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IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Anti-migrant politics escalate as ActionSA seeks to change Constitution
Analysts say political parties hoping to score points with anti-migrant sentiment ahead of 2026 local elections are going to be disappointed. Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers As the 2026 local elections draw nearer, political analysts expect a rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric - but caution that parties banking on such sentiment may face disappointment. This follows ActionSA's submission of a series of proposed constitutional amendments aimed at tightening provisions the party says have been exploited, contributing to South Africa's immigration crisis. The party claims that existing constitutional clauses have enabled abuse of limited public resources, particularly in housing, healthcare and education. ActionSA's parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, said the proposals were intended to guide Parliament's Joint Constitutional Review Committee, while still upholding the Constitution's core principles. 'Our proposed amendments recognise the noble aims of the Constitution as a living document,' said Trollip. 'But we must also prioritise protecting the rights of genuine residents and close off interpretations that inadvertently enable abuse.' A key focus is amending the Preamble of the Constitution. Trollip argued that the phrase 'South Africa belongs to all who live in it' has been misinterpreted to extend protections to undocumented migrants. 'This misreading has placed undue pressure on public resources and compromised the government's responsibility to prioritise the needs of South Africans,' he said. 'A careful revision is needed to reaffirm the original intent without undermining the inclusive spirit of the Constitution.' ActionSA also wants to amend Section 26 of the Bill of Rights to limit the state's obligation to provide Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA) to South African citizens and those lawfully present in the country. 'The current universal application of Section 26 has led to unintended consequences,' Trollip said. 'Municipalities are forced to divert scarce housing and emergency accommodation resources to individuals who are not lawfully present.' Similar revisions are being proposed for Section 27 (healthcare) and Section 29 (education), citing strained public services. Trollip noted that clinics in Johannesburg have reported over 70% of patient files belonging to foreign nationals, and schools face court-ordered enrollments that strain limited capacity. Meanwhile, political analyst Siyabonga Ntombela from the University of KwaZulu-Natal told IOL News that while the proposals reflect real public concerns, they are unlikely to shift electoral dynamics significantly. 'South African politics often revolves around personalities and party loyalty, not policy,' Ntombela said. 'This move by ActionSA may be warranted, but it's unlikely to sway voters dramatically. Local government elections will likely mirror previous general election outcomes.' He added that although the proposals might raise concerns among NGOs, they are unlikely to provoke a hostile international reaction since no evictions or forced removals are being proposed. However, Ntombela acknowledged that the amendments could exacerbate existing social tensions. 'Of course, they will deepen political and social divides, but they're not likely to spark xenophobic violence if handled constitutionally by the government,' he said. He pointed to a wave of public protests and political scrutiny, such as KZN Premier Thami Ntuli's recent factory visits targeting illegal employment of immigrants, as signs of mounting public pressure. 'This is a national imperative that should be handled with care and humility,' Ntombela said. 'Any party thinking this will automatically win them votes is doing it for the wrong reasons.'
The Star
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
ActionSA threatens to take action on Lily Mine tragedy to recover the remains of three victims
After years of inaction, ActionSA demands the retrieval of three miners' bodies, emphasising government accountability in a long-running tragedy. After nine years of government inaction, ActionSA has delivered a firm ultimatum to Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe: 'Retrieve the bodies of the three Lily Mine workers buried since 2016 within 60 days – or the party will take on the mission themselves.' ActionSA Chief Whip Athol Trollip has written to Mantashe, renewing the party's years-long call for the retrieval of the bodies of Solomon Nyirenda, Pretty Mkambule, and Yvonne Mnisi, in line with the minister's latest undertakings. In a letter dated May 8, Trollip voiced his frustration over continued delays, reminding the minister that he had recently assured both him and party president Herman Mashaba during a meeting at the Inanda Club that the retrieval of the miners' remains was "imminent." Trollip questioned this promise, asking what 'imminent' truly means, given that nearly nine years have already passed. He also mentioned that ActionSA has obtained permission from the Business Rescue Practitioners to enter the mine and collaborate with qualified rescue specialists to develop proposals and quotations for the retrieval of the container containing the victims' remains. 'We are prepared to give the minister 60 days to honour his promise. Should he fail to do so, ActionSA will have no choice but to proceed independently. Such a failure would further expose the government's continued insensitivity towards the plight of poor South Africans, particularly black citizens. 'Minister Mantashe has, on numerous occasions, promised that his department would facilitate the retrieval of the bodies. These undertakings have consistently been communicated to the affected families, who continue to wait in anguish.' Last year, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba suggested that the party might pursue legal action once again to secure the retrieval of the bodies from Lily Mine. At an event in Barberton, Mpumalanga, held in 2024 to commemorate the deaths of the three mine workers, Mashaba revealed that he had sought legal advice on the next course of action against the mine. 'Of course, I can't reveal at this stage what our next step is. However, I have been speaking to the lawyers and we will be in a position to announce what legal steps we will be taking in the next few days,' Mashaba said.
