XENOBAROMETER: Hardline promises on immigration may be impossible for parties to fulfil after elections
Promises to police foreign nationals and restrict spaza-shop ownership dominate campaigns, but legal limits could leave municipalities unable to fulfil them.
Political parties have shifted their rhetoric and promises on immigration enforcement to the right for the 2026 local government elections compared to their campaigns in 2021. Fact-checking firm Ukweli examined 12 parties' election manifestos and found 16 direct immigration-related promises across seven manifestos. However, none of these promises could be fulfilled by a municipal council using only its own powers, as immigration control, visas, asylum, and deportation are solely the responsibility of the national government.
Half of the identified promises were found to be outside the domain of municipal councils, requiring support from other branches of government. Several promises would necessitate collaboration between municipal councils and other government spheres, but this is often complex and unattainable without party influence in national and provincial portfolios.
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