KAROO NEWS - President Cyril Ramaphosa says police and other security agencies are processing reports and evidence relating to violence against foreign nationals, with further arrests and prosecutions expected.
Ramaphosa was responding to a supplementary question from Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema in Parliament on Tuesday, 25 August, following concerns about violence against African foreign nationals in South Africa.
Malema alleged that, in some instances, people had committed acts of violence in the presence of police officers without being arrested, creating the impression that the attacks were state-sanctioned.
He questioned why those responsible had not been arrested and prosecuted.
Arrests already made
Ramaphosa said the matter was being dealt with by law-enforcement agencies and that arrests had already been made.
“The police have informed us, and all security apparatus have informed us that they are following up on it. They are getting all the reports and evidence,” he said.
The President added that people allegedly involved in leading the violent actions were also of interest to police.
“A number of other people have been arrested, and of course, those others who were seen to be leading these processes are also people who are of interest, of direct interest to the police,” Ramaphosa said.
He said government remained concerned about violence against foreign nationals.
“We are obviously concerned about the actions that have been taken against any Africans in our country,” he said, adding that those who violate the law must be dealt with.
Cases involving injury and death to be pursued
The President said law-enforcement agencies would pursue cases involving violence, including incidents that resulted in injury or death.
He said authorities would follow up on such cases and ensure that those responsible for the violence were held accountable.
Government rejects xenophobia and Afrophobia
The response came amid wider parliamentary questions about the impact of anti-migrant mobilisation on South Africa's relations with other African countries.
Government has repeatedly rejected xenophobia and Afrophobia, maintaining that migration challenges must be addressed within the framework of the law.
Ramaphosa said South Africa's approach was focused on strengthening the state's ability to manage migration, rather than allowing unlawful actions against foreign nationals.
He highlighted reforms aimed at strengthening border management, tackling corruption within the immigration system, improving legal migration pathways and implementing the White Paper on Citizenship, Migration and Refugee Protection.
South Africa calls for regional cooperation
The President also said South Africa had been engaging with other African countries on migration through the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
He argued that migration challenges could not be addressed through unilateral action or by targeting migrants.
At the recent 46th Ordinary SADC Summit hosted by South Africa in eThekwini, migration was placed on the agenda and regional leaders were briefed on developments in the country.
The SADC Summit subsequently called for a coordinated and multidimensional regional dialogue to address the underlying drivers of migration and develop comprehensive, sustainable and effective responses.
Ramaphosa said the approach was necessary to ensure migration was managed through lawful and humane means while addressing the circumstances that cause people to leave their countries. – SAnews.gov.za
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