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Ramaphosa Announces Crackdown on Undocumented Migrants After Deadly Xenophobic Attacks and Regional Evacuations
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Pretoria is finalizing plans to limit foreign workers and expand labour inspections. The announcement follows weeks of violence that prompted evacuations by Ghana, Nigeria and Malawi.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa announced plans to crack down on undocumented migrants during a televised speech on June 8, 2026. Ramaphosa said Pretoria was finalizing plans to limit foreign workers and expand labour inspections. He pledged prosecutions for corrupt officials who enabled illegal hiring.
The announcement came days after Ramaphosa sent envoys across Africa to repair diplomatic ties strained by the violence. South Africa has recorded recurrent xenophobic flare-ups since 2008. Deadly attacks on Mozambicans occurred in the weeks before the speech.
The governments of Ghana, Nigeria and Malawi carried out evacuations of their citizens from South Africa. South Africa is ranked by the World Bank as the most unequal society, and its unemployment rate stands at 33 percent. Ramaphosa accused political parties and self-appointed community leaders of exploiting migration anxieties to sow division through lawlessness and violence ahead of November local elections.
Transparency
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