South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has distanced his government from a growing wave of civilian-led immigration checks, warning that law enforcement remains the sole responsibility of the state.
In a post on X, Ramaphosa said no individual or group is permitted to stop people in public spaces or demand proof of nationality, amid rising concerns over so-called “street checks” targeting foreign nationals in parts of the country.
"I must make it clear that only the authorised government officials may act against violations of the law, including violation of our immigration laws. No other person is allowed, for example, to confront someone in the street to demand proof of nationality." the President warned.
The latest intervention comes against a deeper backdrop of recurring xenophobic violence in South Africa, where foreign nationals, particularly African migrants have periodically been targeted during waves of unrest linked to unemployment, inequality, and competition for informal economic opportunities.
The most recent concern is the rise of “street-level” identity checks, where groups of residents allegedly confront suspected undocumented migrants, demanding identification and, in some cases, forcibly detaining or assaulting individuals.
