Thokozile Mnguni
African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula says South Africans do not need to march every week over illegal immigration, insisting government is taking action to address the issue.
Mbalula was speaking at a media briefing today on immigration and other matters of national interest shaping the country’s political landscape.
“There’s no violence, anarchy and disruption of the economy that is going to solve the challenge of illegal immigration. Government is acting now and has been acting.
“Local government must act, and we don’t need summits but action when it comes to illegal immigration. We thank the security forces for ensuring that violence was limited,” he said.
He rejected claims that government had failed to deal with illegal immigration, saying authorities had deported hundreds of thousands of undocumented foreign nationals over the past two decades. He added that enforcement had intensified in recent years.
“The ANC noted that several government immigration decisions have been challenged and overturned by the courts, demonstrating that enforcement has often been limited by constitutional and legal rulings rather than a lack of political will,” said Mbalula.
He said the Border Management Authority was established to strengthen border security and continues to implement reforms aimed at improving immigration enforcement despite opposition to some of those measures.
Mbalula said the ANC also supports legislative reforms, including the First Safe Country principle, to prevent abuse of the asylum system while protecting genuine refugees.
He said immigration should be managed through the rule of law rather than vigilantism.
Turning to political opponents, Mbalula accused the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) of contributing to the employment practices they now criticise.
He said EFF members had previously targeted restaurants, demanding that 60% of employees be South Africans and 40% foreign nationals.
Mbalula also criticised the Democratic Alliance (DA), accusing the party of remaining silent on attacks linked to immigration.
“They met with Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and other groups in secret, but they have never raised their voice when people were attacked,” he said.
He also criticised former president Jacob Zuma and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, saying it had positioned itself as an agent provocateur on the issue of immigration.
“Among those now screaming loudest against a weak, poor and defenceless immigrant community are men and women who themselves, in the darkest years of our struggle, found shelter and sanctuary in the Frontline States, in Mozambique, in Angola, in Zambia, in Tanzania, in Lesotho and beyond,” he said.
Mbalula said those countries had sacrificed lives to support South Africa’s liberation struggle.
“Those countries buried their cadres when the apartheid raiders came. To have eaten the bread of African solidarity, and now to turn upon the African neighbour, is a betrayal of the very struggle that made our freedom possible.”
He said the ANC recognised concerns about illegal immigration but warned against responding outside the law.
“Let us be clear, and let no one twist our words: we do not condone unlawful immigration, and we do not pretend that the anxieties of our people are not real.
“But we will not answer hardship with cruelty, and we will not preach order while promoting anarchy.”
Mbalula also commented on the Section 89 parliamentary process, saying the ANC supports a fair, orderly and constitutional approach without prejudging the outcome.
“The ANC believes an inquiry of this nature must rely on tested evidence under oath, not unverified hearsay, to protect the integrity of Parliament and ensure a fair process.”
He said the findings of the Public Protector and the South African Reserve Bank formed part of the broader context Parliament should consider.
“We believe it would be prudent for Parliament to await the outcome of the September court proceedings before taking further steps, ensuring legal certainty and safeguarding the integrity of the Section 89 process,” added Mbalula.