Ramaphosa Breaks Silence Ahead of Anti-Immigration Protests, Warns Against Violence and Vigilantism

By CTV Africa

Pretoria, South Africa – As South Africa braces for nationwide anti-illegal immigration protests on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a strong warning that while citizens have the constitutional right to demonstrate, the government will not tolerate violence, intimidation or vigilantism.

In a statement released ahead of the planned protests, Ramaphosa acknowledged mounting public frustration over undocumented immigration, border security, pressure on public services and criminal syndicates exploiting weaknesses in the country’s immigration system.

“These concerns are real and they deserve to be heard,” the President said, adding that his administration is already implementing sweeping reforms to strengthen border management, tighten immigration enforcement, improve the asylum and visa systems, and crack down on corruption.

However, Ramaphosa drew a firm line against citizens taking the law into their own hands, warning that only law enforcement agencies have the authority to enforce immigration laws.

“The painful history of the pass laws reminds us why the authority to demand identification and enforce immigration laws belongs to government law-enforcement officers acting within the Constitution—not to private individuals,” he said.

He cautioned that anyone engaging in criminal acts during the demonstrations would face the full force of the law, declaring that “no cause, no matter how legitimate,” can justify violence or intimidation.

The President also defended the rights of legally documented foreign nationals living in South Africa, noting that many contribute to the country’s economy by working, investing, studying and raising families.

As tensions rise ahead of the protests, Ramaphosa called on South Africans to reject division and choose dialogue over confrontation.

“Let us protect both our borders and our Constitution, both our security and our humanity. We are capable of doing both, and we must,” he said.