The Cape Town Anglican Diocese has called for an urgent dialogue regarding the growing tension associated with foreign migrants. This initiative followed the sight of thousands of undocumented Zimbabwean citizens in an open field near Langa railway station in Epping, Cape Town, earlier this month.
Both Medical Workers Against Xenophobia and the Cape Town Anglican Diocese have expressed concern over the treatment of foreign migrants, urging the church to initiate a dialogue to identify the root causes of these disagreements.
This close scrutiny of migrant treatment comes against the backdrop of the Interdepartmental Committee (IMC) on Migration announcing that it is actively strengthening immigration control while simultaneously tightening border and migration management systems.
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, and Chairman of the IMC, Mmamoloko Kubayi, stated on Sunday that as of the end of the working day on July 11, 2026, 53,449 foreign nationals had been processed.
Medical Workers Against Xenophobia, supported by 30 local organizations, stated in their submission that the excessive focus on the 'June 30th' deadline triggered a public health emergency.
They noted that 'the illegal period lasted for weeks before government intervention. Then people were processed at a rate that exceeded the government's own capacity to provide shelter, food, water, sanitation, and continuous medical care.' They added that 'their eviction does not solve the crisis nor fulfill the government's constitutional obligations to those who were processed or to those who remained. The risk was predictable.'
Medical Workers Against Xenophobia emphasized that despite assurances that centers are managed according to law and state humanitarian obligations, 'there is little evidence to support this.' They pointed out that 'overcrowding and inadequate sanitation in Musina and other locations create conditions for disease transmission, putting infants, pregnant women, and the elderly at increased risk of hypothermia and respiratory illnesses.' Furthermore, they noted that 'the psychological impact of displacement, family separation, and violence is deep and lasting and is absorbed by already overburdened public health services.'
These groups call on the government to take all lawful measures consistent with South Africa's constitutional values and international human rights obligations to protect affected individuals.
The Cape Town Anglican Diocese also condemned 'hate speech, vigilantism, violent attacks, and looting' directed against foreign migrants. Archbishop Thabo McGoba, speaking at the diocesan synod, stated that migrants are becoming scapegoats due to 'justified anger' over the crime crisis, unemployment, and service delivery failures in South Africa.
He called for dialogue with leaders of the March and Operation Dudula-Western Cape movements to find the root causes of the tension and solutions to the current crisis. The Church reported that many diocesan members from other parts of Africa are praying devoutly in their parishes.
McGoba suggested that church communities should act 'to utilize both the skills of migrants and the pressing need of our people for work to create mutually beneficial scenarios for both sides.'
Acting Minister of Police Firoz Chachalia stated that South Africa must engage in dialogue with other nations about migration, adding that foreign nationals must be in the country legally. He noted that the current situation is a bilateral problem because 'there is a lot of disinformation and inflammatory rhetoric directed at this government.'
Chachalia stressed the need to 'have a respectful conversation with our partners, with our brotherly countries on the African continent, about the conditions of migration into the sovereign territory of South Africa.' He also stated that South Africa, being the last country on the continent to achieve independence, is committed to Pan-African unity as the sovereign territory of the South African people.
Furthermore, Chachalia defended the expenditure of over 600 million spent on police operations during the June 30 protests, arguing that these costs were necessary to prevent a recurrence of violent unrest. He clarified that the South African Police Service (SAPS) budget initially includes provisions for emergency response and special operations, and that 'no new money was allocated. We were able to respond from the existing budget.'
During a recent visit to the University of South Africa (Unisa), Deputy Minister of Higher Education Yusuf Kassim emphasized the urgent need for renewed collaboration between funding bodies and higher education institutions to alleviate growing financial pressure in the sector.
This oversight visit was initiated due to student concerns regarding the timely disbursement of funds from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). This reinforced calls for open dialogue instead of mutual accusations. Kassim stated that they arrived to listen to and address the issues raised by students through existing institutional channels, viewing this interaction as an important step toward transparent communication and developing effective solutions.
Unisa's Chief Financial Officer, Liana Jobert, presented information on the university's financial challenges. She reported a projected deficit of 106 million rand for 2025. This followed the university paying out 907 million rand to ensure timely student access to learning materials, having received only 733 million rand in funding earlier this year. Jobert insisted on the need for 'in-depth study in audit committees' and a critical reassessment of funding policies.
Jobert pointed out a significant policy gap between the funding for distance learning and traditional contact universities. She noted that Unisa students receive an average stipend of 9,000 rand, which sharply contrasts with the 48,000 rand provided to students attending conventional universities. According to her, the average per-student stipend of 316 rand is insufficient compared to other social support benchmarks. Rather than blaming NSFAS, Jobert stressed the importance of cooperation: 'We are interested in close engagement with them to synchronize payments. We can only disburse funds after receiving them.'
Expressing gratitude for the constructive relationship between the University Students' Representative Council and management, she cited this example of cooperation as a positive model of how stakeholder interaction can yield positive results, allowing students to register for additional modules even with funding delays. Jobert strongly urged the Department of Higher Education and Training to conduct a comprehensive cost analysis reflecting the national shift to distance learning to align funding models with current modes of study.
An NSFAS representative acknowledged that the financial pressure at Unisa is not unique, confirming the necessity of continuous engagement with various stakeholders, including student unions and the Treasury, to secure additional financial support. He noted that their priority was ensuring student support. To maintain momentum in resolving these issues, Kassim handed the acting Vice-Chancellor Matabo Nkgene-Mgingi a folder containing approximately 100 student complaints collected through the ministry's helpline. These complaints concerned issues such as delays in personal allowance payments and delays in scholarship distribution. This was presented not as a reproach, but as a constructive step toward transforming common problems into coordinated action in collaboration with NSFAS and university management.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdel Atti, held a phone conversation with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Antonio Tajani, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
During the conversation, the sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and reviewed regional issues of mutual interest. Abdel Atti highly praised the growing momentum in bilateral ties, emphasizing Egypt's desire to expand cooperation to broader horizons in various fields.
Particular attention was paid to the economic, investment, and trade sectors, as both sides are interested in increasing trade turnover and achieving common goals. Furthermore, the ministers exchanged views on recent news regarding the negotiation process between the US and Iran.
They particularly noted the importance of utilizing the positive dynamic that emerged after signing the memorandum of understanding. This is necessary to create sustainable conditions that promote regional calm, security, and stability, as well as ensure freedom of navigation in accordance with international law.
