President Cyril Ramaphosa condemns KZN violence targeting foreign nationals

President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a strong condemnation of the violence targeting foreign nationals in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). He emphasized that the government will not stand idly by as those involved in illegal activities are arrested, and those responsible for maintaining stability have been deployed. The army has been involved in supporting the police efforts, particularly in the aftermath of anti-immigration protests and incidents of violence in Durban.

These disturbances have been connected to misinformation surrounding a recent Constitutional Court judgment on the Refugee Act.

Ramaphosa outlined the government's commitment to addressing immigration issues through a proposed program and urged South Africans to refrain from engaging in illegal actions against foreign nationals. The president stressed that the state is the sole entity empowered to deal with illegal immigration, and emphasized that individuals should not assume the responsibilities of law enforcement agencies. He also cautioned against individuals attempting to take over the roles of the police or state authorities.

Addressing the broader issue, Ramaphosa called on residents to avoid participating in actions targeting foreign nationals, reiterating that the government would not tolerate unlawful acts. He stressed that all individuals, both South Africans and foreigners, have rights under the law, and those involved in illegal activities will continue to face arrest. The president urged South Africans to respect the rights of others and to allow law enforcement agencies to enforce the law, discouraging any form of vigilante justice.