Our Viewpoint | Africa must step up
"The position should be clear. No violence. No vigilantism. But also no denial that the current influx of undocumented migrants has become unsustainable."
The crisis involving displaced Malawian nationals in Pietermaritzburg flagged the scale of South Africa’s undocumented immigration crisis and the urgent need for practical solutions from all stakeholders. The humanitarian situation is dire.
Hundreds of people, including women and children, are living in overcrowded shelters with limited sanitation and basic services. No one should be subjected to violence, intimidation or inhumane treatment.
Regardless of immigration status, every person has the right to dignity, safety and access to healthcare while in South Africa. At the same time, South Africans are justified in raising concerns about the growing number of undocumented foreign nationals in the country.
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South Africa must accept responsibility for years of weak border control, poor enforcement and corruption within Home Affairs and border management structures. These failures have contributed significantly to the current crisis. But responsibility does not lie with South Africa alone.
Governments whose citizens have entered and remained in South Africa illegally also have a responsibility. Border control works both ways. Countries must account for people leaving their borders just as South Africa must account for those entering.
Too often, foreign governments are quick to blame South Africa while saying little about their own failures. This was evident in recent comments by Malawi’s envoy to South Africa, who focused largely on South Africa’s border failures.
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That view ignores the shared responsibility involved in migration and repatriation. Many African countries also benefit from remittances sent home by citizens working abroad. Those funds support families and contribute to national economies.
That economic reality partly explains why some governments have remained silent. Repatriation cannot be managed through crisis response alone. It requires urgent bilateral engagement between South Africa and neighbouring states, with clear processes for verification, documentation and safe return.
The position should be clear. No violence. No vigilantism. But also no denial that the current influx of undocumented migrants has become unsustainable. Those in South Africa illegally must be returned to their home countries lawfully, safely and without delay.
