South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appealed for peaceful demonstrations as anti-immigrant groups brace up for protests against “undocumented” migrants on Tuesday.
In a statement on Monday, Ramaphosa warned that protesters
involved in criminal conduct will face the law, noting that while protests
remain a protected right, they do not allow for acts of violence.
The president’s repeated warning comes as protests in South
Africa have ramped up in recent months, with several descending into violence.
The groups allege that migrants have contributed to rising
crime and increased pressure on public services.
However, the president maintained that “some foreign
nationals who live in South Africa are here lawfully.”
“They work, study, raise families, invest in our economy and
contribute positively to our society. They too are entitled to the protection
of our laws and our Constitution,” he added.
Ramaphosa acknowledged the need for immigration reforms and
noted that the government has begun implementing measures in place to
strengthen border management.
He urged South Africans to leave the enforcement of
immigration laws to the authorities rather than taking matters into their own
hands.
“It is vigilantism thinly disguised in the language of
patriotism,” he said.
South African right groups had set June 30 as the deadline
for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
At least two Nigerians have been killed since the xenophobic
protests resurged in South Africa.
So far, two evacuation flights have brought back Nigerians
who volunteered to return home.
The federal ministry of foreign affairs said the
repatriation exercise would be conducted in five flights, with the third batch
expected to arrive on Tuesday.
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