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A refugee illegally crosses the border from Zimbabwe into South Africa.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says it will start dialogue with other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries on the issue of illegal immigration.
This comes as the country grapples with challenges of illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.
Recently, anti-migrant groups such as Operation Dudula prevented illegal migrants from getting medical treatment from health facilities in Johannesburg and Durban.
The SAHRC’s commissioner responsible for migration, Aseza Gungubele, says the dialogue will focus on border management issues.
“This dialogue will be focusing mainly on the issue of border management. What we will be doing, we will also be inviting SADC countries and high commissioners or ambassadors that are within South Africa, so that we can discuss the way forward on how to deal with the issue of migration in the country. But importantly, we believe that those who are in the country, in particular those who are within the SADC countries, neighbouring countries, are responsible for their citizens when they are in the country within the borders of South Africa. So, when their nationals are in the country, they must also be taught also their roles and responsibilities.”
Last weekend, members of Operation Dudula conducted raids on hijacked buildings in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, amid rising tensions over illegal property occupations.
The group claims many South African citizens are left homeless while these buildings are taken over, often by foreign nationals, and accuses police of inaction.
Operation Dudula tackles illegal occupation of building in Rosettenville:
