Bongani Hans|Published 18 minutes agoInternational relations analyst Dr Kingsley Makhubela has accused political parties of fanning a campaign against illegal foreign nationals, hoping to gain support for the upcoming local government elections. Makhubela was reacting to ongoing campaigns across the country against illegal foreigners.Among political parties seen participating in the March and March-led campaigns are uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and ActionSA. Such campaigns have taken place in various towns and cities, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape. “The big problem in the country is that this matter flares up during political campaigns, and you find them (political parties) using the question of illegal immigrants to campaign. “Now with the local government elections building up, you are going to see this issue becoming more and more prominent, and you find political parties using different strategies, including illegal immigrants, for campaign,” he said. Makhubela said the issue of illegal immigrants should not feature in the local government elections campaigns.“The local government elections should be about the bread and butter and service delivery.” He said law enforcement agencies should deal with illegal immigration, and “I don’t think it belongs to any political campaigns, as law enforcement should manage it”. Makhubela said thousands of foreign nationals who gathered at the Durban Central police station on Thursday were right to seek protection from the police, as their countries' embassies lack the power to protect them.It was reported that as the foreigners gathered outside the police station, the police fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse them. These foreigners, who have since turned to the Diakonia Centre in the Durban CBD, looking for safe shelter, alleged that locals were attacking them in their homes. “It is always better to approach the local police because even the embassies would refer the matter to the local police if it is a police or security-related matter. “Foreign embassies would not have the capacity to provide the security they (foreigners) may need,” Makhubela said.He said the protection of immigrants, irrespective of their legal status, is the function of the receiving state.“In this case, the South African state has the obligation to give protection to anyone in the Republic, irrespective of whether they are here illegally or not.”African Diaspora Forum (ADF) chairperson Amir Sheikh said the first point of seeking help for foreigners under attack would be the police. “From there, the police would identify whether it is safe for them to return to where they were uprooted or whether there should be an issue of humanitarian assistance.“If they are refugees or asylum seekers, they cannot report to any of the embassies because that would be tantamount to availment, which means that once they have contact with their embassies, they will lose the protection of the South African government because their primary protection lies with the South African government.”Sheikh said that if foreigners are in a country as professionals or students, they can approach the police and also liaise with their embassies.“If somebody is illegal, it is where the complication comes, as any illegal person has no protection in South Africa and their primary safety and security lies with the embassy of their country.” Responding to Makhubela’s allegations, MKP spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu said his party maintains that all people residing within the country must be properly registered through lawful immigration processes.“We support the constitutional right to peaceful and lawful protest, and we recognise the concerns of communities regarding illegal migration, undocumented migrants, and the unlawful employment of undocumented workers.“However, this must exist alongside lawful, fair, and properly regulated immigration systems that protect the interests and sovereignty of South Africa,” Mahlangu said.March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, whose organisation protested in Pinetown on Wednesday, said: “We are not a political party, so I can’t answer on behalf of political parties.”ActionSA KwaZulu-Natal leader Zwakele Mncwango rejected Makhubele’s view that the parties' participation in protests against illegal foreigners was political opportunism. “ActionSA has maintained a clear and consistent policy position on immigration long before the upcoming 2026 local government elections.“Our policy conference, which took place before the 2024 National Elections, already adopted firm resolutions on immigration, border security, and the enforcement of South African laws. It is, therefore, misleading to suggest that our stance is a recent election strategy,” said Mncwango.[email protected]