South Africa President Urges Peaceful Protest Ahead of Immigration Demonstrations

President Cyril Ramaphosa urged South Africans to protest peacefully and responsibly ahead of planned demonstrations against undocumented immigration. In his weekly newsletter on Monday, the president acknowledged concerns about illegal immigration, border management, pressure on public services, and criminal syndicates exploiting the immigration system.

He said these concerns are real and deserve to be heard, while stressing that government is addressing them through lawful means.

Ramaphosa said the government has accepted that the immigration system requires substantial reform. He listed steps already underway, including strengthening border management, increasing enforcement against undocumented immigration, improving the integrity of asylum and visa systems, and acting against corruption.

The president added that where systems have failed they must be corrected and where enforcement has been inadequate it must improve.

Ramaphosa said the Constitution guarantees the right to protest, but this right must be exercised responsibly. "The right to protest is enshrined in our Constitution. It is a credit to our robust democratic order that people are able to express their grievances openly.

But the right to protest and freedom of expression does not allow people to threaten or intimidate others, or to engage in acts of vandalism or violence," he said. He warned that criminal conduct during protests will be dealt with decisively and that grievances must be addressed through democratic institutions and the rule of law.

Ramaphosa also noted that many foreign nationals are in the country legally and are protected by the Constitution.