SA Reaffirms Protection of Foreign Nationals as Migration Debate Dominates SADC Ministers’ Retreat

Lamola acknowledged that South Africa faces genuine challenges related to irregular migration and undocumented individuals entering or remaining in the country illegally.

South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has strongly reiterated the government's position that attacks against foreign nationals are unlawful and will not be tolerated, amid growing regional concerns over migration tensions and the treatment of undocumented migrants in the country.

Lamola made the remarks on the sidelines of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Foreign Ministers' Retreat currently taking place in Skukuza within the Kruger National Park, where migration and regional integration have emerged as major themes of discussion among Southern African leaders and policymakers.

The Minister revealed that several foreign ministers from across the SADC region had raised concerns regarding the safety and wellbeing of their citizens living in South Africa following recent demonstrations and rising public frustration linked to illegal migration and undocumented foreign nationals.

"I am engaging with my counterparts. I also know that my counterpart from Ghana was also here. Still, some of the SADC foreign ministers have raised the issue with me, particularly Malawi, who were affected mostly by their citizens," Lamola said.

The South African government, according to Lamola, remains firmly committed to condemning all forms of violence and attacks directed at foreign nationals, regardless of the circumstances surrounding migration-related challenges.

"We continued to assure them that as a South African government, we will condemn any form of attack against foreign nationals. It is in terms of our law, only the police can enforce the law," he stated.

His comments come against the backdrop of recurring tensions in South Africa surrounding illegal immigration, unemployment, pressure on public services, and socio-economic frustrations that have occasionally triggered anti-immigrant protests and incidents of violence targeting foreign nationals.

Lamola acknowledged that South Africa faces genuine challenges related to irregular migration and undocumented individuals entering or remaining in the country illegally. However, he stressed that enforcement of immigration laws must remain solely the responsibility of authorised law enforcement agencies and not private groups or members of the public.

"We do have a challenge of illegal migration, illegal documented or undocumented foreign nationals in the country that we need to address, and we need as a government to build capability to respond to that, to be able to know who is in the country, what they are doing, where they are, and also when they've committed a crime. They must be arrested, whether it's a foreign national or is a South African," Lamola explained.

The Minister emphasised that the issue of migration cannot be separated from the broader agenda of regional integration currently being pursued by SADC member states. As Southern African countries work toward stronger economic cooperation and deeper regional connectivity, mobility of people and goods has become a critical component of integration efforts.

"One of the thematic areas is migration, because regional integration will not happen if there is no ease of movement of people and no ease of movement of goods," Lamola said.

He noted that successful regional integration depends not only on economic agreements and infrastructure development but also on stable borders, coordinated migration systems, respect for national laws, and cooperation among member states.

The SADC retreat is focusing extensively on long-term regional priorities including industrialisation, trade expansion, infrastructure development, logistics, energy security, food systems, public debt management, and movement of people and services across Southern Africa.

Lamola also reflected on the historical relationship between South Africa and the broader African continent, acknowledging the support many African nations provided during the anti-apartheid struggle and South Africa's liberation movement.

"We also understand, as South Africa, that the continent has a claim in us, in terms of them having supported us to fight against apartheid, to fight for freedom, but it does not mean that there must be lawlessness in our country. There must be order. There must be respect for the rule of law, and that should be enforced by the police," he said.

His remarks highlight the delicate balancing act facing the South African government as it attempts to address domestic concerns over migration while maintaining regional solidarity and diplomatic relations within Africa.

Migration remains one of the most politically sensitive issues across Southern Africa, where economic disparities, unemployment, climate pressures, and political instability in some countries have contributed to increased population movement within the region. South Africa, as one of the continent's most industrialised economies, continues to attract migrants seeking employment, education, business opportunities, and safety.

At the same time, rising economic pressures, high unemployment levels, and social inequalities within South Africa have intensified debates around border control, immigration management, and public resource allocation.

Regional experts believe the ongoing SADC discussions could play a significant role in shaping future approaches to migration governance, labour mobility, border management, and regional economic integration across Southern Africa.

The retreat is expected to continue with high-level discussions on strategic regional cooperation, including industrialisation, transport and logistics connectivity, energy collaboration, trade facilitation, agricultural resilience, and coordinated responses to global geopolitical and economic pressures affecting the African continent.