JOHANNESBURG — The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has called on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and law enforcement authorities to strengthen protections for foreign nationals amid rising tensions over immigration enforcement in parts of the country.
In a statement, the ICJ urged the government to take action against groups such as Operation Dudula and March and March, which have been involved in anti-immigration protests and campaigns targeting undocumented foreign nationals. The organisation described these groups as acting outside the law and warned against what it termed “vigilante enforcement” of immigration rules.
The ICJ emphasized that immigration control and law enforcement are the responsibility of the state, not private citizens or activist movements. It warned that allowing non-state actors to carry out enforcement activities could escalate tensions and lead to further violence.
Human rights advocates have repeatedly raised concerns over rising xenophobic sentiment in South Africa, where foreign nationals have at times faced harassment, displacement, and attacks linked to unemployment pressures and competition for informal economic opportunities.
The ICJ has urged authorities to ensure that immigration laws are applied through formal legal channels, while also protecting the rights and safety of all residents, regardless of nationality.
South African authorities have not yet issued a detailed response to the ICJ statement, but the issue of immigration enforcement and community protests remains a sensitive and politically charged topic in the country.
