Cyril Ramaphosa warns against lawlessness and vigilante immigration enforcement

President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a stern warning against violence, looting, and intimidation following recent attacks on businesses and incidents of lawlessness in eThekwini, Durban. Addressing the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the President emphasized that economic prosperity and investor confidence depend on social stability, noting that business cannot flourish in environments characterized by fear and division.

Ramaphosa specifically addressed growing tensions regarding illegal immigration, stating that the responsibility for enforcing immigration laws rests solely with the government and its law enforcement agencies. He cautioned citizens against taking the law into their own hands or harassing foreign nationals over their documentation status, asserting that illegal immigration cannot be used as a pretext for criminal activity or unlawful confrontation.