PRESIDENT Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa used his June 16 Youth Day commemorations to address burning issues in the country.
With growing anxiety over illegal immigration, the President says measures are in place to deal with any concerns, especially with June 30 deadline looming.
A call by various groups, civic organisations, some political parties and the country at large, are calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
“I have intervention measures that are being taken to address the concerns of our people. And as I announced the other day when I addressed the nation, I outlined a number of interventions that we are taking,” he said.
“Those interventions have largely been welcomed by our people as immediate effective and important steps that we need to be taking to ensure that we have people in our country who are fully documented,” he told media at the Nasrec Center, just outside Soweto on June 16.
The President (who earlier laid the wreath in commemoration of Hector Peterson at Orlando) also said dealing with undocumented nationals was a matter for the state, not for ordinary citizens, and cautioned “no South African must take any action against any person from any of our African sister countries.”
“We must not allow South Africans to be duped and to be misled by those who want to foster instability in our country. And we will not allow that,” warned Pres Ramaphosa.
He added that law enforcement would act decisively.
“Security forces in our country are going to ensure that there is no instability and there’s no disruption of the lives of our people. But government is continuing the interventions that we announced.”
On allegations that foreigners were taking jobs, he said “we recognise that many communities are frustrated by crime, unemployment and pressure on public services.
These frustrations are real and must never be dismissed. But we must also be honest about their causes.”
“Even as we recognise the challenge of illegal immigration – which we are taking decisive action to address – our problems are our own. And which we have a responsibility to fix ourselves.”
He said the solutions needed to be grounded in reality rather than blame.
“The roots of these challenges lie primarily in inequality, slow economic growth and weaknesses in service delivery.
Addressing these challenges requires practical solutions, not the scapegoating of vulnerable people.”
During his address, attended mainly by school learners, some of the attendants murmured, come rain or shine- June 30 illegal immigrants must leave SA.
Image provided (Taking a bow. Pres Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa recorded at the Hector Peterson memorial site, Orlando, Soweto on June 16.)
