The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) has issued a measured response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent address on immigration and xenophobic unrest, with MP Steve Swart stressing that newly announced measures must be rapidly implemented to prevent further instability.
While welcoming several of the president’s proposals, Swart questioned why comparable strategies were not deployed years earlier. He pointed to the 2008 xenophobic outbreaks, which triggered a national action plan that, in his assessment, failed to produce timely results. “Implementation is going to be critical,” Swart noted, emphasizing that policy announcements must be matched by consistent execution on the ground.
Border security remains a central concern for the party. Swart acknowledged recent operational successes by the Border Management Authority, which reportedly intercepted approximately 450,000 unauthorized entry attempts over the past twelve months. He also recognized that internal corruption at the Department of Home Affairs is currently under review, but cautioned that sustained institutional oversight will be necessary to secure South Africa’s immigration framework.
A significant portion of Swart’s response focused on diplomatic outreach to neighboring states. He argued that previous foreign policy approaches, particularly those tied to Zimbabwe’s economic collapse, inadvertently drove hundreds of thousands to seek refuge and employment in South Africa. By prioritizing regional stability, security cooperation, and economic development, he suggested, neighboring governments could create conditions that allow citizens to remain and work within their own borders.
Grounded in the party’s Christian values, Swart emphasized that all individuals deserve humane treatment and dignity, regardless of their immigration status. At the same time, he maintained that undocumented residents must be processed according to South African law and repatriated where appropriate. He also proposed that foreign nationals currently incarcerated in South African facilities should, where feasible, be transferred to serve their sentences in their home countries.
Addressing the socioeconomic drivers of public frustration, Swart acknowledged the severe unemployment and poverty affecting many South Africans. He referenced growing concerns over foreign ownership of local retail outlets, including spaza shops, and stated that such businesses should ideally be operated by South Africans to help alleviate domestic economic pressures.
Swart issued a firm condemnation of xenophobic violence and called for robust police intervention to protect foreign nationals. Simultaneously, he urged authorities to pursue individuals who incite hatred or orchestrate attacks, ensuring that both perpetrators and agitators face legal consequences. “We need to be active in our societies so that illegal immigrants are dealt with by the law,” he said, while stressing that law enforcement must also shield vulnerable communities from retaliation.
Looking ahead, Swart affirmed the ACDP’s willingness to work constructively with the government to roll out the newly announced immigration measures. He cautioned that the issue remains highly volatile and mishandling it could result in further fatalities among both South Africans and migrants. “It’s a very delicate situation,” he concluded, underscoring the need for balanced, law-based solutions that prioritize national stability and human dignity.