South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to a “firm but fair” approach to migration management, stressing that the voluntary repatriation of undocumented foreign nationals remains a key component of the country’s immigration policy.

Ramaphosa’s remarks come as South Africa intensifies immigration enforcement under its Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management, which combines tighter border controls with efforts to ensure the orderly and lawful return of undocumented migrants.

According to the President, the government is working closely with neighbouring countries and international humanitarian organisations to facilitate voluntary repatriation in line with South Africa’s constitutional and international obligations.

“Our goal must be to build united and cohesive communities, where all laws are respected and upheld,” Ramaphosa said, adding that the country’s migration policies would continue to be guided by the Constitution, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

The government said voluntary repatriation efforts are being coordinated with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Red Cross and the governments of migrants’ countries of origin.

Officials said more than 15,000 Malawian nationals have recently been processed through voluntary repatriation and deportation programmes, with the governments of the affected countries assisting with transportation and logistics.

To improve the processing of migrants, South Africa has expanded the role of regional facilities, including the Musina Refugee Reception Office near the Zimbabwe border, to serve as verification and documentation centres.

The renewed emphasis on voluntary returns comes alongside intensified immigration enforcement operations involving the Border Management Authority (BMA) and the South African Police Service (SAPS), which have resulted in the arrest of thousands of undocumented migrants and employers accused of violating immigration and labour laws.

Despite the increased enforcement, Ramaphosa urged South Africans not to take immigration matters into their own hands, warning against vigilantism and xenophobic attacks.

He stressed that only authorised law enforcement agencies have the legal mandate to enforce immigration laws and called on citizens to respect the rights and dignity of all individuals.

The South African government said its migration strategy seeks to strengthen border security while ensuring that undocumented migrants who choose to return to their home countries can do so in a safe, orderly and dignified manner through internationally recognised processes.