President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government will crack down on employers employing illegal foreigners, increasing fines on them, tightening the country's borders and closing gaps in migration policies as the country grapples with rising tensions over illegal migration.
Ramaphosa made this comment on sunday Addressing the nation on illegal immigration and the presence of undocumented aliens in most communities.
“Employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers and take advantage of their vulnerabilities are breaking the law. They undermine labor standards. They undermine fair competition. They undermine labor standards and opportunities for South Africans. Such conduct will be subject to far harsher penalties and far more stringent enforcement,” Ramaphosa said.
In his address, Ramaphosa acknowledged that most South Africans are frustrated with the issue of illegal aliens, and also acknowledged that corruption within the Department of Home Affairs and at the borders played a role.
“We are taking further measures to secure our borders. We will therefore continue to invest in modern technology, infrastructure and personnel to ensure that our borders are secure, while facilitating legitimate trade, travel and economic activity.”
Ramaphosa said the government would continue to crack down on corruption and inefficiencies in the Home Department. “We must recognize that illegal immigration is often made possible by corruption. Officials who sell documents, facilitate illegal entry or abuse public office for personal gain betray the trust of the South African people.”
Ramaphosa said the Home Department would also phase out the green identity document. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber previously said the government aimed to phase it out by 2029 because it had become vulnerable to fraud and identity theft.
“The green ID book is inextricably linked to issues of illegal immigration, smuggling and other crimes because it is the main route it is used to commit identity theft, and we are moving rapidly to replace those green IDs,” he said.
Times Live