FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As an independent, progressive Pan-African organisation dedicated to social and economic justice, non-racialism, and the defence of South Africa’s constitutional democracy, the Institute for African Alternatives (IFAA) views the current climate of xenophobic mobilisation with grave concern. The events leading to the “June 30” ultimatum, issued by initiators of the anti-migrant violence against foreign nationals, represent a direct assault on the principles of human dignity, equality, and the rule of law that are foundational to our nation.

We are heartened by President Ramaphosa’s unequivocal condemnation of xenophobia and his reaffirmation that immigration enforcement is the sole responsibility of the state, a stance we support in line with our mission to uphold accountable governance. The commitment to uphold constitutional values and international obligations is a critical affirmation at this time.

However, in the spirit of critical engagement that IFAA champions, we must register our profound concern. The political framing that simultaneously condemns xenophobic violence while validating narratives that link irregular migration to service delivery failures, crime, and social instability risks lending state authority to the very grievances that fuel intolerance. Policy developed in response to public pressure risks adopting the politics of that pressure, rather than being grounded in evidence about the positive contributions of foreign nationals and the structural failures of state institutions.

Our concern is sharpened by the ongoing failure to protect those who have sought refuge. The recent treatment of asylum seekers in Durban—where documented individuals were subjected to mass verification under police escort—demonstrates a dangerous conflation of migration enforcement and public order management, and a failure to distinguish between pressure from those initiating the violence and constitutional law.

We echo the calls of our civil society partners for the government to:

1. Act decisively to protect rights: Publicly repudiate the June 30 deadline and take active steps to prevent violence against any person within South Africa’s borders.

2. Ensure constitutional compliance: Issue clear directives that all immigration enforcement operations adhere to the Constitution and respect the rights to legal representation, procedural fairness, and freedom from arbitrary detention.

3. Fix the asylum system: Address the known structural failures and endemic corruption within the Department of Home Affairs that leave documented refugees and asylum seekers without functional legal status.

4. Ground policy in evidence: Commit to a migration policy framework developed through evidence, constitutional compliance, and meaningful engagement with civil society and migrant communities.

5. Prosecute perpetrators and instigators of violence: Ensure that all individuals—whether acting as direct perpetrators or as instigators and organisers of anti-migrant campaigns—are held fully accountable under the law, and that the state demonstrates unequivocally that incitement to hatred and xenophobic violence will not be tolerated.

The involvement of some foreign nationals in crimes such as drug sales and kidnapping must be dealt with by the policing authorities as criminal acts like any other, and must not be seized upon as justification for the mass removal of all foreigners. A genuine solution to this crisis requires moving beyond the failed politics of fear and embracing a Pan-Africanist vision of solidarity. South Africa cannot address its challenges of unemployment and inequality by scapegoating those who are often the most vulnerable victims of economic exploitation. Instead, we must tackle the systemic issues of inequality and state failure, while respecting the rights and dignity of all people, as enshrined in our Constitution.

IFAA stands ready to facilitate dialogue and contribute to the development of alternative, just, and sustainable migration policies for South Africa and the continent. The measure of our commitment will not be our words, but our collective actions to defend the rights of all who call South Africa home.