The Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign has urged government to take stronger action to protect migrant communities, saying its response to recent incidents of violence and intimidation remains inadequate.
The call follows a meeting on Thursday between the civil society coalition, which represents more than 160 organisations, and a government delegation comprising the Departments of Justice and Constitutional Development, Home Affairs, Education, Defence and Military Veterans, and Employment and Labour.
The campaign is set to take its concerns to the streets on Saturday, with a protest planned outside Parliament against what it describes as a recent wave of violence, intimidation and injustice targeting foreign nationals.
The campaign said it had called for an urgent humanitarian response for people displaced by violence, including access to shelter, food and water, as well as a crackdown on those responsible for organising and inciting attacks on migrant communities.
“It is disgraceful that in our country African citizens are being dehumanised, attacked, assaulted and intimidated,” said Siyafana Sonke activist Mametlwe Sebei. “Government must make public its measures to stop the vigilante violence and provide the necessary support for affected people.”
The coalition welcomed government’s commitment to a follow-up meeting but said it expects concrete action before then. It also disputed government’s position that some migrants were voluntarily returning to their home countries, arguing that many were leaving because they feared for their safety.
Government reiterated its opposition to unlawful vigilante action and said immigration laws would continue to be enforced.
The developments come ahead of the planned 30 June anti-illegal immigration protests. President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured the country that security forces are prepared to maintain law and order, while the Department of Home Affairs has maintained that most undocumented foreign nationals entered South Africa legally before overstaying their visas or permits.
Meanwhile, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) has warned that employees participating in the planned shutdown could face disciplinary action, saying the protest is not protected under the Labour Relations Act.
Photo: Screenshot
