ANC Sub-Committee Highlights Community Role in Migration Issues

The African National Congress's (ANC) Peace and Stability Sub-Committee has expressed concern about local communities' contradictory actions vis-a-vis illegal migration. Highlighting this paradox, the Sub-Committee pointed out that while locals often complain about the negative effects of undocumented non-South Africans, some community members are feeding and housing these migrants.

Polly Boshielo, the Sub-Committee chairperson, and Minister of Police Bheki Cele made these remarks on the sidelines of the ANC's national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Boksburg. They asserted the necessity for communities to play a significant role in curbing lawless activities and facilitating effective migration management.

Court battles with NGOs, "convenience marriages" used to gain citizenship, and other immigration-related complications are among the numerous challenges that the government faces in its effort to handle migration issues.

Cele especially noted that local communities often show support for foreign nationals who have been apprehended for illegal activities – only to protest against these individuals' presence in the country the very next day. He insists that communities should consistently support law enforcement and refrain from contradicting themselves.

To solve this urgent issue, Boshielo and Cele are urging communities to align their actions with the government's initiatives to regulate immigration effectively.