“Let Document Illegal Foreigners In South Africa So That We Can Trace Them” Malema Hit Out

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has called for undocumented foreign nationals living in South Africa to be documented, arguing that proper identification would allow authorities to trace individuals when necessary.

Malema said the issue of undocumented migration should be addressed through practical measures rather than simply focusing on deportation. He argued that authorities need accurate information about people living in the country to improve accountability and law enforcement.

“Let’s document undocumented foreigners so that we can trace them,” Malema said, stressing the importance of ensuring that everyone living in South Africa is properly accounted for.

His comments are consistent with his previously stated position that the EFF does not support having undocumented people in South Africa, while advocating for their documentation rather than relying solely on deportation. In 2024, Malema said that everyone in the country should be documented so that authorities could establish their identities and locations if wrongdoing occurred.

The remarks come amid an intensified national debate over immigration, border management and the presence of undocumented foreign nationals in South Africa.

The government has stepped up enforcement against undocumented migration as part of its five-point migration management plan. According to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, more than 4,200 undocumented foreign nationals were intercepted attempting to enter the country outside formal ports of entry between April and July 2026. The government also reported that nearly 90,000 people had been repatriated during the period covered by its September update.

Government has maintained that immigration enforcement must be conducted within the law and with respect for human rights. It has also emphasised that only the Department of Home Affairs can formally determine whether an individual is legally present in South Africa.

Malema’s proposal therefore places documentation at the centre of the broader debate about how South Africa should manage migration, enforce immigration laws and ensure accountability among people residing within its borders.

His comments are likely to keep immigration policy and the treatment of undocumented foreign nationals prominent in the country’s political debate ahead of the local government elections.

Source; https://x.com/i/status/2101591278903349376

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