South Africa has condemned incidents of private citizens taking the law into their own hands against foreign nationals and says police have already made arrests linked to anti-migrant intimidation, looting and robbery.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola made the remarks after talks with German Foreign Minister, Dr Johann Wadephul, in Pretoria, on Thursday.
Responding to questions about criticism from Ghana and comments by African Union Chairperson President John Mahama, Lamola said he had visited Ghana earlier this week as a special envoy of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“There was an agreement between ourselves and Ghana that the current migration-related challenges will not stand in the way of South Africa-Ghana bilateral relations. South Africa and Ghana have long-enduring good friendship and relations,” the Minister said.
Lamola said South Africa had explained that every sovereign State has the right to enforce its immigration laws.
“All countries have the right… to enforce immigration laws. Immigration must be regular and orderly,” he said.
He said the country’s challenge is irregular migration, not migration itself.
“The challenge we face is irregular migration,” he said.
Government rejects vigilantism
Lamola said the criticism from Ghana and the African Union was focused on reports of individuals targeting foreign nationals.
“They are both raising… that even when there is irregular migration, it must be dealt with in a humane way. It will not be dealt with through people taking the law into their own hands,” he said.
He stressed that the South African government rejects such conduct.
“We have said as a South African government, we condemn [it] and would not promote any private citizen taking the law into their own hands,” he said.
He also called for criminal prosecution of offenders.
“We call for law enforcement agencies to arrest any perpetrator who takes the law into their own hands,” Lamola said.
Arrests already made
Lamola rejected claims that authorities had failed to act, saying several arrests had already been made.
He cited the arrest of five suspects in Limpopo, who allegedly threatened a Nigerian business owner.
“They allegedly threatened a Nigerian business owner, ordered him to close his business and leave the country, despite Home Affairs confirming that his immigration documents were valid.”
He also mentioned:
- Two suspects arrested for allegedly robbing a Zimbabwean national and impersonating Home Affairs officials.
- Sixty-nine people arrested in Jeffreys Bay for looting 23 shops, with 60 later released on warning.
- Four arrests in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga following the looting of spaza shops.
“There is action that the South African Police Service is taking against the perpetrators of self-help, taking the law into their own hands,” Lamola said.
He added that immigration enforcement should be handled by the proper authorities.
“The enforcement of migration and irregular migration should be left to the authorities, Home Affairs, the South African Police, labour inspectors, and the immigration officers of Home Affairs or the BMA,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
