Government has issued a stern warning against individuals impersonating Home Affairs officials conducting unlawful identity searches on foreign nationals, saying those involved in intimidation, extortion and other illegal activities will face the full might of the law.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said this on Sunday as the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration provided an update on the implementation of government's Five-Point Plan on Migration Management.
Kubayi said government has become increasingly concerned about incidents involving individuals conducting unauthorised identity checks on foreign nationals and businesses, while falsely claiming to be officials from the Department of Home Affairs.
“We have observed that there are still individuals who impersonate Home Affairs officials and target foreign nationals and some businesses for these illegal identity searches and sometimes extortion.
“We want to urge whoever is involved in this wrong practice to desist from it or face the might of the law,” the Minister said.
She said the South African Police Service (SAPS) had already been requested to investigate incidents brought to the attention of the IMC and confirmed that law enforcement authorities had arrested seven suspects in Polokwane.
“We are glad to report that our law enforcement authorities acted swiftly in arresting about seven of these individuals in Polokwane and we would like to issue a stern warning to everyone who is involved in this to stop,” she said.
The Minister also warned against attempts to obstruct lawful law enforcement operations, citing a recent confrontation between officers and foreign nationals during an operation in Bellville in the Western Cape.
“We have also noted that some groups tend to confront and seek to resist lawful operations by our law enforcement authorities. A case in point is the confrontation between law enforcement officers and some foreign nationals who were resisting law enforcement operations in Bellville a few days ago,” Kubayi said.
She stressed that those who undermine the work of law enforcement agencies would face legal consequences.
“Again, we would like to issue a strong warning against those who undermine the work of our law enforcement officers or otherwise face the consequences,” she said.
Kubayi confirmed that the reported death of an individual during the Bellville operation is being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), with the findings to be made public once investigations have been concluded.
The Minister also briefed the media on progress made in implementing government's Five-Point Plan on Migration Management, which seeks to strengthen migration management, uphold the rule of law, secure South Africa's borders and maintain the country's constitutional commitment to human dignity, social cohesion and human rights.
Kubayi said the implementation of the plan is beginning to produce measurable results through stronger law enforcement, enhanced border security, closer cooperation with neighbouring countries and ongoing policy reforms.
“The implementation of the Five-Point Plan is yielding tangible progress.
“We are strengthening law enforcement. We are securing our borders. We are working closely with partner countries. We are improving policy and legislation, and we are ensuring that humanitarian considerations remain central to our response,” the minister said.
Law enforcement crackdown
Kubayi said integrated operations involving the South African Police Service, the Border Management Authority (BMA), the Department of Home Affairs, the Hawks and other law enforcement agencies continue to target criminal networks that exploit migration vulnerabilities.
The operations focus on illegal border crossings, human trafficking networks, labour exploitation, fraudulent documentation syndicates, illegal mining operations and criminal enterprises facilitating unlawful migration.
“To date, law enforcement authorities have registered 354 cases of arrests and prosecutions against individuals who are in contravention of the law related to the issue of migration,” she said.
She added that a further 69 people were arrested in Jeffrey's Bay last weekend and appeared in court on Monday.
“Government is making it clear that migration management is fundamentally a rule-of-law matter. Criminality will not be tolerated, regardless of who is involved,” she said.
Kubayi also highlighted a major breakthrough against organised crime after the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority secured a High Court preservation order against a R100 million property in Rietfontein linked to a crystal meth laboratory.
The order authorises the seizure and sale of the property, together with R27 800 in cash confiscated during a police operation in November 2024.
“A Mexican national was arrested in connection with the operation, making a significant strike against international drug syndicates,” she said.
Border security strengthened
On the second pillar of the Five-Point Plan, Kubayi said the Border Management Authority continues to strengthen surveillance, improve border control measures and enhance coordination with security agencies.
Since April, authorities have conducted 93 joint borderline operations targeting the illegal movement of illicit goods, human trafficking and drug syndicates.
Government has also strengthened border operations during peak periods to improve the management of movement across ports of entry and reduce opportunities for illegal entry and transnational crime.
Kubayi announced that a memorandum will be tabled before Cabinet this week seeking approval to commence critical borderline infrastructure projects.
The phased projects will include the deployment of technological infrastructure to counter increasingly sophisticated criminal syndicates exploiting weaknesses along the country's borders.
She said redevelopment of six of South Africa's busiest ports of entry, Lebombo, Beit Bridge, Oshoek, Ficksburg, Maseru and Kopfontein is moving towards contractual and financial close, paving the way for construction to begin at the start of 2027.
“While more work remains to be done, South Africa is steadily building a modern, integrated border management system capable of protecting national sovereignty while facilitating legitimate travel and trade,” she said.
Working with neighbouring countries
Kubayi emphasised that migration is a regional, continental and global challenge requiring collective solutions rather than unilateral action.
She said government has intensified engagements with neighbouring countries and countries of origin to strengthen cooperation on migration management, documentation, repatriation processes and information sharing.
Current engagements include continued cooperation with Malawi and Zimbabwe regarding migration management and repatriation arrangements.
The Minister also welcomed moves to place migration and allegations of Afrophobia in South Africa on the agenda of the next African Union Heads of State Summit.
She echoed the sentiments of International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola that the discussion presents an opportunity to ensure migration across the continent becomes "a choice rather than a necessity".
Government believes that addressing the root causes of irregular migration, including governance, democracy and economic stability, will help develop a pragmatic and comprehensive continental response.
“The solution lies in collaboration, not confrontation,” Kubayi said.
Kubayi also addressed the petition submitted to the International Criminal Court by two Ghanaian civilians, saying government had received legal advice that the filing does not satisfy the statutory legal triggers or jurisdictional requirements necessary for action by the court.
She further confirmed that government has responded to correspondence from the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights regarding concerns over xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals and a request to undertake a promotional mission to South Africa.
Legislative reforms under review
Kubayi said government is reviewing several pieces of legislation to strengthen migration management over the long term.
Among these are the Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection Bill, the Employment Services Amendment Bill and the Business Licensing Bill, which seeks to reserve certain business activities and sectors wholly or partly for South African citizens.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition [dtic] will also hold discussions over the next two weeks with the hospitality, agriculture and tourism sectors on the employment of locals and broader economic issues.
In addition, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the dtic will engage South African businesses operating elsewhere on the continent to better understand the impact of current migration challenges.
Coordinating with municipalities
Kubayi said the IMC recently met the leadership of the City of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni to discuss interventions relating to hijacked and abandoned buildings, land invasions, illegal mining and illegal trading.
The three metros outlined the work already underway, challenges experienced and areas where support is required from national government.
The IMC has directed the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) to finalise a framework and operational plan to tackle these issues, which pose public safety risks and contribute to revenue losses.
Concluding the briefing, Kubayi said government remains committed to implementing a migration system that protects national interests while remaining firmly rooted in constitutional values.
“The IMC will continue to provide regular updates as implementation progresses and remains committed to ensuring that South Africans receive factual, balanced and accurate information on migration management.
“Together, we can build a migration system that protects our national interest, promotes social cohesion and upholds the rule of law,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
