President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to deliver a national address outlining the government’s newly approved, comprehensive strategy for managing migration. The announcement comes as anxieties surrounding illegal immigration continue to heavily dominate South African public discourse.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni confirmed on Friday that the Cabinet has officially adopted both a comprehensive approach to migration and the National Action Plan (NAP) on Migration. These frameworks were formulated by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration.
Speaking at a Pretoria media briefing to outline the outcomes of Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, Ntshavheni confirmed the President’s upcoming broadcast. She also issued a stern caution to the public, urging South Africans to refrain from vigilantism or taking law enforcement into their own hands in reaction to illegal immigration.
The newly formalized strategy builds upon several operational and regulatory measures already deployed by the government to tighten border security and manage foreign nationals:
Border Enforcement: The Border Management Authority (BMA), which was established in 2023 to strengthen border control, remains a cornerstone of this effort. The BMA is tasked with executing border law enforcement functions across all land, air, and maritime ports of entry, as well as within designated border law enforcement areas.
Increased Deportations: Despite facing operational capacity constraints, the Department of Home Affairs has successfully increased the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals on a year-on-year basis since 2022.
Historic Policy Reform: A major component of the government’s agenda is the revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, which received Cabinet approval in March 2026. The Department of Home Affairs secured this approval following an extensive public consultation drive spanning all nine provinces, which generated thousands of submissions from stakeholders and the general public. The government has described the revised White Paper as the most substantial overhaul of the country’s citizenship, immigration, and refugee protection framework in a generation. Its primary objectives include eradicating fraud and abuse, bolstering national security, driving economic development, and modernizing service delivery through digital transformation.
Labor Market Quotas: On the economic front, the Department of Employment and Labour has finalized the National Labour Migration Policy. This policy establishes maximum quotas for documented foreign workers and mandates the prosecution of employers found hiring undocumented individuals. Furthermore, the Cabinet has greenlit the Employment Services Amendment Bill for submission to Parliament. Once passed, the legislation will empower the Minister of Employment and Labour to dictate employment quotas for foreign nationals across any economic sector or occupational category.