Ramaphosa Urges Peaceful Protests, Warns Against Vigilantism Over Illegal Immigration

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appealed for calm ahead of planned nationwide protests against undocumented immigration, urging demonstrators to exercise their constitutional rights peacefully while warning that acts of violence, intimidation and vigilantism will not be tolerated.

In a statement issued on Monday, ahead of the June 30 protests, Ramaphosa acknowledged that many South Africans have genuine concerns about illegal immigration, border security, pressure on public services and criminal syndicates exploiting the country’s immigration system.

“South Africans have raised deep concerns about illegal immigration, border management, pressure on public services, criminal syndicates that exploit our immigration system and the impact these challenges have on communities. These concerns are real and they deserve to be heard,” he said.

While affirming citizens’ constitutional right to protest, the president stressed that such rights do not extend to threatening others or engaging in unlawful acts.

“The right to protest is enshrined in our Constitution… But the right to protest and freedom of expression does not allow people to threaten or intimidate others, or to engage in acts of vandalism or violence,” Ramaphosa said.

He reiterated that South Africa is governed by the rule of law and warned against individuals taking immigration enforcement into their own hands.

“The exercise of rights by any citizen in a constitutional democracy cannot be determined by intimidation, threats or ultimatums. It must be determined through democratic institutions, evidence and the rule of law,” he stated.

Ramaphosa said the government had acknowledged shortcomings in the country’s immigration system and was already implementing reforms to strengthen border management, improve visa and asylum processes, tackle undocumented immigration and root out corruption.

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“Government has accepted that our immigration system requires substantial reform. We are strengthening border management, increasing enforcement against undocumented immigration, improving the integrity of the asylum and visa systems, and taking action against corruption that has weakened immigration control,” he said.

The president also cautioned against targeting foreign nationals living legally in South Africa, saying they are entitled to the full protection of the country’s laws.

“Some foreign nationals who live in South Africa are here lawfully. They work, study, raise families, invest in our economy and contribute positively to our society. They too are entitled to the protection of our laws and our Constitution,” he said.

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Drawing parallels with South Africa’s apartheid past, Ramaphosa warned that citizens must not resort to checking people’s identities or enforcing immigration laws themselves.

“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.

“Whatever the motivation, taking the law into one’s own hands is vigilantism and has no place in our constitutional democracy.”

Ramaphosa assured citizens that law enforcement agencies were prepared to maintain order during the demonstrations and urged South Africans to reject violence in favour of dialogue and respect for the law.

“Throughout our history we have overcome difficult moments not through fear or division, but by choosing law over lawlessness, dialogue over confrontation and justice over vengeance,” he said.

“Let us once again choose that path. Let us protect both our borders and our Constitution, both our security and our humanity. We are capable of doing both, and we must.”