ActionSA president Herman Mashaba has announced that he will embark on a border tour to highlight the challenges posed by porous borders in South Africa. Mashaba said that he will begin with the northern border with Zimbabwe and the Beitbridge border post in Limpopo, which he described as the epicenter of a dysfunctional border management.
Mashaba said that he will engage with communities directly impacted by the failure of the government to secure the country’s territory. He said that he will also visit other South African borders in the coming months to expose the magnitude of the challenge.
Mashaba said that his party adopted a policy that embraces legal immigration for economic growth and prosperity, while insisting on adherence to the country’s immigration laws and procedures. He said that this policy must include securing the borders, which he said are currently vulnerable to illegal immigration, smuggling of counterfeit goods and drugs, human trafficking, livestock theft and poaching.
Mashaba said that he was prompted to go on the border tour after Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi admitted to a parliamentary portfolio committee last year that South Africa has porous borders. Mashaba said that the government has failed to protect the country despite millions of money spent on border fences.
Mashaba invited South Africans to join him for the important tour as he works to free the country from the restraints of a broken political system. He said that he will share his findings and recommendations on how to address the border crisis with the public. He said that he will also challenge the government to take action and account for its negligence.
Why is ActionSA focused on illegal immigration?
Mashaba said that illegal immigration is one of the key issues that his party wants to address, as it affects the country’s economy, security and social cohesion. He said that illegal immigration is placing unsustainable strain on South Africa’s already limited public resources, and excludes individuals from legitimate economic opportunities that would add to the public fiscus.
He said that his party will address illegal immigration through inter-governmental relations, working actively with the Department of Home Affairs, the National Treasury and other relevant government entities to ensure that it is easier for skilled foreign nationals to enter the country legally, or to get protected legal status in order to contribute to the economy and create jobs.
He said that his party will also implement streamlined immigration processes, improved border security, and principled foreign policy to have a significant positive impact on South Africa’s immigration crisis. He said that his party will not place the blame at the door of foreigners, but rather at the feet of the government who have failed to police the borders, document the people entering the country, and deport those who have committed crimes.
He said that his party will learn from the best practices of other countries that have managed to deal with illegal immigration effectively, such as the UK, which recently passed the Illegal Migration Act 2023 to put a stop to illegal migration into the country by removing the incentive to make dangerous small boat crossings and speed up the removal of those with no right to be here.
He said that his party will also consider the root causes of illegal immigration, such as the deteriorating civil rights in the regional neighbours, the climate crisis, and the lack of economic opportunities in the countries of origin. He said that his party will stand up for human rights on the international stage, and assist the refugees and asylum-seekers who seek protection in South Africa.
He said that his party strongly condemns all forms of xenophobia, and believes that diversity is to be celebrated. He said that everyone is welcome to call the country their home and should be free to participate in the economy, but they must do so legally and obey the laws once here.
