MON JULY 27 2026-theGBJournal| South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa sought to strike a delicate balance on migration while addressing the country’s 1st Ordinary Session of Parliament in Pretoria today, defending the rights of lawful migrants while promising tougher enforcement against undocumented immigration.
”We must not conflate lawful migrants, refugees and asylum seekers with people who enter or remain in countries in violation of immigration laws,” he told the lawmakers.
His speech comes against the backdrop of repeated xenophobic attacks, including violence targeting Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Ethiopians and other African nationals.
The president also rejected attempts to blame migrants for unemployment, crime and poor public services, arguing that such narratives obscure the country’s deeper economic and governance challenges.
”We must not conflate lawful migrants, refugees and asylum seekers with people who enter or remain in countries in violation of immigration laws. Nor should migrants be made scapegoats for unemployment, crime or shortcomings in the delivery of public services” he said.
”Our response must combine firm, fair and effective immigration management with an unwavering defence of human dignity and the rule of law.”
He said the government’s task is to ensure that migration is managed in a manner ”that affirms the rights and dignity of all people, that respects international conventions and that advances social cohesion.”
However, his warning that “unmanaged migration” threatens national sovereignty, security and social order also echoed growing public demands for tighter border controls.
The remarks reflect Pretoria’s attempt to occupy a middle ground: reassuring voters that immigration laws will be enforced while avoiding rhetoric that could legitimise the xenophobic violence that has periodically targeted foreign nationals living in South Africa.
Charles Ike-Okoh
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