05-05-2025
Why are authorities failing to stop influx?
JOHANNESBURG - Lack of political will and making noise only when it's politically opportunistic for some leaders is the reason South Africa is still bearing the brunt of an influx of undocumented migrants.
This is the view of eNCA viewers who have participated in The South African Morning question on Monday. We asked: "Why are authorities failing to stop the influx of undocumented migrants?
The debate has been sparked by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi's call for foreign nationals to get documented or leave the country.
"There's a difference between 'failing to' and 'not wanting to'. The authorities are not failing to stop the influx of undocumented migrants into the country;" said Theo-Dixie Silaule on the eNCAnews Facebook page.
He added: "They just don't want to stop it. If indeed they wanted to stop it, they would have stopped it a long time ago by doing what needs to be done".
"Authorities, including border management, police, and the military, are completely ineffective because they are not held to account in performing their duties. Further, this situation is also ideal for corruption and bribery. Those undocumented foreigners are being allowed to enter and stay by bribing officials," says Walter Trevisan.
@DylonGStains was scathing on X, accusing some authorities of benefiting from uncontrolled migration.
"Because failure serves someone. Cheap labour, political leverage, and broken borders all benefit those in power," he says.
Some believe talking about borders is ill-informed because they're so porous they might as well be non-existent.
"South Africa's borders are basically suggestion lines - cross if you feel like it. After 30 years of ANC corruption, even the guards are undocumented," says @Markosonke1.
@NNMampane1 added his view:
"Labour migration is a global challenge, but the South African crisis is fuelled by employers who exploit these workers by paying poverty wages. @deptoflabour, @HomeAffairsSA, @DIRCO_ZA, @DLRRD_za must deal with the scourge of illegal immigrants" .
And @versemileage put the blame on the media for only covering the scourge of undocumented immigrants only when something bad has happened.
"Wait, wait: the media is interested NOW in the tsunami of undocumented migrants which started 30 years ago?" says @versemileage.
Facebook
But viewers also urged citizens to take part in the responsibility for what has become the national headache.
"The big problem is that we civilians give them places to rent, we give them jobs. If we deny them those things, then problem solved," says Rudejoi Mpetsana on Facebook.
Lesufi decried the fact that around 65 percent of Marry Me informal settlement occupants in Soshanguve are undocumented migrants.
He was addressing the Gauteng African National Congress Lekgotla over the weekend in his capacity as Provincial Task Team co-convener.
