Hundreds of foreign nationals have left South Africa in a series of coordinated repatriations and voluntary returns involving Nigeria, Ghana and Mozambique, as authorities step up immigration enforcement ahead of rising tensions over undocumented migration. The writer says the government can crackdown and apply the law while treating migrants with compassion.
Within hours of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s “family meeting” on Sunday, anti-illegal migration protesters were out marching on the streets of Ekurhuleni.
I’m not sure what he thought of that, but clearly the marching and marching continues. However, Ramaphosa can take solace in that some of those protesting on Monday at least welcomed the fact that he had put this hot potato on the national agenda and acknowledged their grievances as legitimate.
The president was slightly off target in saying the marching masses have a right to "expect better" from the government. They actually have the right to demand better.
It was OK for him to remind us about our country’s “international obligations”, but he and his cabinet clearly need to remember their obligations to the citizens.
