ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says illegal immigration is placing pressure on South Africa’s public services, while defending the government’s deportation record and insisting only the state can enforce immigration laws.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says illegal immigration has become a burden on South Africa, placing pressure on public services, while insisting that immigration enforcement must remain the responsibility of the state and not self-appointed groups.
Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday following the 30 June anti-illegal immigration protests, Mbalula defended the ANC government's record on deportations and border security, saying South Africa had consistently enforced its immigration laws while calling for a coordinated continental response through the African Union.
Mbalula acknowledged that undocumented immigration was placing increasing pressure on clinics, schools and other public services but warned that the issue could not be addressed through vigilantism.
"The enforcement of immigration law is the work of the democratic state and the state alone," he said.
