Gauteng Premier Lesufi Calls For Tougher Measures On Undocumented Foreigners

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has called for stricter enforcement of immigration laws, saying the period of leniency toward undocumented foreign nationals in South Africa should come to an end.

Speaking at the ANC Gauteng lekgotla held at the Indaba Hotel in Fourways on Saturday, Lesufi said that undocumented migration may be contributing to pressures on public services, including health care and law enforcement.

He referenced a recent visit to the Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve, where he noted that many residents did not have official documentation. Said Lesufi:

I know it may create problems, but comrades, we must be very firm now. We can’t have an informal settlement where over 65% of its citizens are undocumented foreign citizens. It must come to an end.

Lesufi said that South Africa’s stance on undocumented migration should not cast doubt on the country’s values, adding that no nation openly accepts people without proper documentation. He said:

You have people [and] you don’t know who they are, where they come from, where they sleep, what they do and they are in our country doing as they wish.

That period of honeymoon must come to an end. You [must] document yourself or you [must] leave us in peace.

Everyone knows our ubuntu, but our ubuntu cannot be abused.

He also suggested that undocumented foreign nationals may be contributing to crime in the country, stating, “We can’t surrender our country to criminals.”

Lesufi added that he had discussed the issue of undocumented migration with President Cyril Ramaphosa. He said:

If we can’t formally decide on how best we manage this situation, we must forget about everything we want to do.

Our hospitals are overflowing. South Africans are expected to come with an ID document to identify themselves, [illegal foreigners] don’t have to identify themselves, but they expect to be serviced.

More: The Citizen

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