KwaZulu-Natal lawmakers are calling for urgent government intervention to address the issue of illegal immigration, citing concerns over national security, overwhelmed public services, and rising social tensions. The matter was raised during a sitting of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, where members from various parties, including the IFP and the MK Party, voiced their concerns.
IFP MPL Petros Msimango noted that illegal immigration threatens the security, stability, and economic processes of the country. He added that community groups are turning away foreign nationals from clinics and schools, leading to rising tensions between South African citizens and foreign nationals over access to government services. Msimango warned that delaying action will further strain communities and undermine social cohesion.
Impact on Public Services
MK Party member MPL Nozipho Mazibuko said that the house should deliberate and debate on the escalating tension between the parents of South African learners and the parents of foreign learners in public schools. She noted that this tension is becoming a norm at the beginning of each year, with no clear and decisive intervention by the government to handle the situation.
Another lawmaker, Esau Madonsela, called on the Department of Education to urgently address the issue of prioritizing the employment of foreign educators over South Africans. This comes after government reports highlighted the challenges associated with illegal immigration in South Africa, particularly in KZN.
Province’s Campaign to Enforce Compliance
Last month, KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli led a round table discussion on undocumented foreign nationals, focusing on the complex challenges associated with illegal immigration. Ntuli said that undocumented migration creates vulnerabilities that are often exploited by criminal elements, including the circulation of illicit goods, drug trafficking, and unlicensed firearms.
The province’s campaign, #EngangeniNgesangoIyafohla, aims to enforce compliance and restore order through multidisciplinary operations targeting businesses and community engagement. This has resulted in the apprehension of hundreds of undocumented individuals. For more information on the campaign, visit the Wikipedia page on immigration to South Africa.
Some of the key concerns raised by lawmakers include:
- National security threats posed by illegal immigration
- Overwhelmed public services, including clinics and schools
- Rising social tensions between South African citizens and foreign nationals
- Alleged negative impact on the black community and youth
Lawmakers are urging the government to deliver concrete solutions to address these concerns while safeguarding the South African constitution.
