Mbalula warns against chaos as calls for illegal immigrant self-deportation rise

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula warns against chaos and highlights past unrest as a cautionary tale.

Image: Itumeleng English / ANA Studio

With the country headed for a series of protests calling for illegal immigrants to leave South Africa by Tuesday, June 30, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has issued a stark warning to those advocating for the destabilisation of the country.

Addressing the media on Thursday following the party's National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, Mbalula emphasised the need for faith in the lawful processes facilitated by the Border Management Authority (BMA) and the Department of Home Affairs.

This call for calm comes as civic organisations, including March and March, intensify their campaigns, urging illegal immigrants to self-deport before a looming deadline of June 30.

Mbalula, however, cautioned against the dangers of inflaming the current climate, pointing to the potential risks of igniting chaos akin to what South Africa experienced during the July 2021 unrest.

According to the BMA, over the past five days alone, more than 12,000 individuals — comprising 9,000 Malawians and 3,000 Zimbabweans — have been repatriated or deported through the Beitbridge Border Post.

Mbalula highlighted the seriousness of the situation, declaring: "What is currently happening on our streets is not immigration. We have seen this architecture before… our country was dragged to the brink by a coordinated effort dressed up as a grievance."

He added that the events unfolding now bear "the same fingerprints."

In a pointed criticism, Mbalula accused former president Jacob Zuma of negligence during his presidency, implying that he failed to manage the issue of illegal immigration effectively.

"Jacob Zuma was the president of this country when illegal immigration happened. He is now calling for people to leave... Zuma is irresponsible. He is promoting violence with ‘Mabahambe’; he is fuelling violence against fellow Africans," Mbalula stated, further amplifying the divide between current leadership and past administration policies.

As government continues to ramp up security measures ahead of the June 30 deadline calling for illegal immigrants to self-depart, ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula has sounded a warning against violence.

Image: Doctor Ngcobo / ANA Studio

Mbalula further accused those calling for illegal immigrants to leave of stoking hatred against fellow Africans.

He said: "In stoking hatred for the African foreigner, you have turned your back on the very same Freedom Charter you claim to honour. The Charter that declares the country belongs to all those who live in it."

When it comes to the ownership of the spaza shop economy, Mbalula argued that it is South Africans who have given up this sector of the economy, as they continue to hire out their properties to the so-called foreigners.

"Now, we know of the collapse of small spaza shops in the townships. They say, "No, South Africans don't want to do this job of cutting hair, small traders here and there. South Africans allow illegal foreigners to take up their jobs."

Mbalula reiterated the government's stance on the treatment of deportees, stating: "We do not operate refugee camps and have no intention of creating them," emphasising a commitment to ensuring that all individuals returning home do so with dignity and safety.