Limpopo Premier, Dr. Fofie Ramatuba, called on community members to stop providing illegal housing and to assist law enforcement in combating crime. She blamed South African citizens for allowing undocumented foreigners to reside in the province by renting out rooms in backyards and providing unauthorized accommodation.
These statements were made by Ramatuba on Friday morning during a press briefing held after an operation targeting illegal immigrants in Polokwane. Present at the briefing were the acting Provincial Police Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Jan Schapers, representatives from the Department of Home Affairs, and staff from the Department of Health.
The Premier's comments came amid growing protests against illegal immigration across the country, during which some groups demanded the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals from South Africa. Ramatuba stated that the province would focus on addressing its own issues and would expand operational activities in rural areas.
She emphasized that authorities would engage with traditional leaders in rural settlements to address issues related to the residence of unregistered people in villages. Ramatuba noted the necessity of holding meetings and dialogues with these leaders to ascertain who is living in the village without official recognition.
The Premier accused some South African citizens of providing housing to illegal immigrants while simultaneously benefiting from state housing under the RDP programme. She stated: 'I can tell you that the people who facilitate criminal activity by hiding criminals in their backyards are our own citizens of African descent.' She cited an example where RDP housing was given to a family, but instead of improving the children's lives, additional rooms were built in the backyard, with illegal connections to electricity and water to accommodate illegal immigrants.
Ramatuba confirmed the arrest of 339 suspects during the operation, including an individual suspected of murder and several individuals accused of house burglaries. She reported that one of the arrested individuals was a 'hard criminal sought for murder and a series of house robberies across the province,' and he resided in a backyard room provided by a South African citizen.
The Premier criticized South African citizens who participate in anti-immigration protests while themselves allowing illegal people to remain in the country. She pointed out that such citizens might oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa's actions while ignoring the fact that they themselves are harboring individuals sought by law enforcement.
The operation involved 478 raids, leading to 339 arrests. Additionally, non-compliant spaza shops were shut down, and some owners were arrested. Ramatuba also expressed concern over the illegal tobacco trade, which, she said, harms the economy and leads to job losses because it is supported by South African citizens.
The Premier urged communities to report any criminal activity, assuring that operations would continue throughout the province. She also suggested that some organizers of anti-immigration protests receive 'protection payments' from undocumented foreigners so that they avoid attacks on their homes or businesses.
Ramatuba strongly stressed that foreigners entering South Africa are obliged to comply with immigration laws and possess proper documentation. She added that illegal immigration has placed a strain on public services, including healthcare, as authorities often did not know the status of people seeking assistance.
Lieutenant General Schapers stated that the operation would be expanded to other Limpopo districts. He acknowledged the constitutional right of citizens to protest but strongly urged that these demonstrations take place within the law. Schapers stated that staying in the country without proper documents is illegal, and that their mandate is active, and they will 'leave no stone unturned.' He concluded by emphasizing the seriousness of intentions regarding the safety and economic growth of the Limpopo province.
The decision to stay in South Africa has become extremely risky for many migrants due to growing political hostility and a changing legal landscape, creating an atmosphere of intense fear and uncertainty.
Pressure has reached a critical point with the emergence of the 'March and March' movement—a nationwide campaign against immigrants that has set an unofficial deadline of June 30, 2026, for all undocumented foreigners to leave.
One anonymous 28-year-old citizen from Zambia spoke about the support she received during recent unrest. When the June 30th closure occurred, her South African neighbor hid her children in her home while protesters marched through their neighborhood. For her, this act represents the 'real South Africa,' which strongly contrasts with the aggressive images of protesters often shown on television.
She also noted that while politicians may blame migrants for economic problems, such as job shortages, the people they interact with in daily life truly understand their character. A 34-year-old citizen from Zimbabwe, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that returning home is impossible for him because there are no employment opportunities there, and he came here seeking a better life.
He emphasized that his attempts to legalize his status did not receive proper assistance from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). He also stated that crime should not be attributed to any specific nationality.
For those who have decided to stay, the situation is not just a fight against bureaucracy, but a struggle for survival against coordinated efforts aimed at making their existence impossible. However, the current climate has allowed some employers to exploit xenophobic sentiments, leading to reports of unfair dismissals and illegal 'pseudo-layoffs' among migrant workers.
A 30-year-old citizen from Mozambique, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated: 'I am not a criminal, and I am not depriving anyone of a livelihood.' She clarified that her only 'crime' is selling vegetables to support her family back home. She vowed to stay at all costs until her status is legalized, claiming that assistance from the Department of Home Affairs is unavailable.
