens. It also supports efforts by provincial governments to ensure the more effective regulation of businesses, especially SMMEs.”

He adds that the government should ensure that both SA citizens and non-citizens comply with immigration laws.

“It welcomes those foreign nationals who have chosen to live and work in SA in compliance with the laws of the country. It calls upon government and citizens to respect and protect their rights and condemns unreservedly any unlawful actions and violence against foreign nationals.

“It urges citizens who have legitimate concerns regarding the presence of illegal and undocumented immigrants to work with the relevant authorities to ensure that our laws and implemented. The ANC calls upon the law enforcement and other agencies to act against both illegal and undocumented immigrants, unscrupulous employers, and corrupt officials who fail to enforce our laws.”

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