The government has issued a stern warning against civilian vigilantism and unlawful passport checks, reiterating that state authorities alone enforce immigration law.
Speaking on behalf of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration Management, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi urged South Africans to refrain from taking the law into their own hands amid heightened community tensions around undocumented migration.
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The warning comes as the state rolls out an extensive multi-departmental strategy to address cross-border crime, administrative backlogs, and non-compliant local businesses.
Vigilantism undermines the rule of law
At media briefings on the progress of the government’s Five-Point Plan on Migration Management, Minister Kubayi highlighted growing concerns about organised groups and individuals conducting illegal identity checks in public spaces and workplaces.
While acknowledging the public’s frustrations over public service strain and economic pressures, the Minister emphasised that constitutional rights to peaceful protest do not extend to private citizens assuming statutory policing powers.
“Only the state has the responsibility to enforce immigration laws and no one else,” Minister Kubayi stated, encouraging citizens to report suspected illegal activity to law enforcement rather than intervening directly.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Employment and Labour have similarly warned that unauthorised inspections disrupt formal investigations and risk sparking xenophobic violence.
IMMIGRATION CONTROL | Inter-Ministerial Committee Chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi says immigration matters should be left to government. pic.twitter.com/bMFWgFtpLU
— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 8, 2026
Over 350,000 workplace and commercial inspections conducted
Demonstrating the state’s multidisciplinary push to enforce compliance through official channels, the government reported that multidisciplinary teams have conducted over 350,000 inspections across factories, spaza shops, and corporate sectors.
The crackdown has targeted illegal border crossings, labour exploitation, fraudulent identity documentation, and human trafficking networks. To date, operations under the IMC framework have registered 205 criminal cases, resulting in 354 arrests and 123 active cases placed on court rolls nationwide.
Additionally, the Department of Transport and local municipalities have moved to tighten regulatory loopholes. As of 4 September 2026, all dormant Traffic Register Numbers that could not be verified were officially cancelled to curb fraud in vehicle licensing and commercial transport operations.
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Home Affairs ramps up inspectorate capacity and deportations
At the operational core of the state’s response, Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has overseen significant structural adjustments within the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) inspectorate. Parliamentary data confirms that the DHA has advertised 301 additional Immigration Inspector posts to strengthen field investigations and compliance tracking.
Official figures presented to Parliament show that the department spent R175.1 million to deport 111,464 foreign nationals over the past two financial years, averaging approximately R1,571 per deportation.
Key policy and infrastructure milestones
Alongside physical deportations, Minister Schreiber highlighted key policy and infrastructure milestones designed to digitise border security:
- Border Post Modernisation: A R12.5 billion infrastructure investment to upgrade major land ports of entry, including Beitbridge, Lebombo, and Maseru Bridge.
- Biometric Verification: The rollout of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system utilising machine learning and biometric identification to eliminate visa fraud.
- Refugee Appeals Backlog: Reducing the active Refugee Appeals Authority caseload from nearly 80,000 cases to streamline legitimate asylum processing.
Balancing constitutional mandates with public safety
As cabinet ministers and provincial leaders navigate the complex social dynamics of migration in South Africa, the state maintains that sustainable solutions rely on institutional efficiency rather than illegal street actions.
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