PRETORIA — The South Africa Cabinet has formally welcomed the peaceful June 30 protests held across the country, which were driven by civic movements demanding the removal of undocumented foreign nationals and stricter enforcement of immigration laws. Following the nationwide demonstrations, the focus has now shifted to how the government and civil society will collaborate on a comprehensive migration management approach.
Cabinet Response and the Five-Pillar Strategy
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced that the Cabinet commended the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) for ensuring the June 30 demonstrations remained peaceful. The protests, organized by the civic movement “March and March” alongside more than 20 civil society organizations, highlighted widespread public frustration over unregulated migration.
Furthermore, the Cabinet praised the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, chaired by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi. The committee is spearheading the “comprehensive approach to managing migration” initially announced by the President on June 7, 2026.
This strategy is built on five pillars of implementation:
- Law Enforcement: Increased labor inspections at companies suspected of employing undocumented foreigners, guided by the Deputy Ministers of Employment and Labor, Home Affairs (Mr. Ninjabulona), and Police (Dr. Polyello).
- Orderly Deportations: The re-establishment of a specialized immigration court in Durban, which is processing deportations facilitated at Sherwood.
- Airport Processing: The operationalization of the immigration court at OR Tambo International Airport.
- Repatriation Center Courts: The reactivation of the court at the Lindela repatriation center in Krugersdorp.
- Swift Repatriation: Rapid responses to support repatriation initiatives.
Civil Society’s Next Steps: Enforcing Section 42
During a recent broadcast discussion analyzing the post-protest landscape, civil society leaders outlined their next steps. Mthetho Ngcukayithobi, President of Progressive Forces of South Africa, emphasized that the peaceful nature of the June 30 march was a deliberate demonstration that citizens can advocate for their rights without resorting to anarchy.
However, Ngcukayithobi noted that the protests are merely the beginning of a broader scope. He revealed that civic organizations are now planning to strictly enforce Section 42 of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002. This section deals with “aiding and abetting,” and the organizations intend to hold landlords, business owners, and even school principals accountable for harboring or employing undocumented individuals.
Tensions, Government Posture, and Collaboration
Tebogo Khaas, Chairperson of Public Interest SA, offered a critical perspective on the government’s initial response to the migration crisis. Khaas argued that it was a tragedy it required mass public action for the government to pay attention to legitimate concerns that had been raised for years.
He criticized the initial combative posture of the state, specifically highlighting instances where the Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia (referenced in the broadcast as Ferros Kachalia), labeled protesters as “enemies.” Khaas argued that such language alienated the citizenry and suggested a government indifferent to the cost-of-living pressures and bylaw violations, such as those seen in Johannesburg’s inner-city streets where small traders operate.
Both Khaas and Ngcukayithobi stressed that a long-lasting solution requires the government and civil society to work in tandem. They suggested that the state should incentivize and reward citizens who report companies exploiting undocumented labor. Khaas also pointed out that ordinary South African entrepreneurs were left vulnerable to compete with undocumented individuals who do not carry the same cost base, noting that hundreds of millions of rands promised to help entrepreneurship during the 2021 pandemic never materialized.
Resource Strain and Enforcement Realities
Addressing arguments that undocumented migrants should simply return to fix their home countries, Ngcukayithobi maintained that South Africa is fighting for its own limited resources. He cited the healthcare sector as a prime example, noting that hospitals are owed over 1.1 billion rand and struggling to provide critical services, including cancer treatments.
Drawing on his personal experience working as a nurse at Rahima Moosa Hospital (transcribed in the discussion as Rihanna Musa in Oakland Park), Ngcukayithobi described an overburdened system where the majority of those seeking assistance were foreign nationals. He utilized the analogy of recovering a stolen vehicle: even if a family has grown accustomed to using the car, the law must be enforced and consequences faced, though he emphasized that deportations must be conducted humanely and smoothly over a sustained period, rather than as a one-off event.
Skepticism Toward Policy Reforms
When questioned about the government’s recent commitments to tighten immigration laws through a new White Paper, increased fines for non-compliant employers, and bolstering the Border Management Authority, Khaas remained deeply skeptical. He argued that the government has had the benefit of the doubt since the immigration debates first flared up between 2002 and 2004.
Dismissing previous policy documents as ineffective “toilet paper,” Khaas pointed to systemic corruption within the criminal justice system. He shared anecdotes of sham marriages—such as a cousin entering a marriage with a Nigerian national purely for financial benefit and citizenship—insisting that the system must be forced to function as originally intended.
The Way Forward
As the immediate path forward, Ngcukayithobi confirmed that the focus remains on grassroots sensitization. Civic organizations are actively preparing to open cases against non-compliant landlords and business owners, cementing their stance that enforcing Section 42 of the Immigration Act is the critical next step in addressing South Africa’s migration challenges.