She also dispelled the common misconception that they arrived without any documents, which is untrue. An anonymous 40-year-old citizen from Zimbabwe noted that people perceive them as criminals but ignore the thousands of rands they spend maintaining legal documentation in a fundamentally flawed system. He added that the Department of Home Affairs suffers from terrible queues and even more serious corruption, and that being undocumented is not a choice, but a consequence of the system itself. Nevertheless, his life has taken root here, and he intends to stay, even if it means living in the shadows.
Ultimately, belonging is not a piece of paper issued by the government; it is an act of sheer will. Migrants who have chosen to stay are redefining the very fabric of the communities in which they live, proving that home is built not where you started, but where you stand your ground.
While political discussions and border debates continue within echo chambers, these people quietly continue their lives, embodying their beliefs in the schools, workplaces, and streets of the country they have come to call home.
In connection with the illegal immigration crisis in South Africa, which involves the relocation of repatriated foreign nationals to the Old Drive-In site in Durban under heavy guard, the article's author argues that employers who exploited these unregistered migrants bear significant responsibility for the situation.
The discussion about illegal immigration initially revealed deep class divisions. A large part of the activism appears to be a struggle between the lower classes and those who criticize them from a position of comfort. Although many middle-class commentators condemn anti-immigration movements, they often ignore the reasons why many poor residents of South Africa feel more indignation about this issue.
For many low-income communities, the consequences of illegal immigration are not an abstract political discussion but an integral part of daily life. Years of poverty have already created complex conditions for them: children are forced to compete for limited spots in overcrowded public schools, and people queue before dawn at clinics and public hospitals hoping to receive medical care due to facility overload and lack of resources.
Many unregistered migrants settle in informal settlements where rent is lower. In some cases, temporary structures are illegally built on floodplains or abandoned private land, increasing safety risks and further straining the already fragile infrastructure. Illegal connections to the power grid lead to network overload, forcing municipalities to impose load restrictions to prevent transformer explosions. Poor sanitary conditions and insufficient hygiene facilities create serious public health threats that residents face daily.
It is easier to dismiss these frustrations when living in a suburb isolated from such realities and discussing migration over coffee and croissants at a local cafe. However, one must ask who has benefited most from illegal immigration.
For decades, many households, both Black and middle-class white, relied on unregistered migrants as cheap labor. Domestic workers, gardeners, and factory workers often received pay significantly below the legally established minimum wage. Some earned only around 1,500 rand per month, sending part of their earnings home through money transfer services like Mpesa. Their unregistered status made them vulnerable, preventing them from demanding better working conditions or higher wages for fear of deportation.
The irony became particularly evident when citizens from Malawi were discovered in Sherwood. Many self-proclaimed defenders of justice criticized activists opposing illegal immigration, yet they overlooked the unpleasant truth that many of these migrants worked in homes and businesses as low-paid laborers.
When authorities began moving unregistered migrants to the Durban Drive-In site to facilitate repatriation, the police warned that hiring or sheltering undocumented foreigners is illegal and can result in fines of up to 10,000 rand. Nevertheless, some employers refused to release workers because they continued to depend on their labor.
Perhaps the clearest example of this contradiction was the incident after the June 30th protest marches, when some employers, according to reports, drove to the now-disbanded Durban Drive-In repatriation center and left their domestic workers there in the middle of winter. After years of benefiting from their labor, they simply discarded them and left.
These same employers easily condemn government failures while ignoring their own role in undermining labor legislation. Exploiting unregistered workers, underpaying domestic staff, and creating an illegal labor market are not harmless acts. They are offenses that perpetuate exploitation and depress wages for everyone.
Giving out blankets and soup bowls after years of using illegal hiring is not charity. It is a show of sympathy that does little to eliminate the exploitation that necessitated such gestures in the first place.
Debates on migration in South Africa will remain incomplete as long as the focus is solely on undocumented migrants or on government failures. Those who knowingly hire unregistered workers, ignore labor laws, and profit from exploitation must also be held accountable. They are not bystanders in this crisis; they are active participants.
If the country is serious about solving the illegal immigration problem, accountability must extend beyond borders. It must include employers who support the underground labor market while blaming others for the existence of this problem. Until this happens, the discussion will continue to overlook one of the most significant factors of the problem—the middle class.
