07/06/2026
07 June 2026
News Updates
SOUTH AFRICA | President Cyril Ramaphosa will tonight address the nation from the Union Buildings in Pretoria at 18h00, in a highly anticipated address focused on South Africa's escalating migration crisis.
The Presidency confirmed the address in a statement issued Sunday morning, saying the President will outline the government's new plan for managing the migration crisis.
Ramaphosa is expected to provide details on a National Action Plan on migration, developed by an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, which was approved by Cabinet last week.
Anti-foreigner protests have spread across the country in recent days, with flare-ups reported in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. Earlier this month, Ramaphosa pledged a tougher government response to migration issues while cautioning against xenophobia and vigilantism during the Presidency Budget Vote in Parliament.
Anti-immigration activists and groups, including March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese and Nkosikhona Ndabandaba, known as Phakelumthakathi, as well as political parties such as ActionSA, have been escalating pressure against illegal immigration, holding marches in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg. Locals have accused foreign nationals of taking jobs and competing for scarce basic services such as healthcare and education.
The anti-migrant group March and March has set a hard deadline of 30 June for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing on Friday, said Cabinet had received and approved a comprehensive approach to managing migration in South Africa and had also approved the National Action Plan. She stressed that no shutdown of the country would be permitted.
Ntshavheni acknowledged citizens' constitutional right to protest, but warned against unlawful actions, saying: "There will never be another shutdown of this country, there will never be another destabilisation of this country."
Security structures are also reportedly discussing proposals to prevent further unrest linked to undocumented migrants, including investigations into individuals regarded as instigators. The Department of Correctional Services is additionally considering the deportation of qualifying foreign prison inmates to their home countries.
SABC will provide a broadcast feed to all media, and PresidencyZA will live stream the proceedings across various digital platforms.
