South Africa Warns Against Vigilante Checks

South Africa’s government has warned citizens against conducting immigration checks on their own, as authorities begin consultations with civil society groups and other stakeholders to address illegal immigration.

Speaking in Pretoria, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, said only the state has the legal authority to enforce immigration laws. She expressed concern about reports of individuals conducting identity checks and other enforcement activities, describing these actions as unlawful.

Kubayi urged citizens to report suspected criminal activity to law enforcement agencies rather than take matters into their own hands. The warning comes amid growing anti-immigrant sentiment in parts of South Africa, where migration has become a subject of intense public debate.

Police Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya rejected claims that immigration enforcement operations were targeting African migrants alone. He pointed to previous arrests involving Libyan nationals in Mpumalanga, Ethiopians in Johannesburg and foreign workers from other countries as evidence that enforcement efforts apply across nationalities.

The government also confirmed ongoing cooperation with Nigeria, Ghana and Malawi on the voluntary return of their citizens. Kubayi disclosed that 980 Malawian nationals were deported from the Lindela Repatriation Centre on June 10 as part of recent immigration enforcement operations.

Authorities said discussions are underway to re-establish a court at the Lindela facility, a move aimed at speeding up immigration-related cases and deportation processes.

The stakeholder consultations are expected to continue in the coming days.

SOURCE: MRA