The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration held a briefing on 14 June detailing enforcement actions following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s five-point plan on illegal immigration. Over 2,745 foreign nationals have been repatriated so far. The government warned against vigilantism as anti-migrant groups set a 30 June deadline for undocumented migrants to leave.
The briefing, chaired by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, outlined progress on zero tolerance for immigration violations, border security and anti-corruption measures. In the past month police arrested more than 7,400 people for immigration breaches, with over 40,000 arrests recorded since 1 January 2026.
Kubayi confirmed that South Africa will not establish refugee camps. In Durban, officials processed 1,140 of an estimated 7,000 Malawians seeking repatriation in Sherwood, while 457 people gathered at Che Guevara Street offices, most of whom held legal status. Eight buses from Malawi and ten from South Africa are transporting citizens home.
March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said the briefing offered no new solutions for tracing expired permits. The committee reiterated that only the state may enforce immigration laws and urged communities to reject vigilantism.
