MPs accuse government of failing to manage undocumented migration

As anti-immigration protests continue to emerge in parts of South Africa, the debate over border security, undocumented migration and law enforcement is once again under the spotlight.

Political parties in Parliament say government has failed to adequately manage immigration. However, they differ on how the country should respond while balancing the rule of law and human rights.

The Democratic Alliance’s Adriaan Roos says immigration challenges should be addressed through lawful enforcement and not through the targeting of migrants.

“We must never return to the days where people are profiled as criminals simply because of the color of their skin, their creed, or their culture. The DA firmly rejects the scapegoating of migrants or the use of violence against them. We are replacing the chaos of the past with the rule of law. We don’t have to talk about what we will do; we are doing it already.”

Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Chief whip Nhlanhla Hadebe says undocumented foreign nationals should be returned to their home countries, but insists this must happen within the framework of the law.

“Undocumented foreign nationals who do not possess specialised or scarce skills and who are in the country unlawfully should be returned to their respective countries in accordance with the law. At the same time, the IFP rejects vigilantism, xenophobia, and violence.”

The Patriotic Alliance Member of Parliament Ashley Sauls says public frustration is a consequence of years of weak immigration enforcement, but cautions against disorderly action on the streets.

“We do not advocate for chaotic actions on our streets. When state departments collapse in their primary duty to maintain immigration integrity, it creates a vacuum that breeds frustration. However, we must candidly address the root cause of this social friction, a long-standing systematic failure by the state to properly enforce immigration control and secure our borders over the years.”

ActionSA MP Lerato Ngobeni argues that failures in border management and immigration enforcement have created opportunities for criminal syndicates and corruption.

“For too long now, successive governments have failed to secure our borders, maintain an accurate population register, and to enforce our immigration laws. The result is a system that is unfair to South African citizens, unfair to lawful immigrants, and vulnerable to criminal syndicates who are involved in human trafficking, who are involved in illicit trade, in corruption, and document fraud.”

Build One South Africa leader Mmusi Maimane is calling for increased investment in border security, saying technology and additional resources are needed to strengthen immigration controls.

“If we want to deal with the immigration crisis. BOSA stands at saying we need to increase the funding towards Border Management Authority by two billion rands. That will ensure that they can get thermal scanners, get proper drones so that the technology is right, build appropriate fencing, deploy more police, so that anyone who enters the country does so legally in, in our country.”

The UDM MP Nqabayomzi Kwankwa says stronger enforcement measures are needed to address undocumented migration and ensure compliance with immigration laws.

“The continued presence of undocumented immigrants undermines the rule of law and places additional pressure on already constrained public resources and employment opportunities. We therefore call on the Department of Home Affairs, together with the relevant immigration enforcement authorities, to intensify inspections and compliance across workplaces, across our country and industries throughout the country.”

While parties differ on the specifics, there is broad agreement that South Africa’s immigration system requires urgent intervention. The debate now centres on how government balances stronger enforcement with constitutional protections and social cohesion as public pressure over immigration continues to grow.

The ANC, EFF and MKP did not respond to the SABC’s request for comment.