Weekend Read | Why Lamola says migrants aren't the enemy

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola says poverty, unemployment and inequality are the real drivers of social frustration, and has rejected claims that migrants are to blame for all of South Africa’s social and economic problems.

He made the remarks at the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation’s winter seminar in Sandton on Thursday, where discussions focused on migration.

His comments come as anti-migrant groups continue to call for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa, despite repeated government appeals for calm.

Lamola emphasised the importance of the seminar, saying the migration-related challenges facing South Africa require platforms where difficult questions can be debated honestly, respectfully and constructively.

"Indeed, the current wave of discussions around migration, border management, social cohesion, economic competition, and public service delivery has generated intense public debate."

Poverty, not migration, is the real crisis

He said the issues confronting the country are complex, perspectives are firmly held and emotions often run deep.

"That is why platforms such as this are essential to fostering meaningful dialogue. We have not gathered here to impose predetermined answers or reinforce existing positions.

"The objective should be about providing a platform for deliberate engagement, fruitful discourse, and critical thinking."

Lamola said migration is not a new phenomenon.

"People throughout human history have moved in search of safety, opportunity, family reunification, and a better future.

"At the same time, migration has often raised legitimate questions about governance, resource allocation, identity, and social integration."

Communities have legitimate concerns

He argued that South Africa's history has been shaped by movement, displacement, the struggle for human dignity, solidarity, and experiencing exclusion.

"The birth of our constitutional democracy was rooted in the commitment to human rights, equality, and the recognition of our common humanity."

However, he said it would be disingenuous to ignore the realities faced by many communities.

"High levels of poverty, unemployment and inequality continue to put significant stress on households and communities.

"Jobs, housing, education, health care and other public services are often scarce commodities and the feeling that they are not available to all fuels exclusionary politics.

"In such contexts, migrants are likely to be the target of wider frustrations associated with structural socio-economic problems," Lamola said.

Migration is an African challenge

He said the country must approach the migration debate with honesty and nuance.

"On the one hand, we must resist simple narratives that seek to blame migrants for all our social and economic problems."

The minister said such perspectives ignore the complexities of developmental challenges and are likely to increase intolerance and social division.

"On the other hand, we need to recognise the legitimate concerns of communities about the effective management of immigration, border security, the regulation of labour markets and the capacity of public institutions.

"To dismiss these fears is not to forge social cohesion but to undermine public trust. The challenge before us is not whether to choose between security and humanity or national interests and human rights."

According to Lamola, the real challenge is implementing policies that promote all of these objectives simultaneously.

"This means that decisions about policy should be based on facts, not on feelings. Effective and fair migration management requires strong institutions.

Facts over fear

"It urges African nations to collaborate to address migration drivers like conflict, political instability, unemployment, inequality, and climate change.

"Most importantly, it requires an acceptance that migration cannot be considered in isolation from wider development issues."

He argued that the movement of people is often a symptom of deeper economic, political and social conditions.

"To get to sustainable, long-term solutions, we really have to address those underlying drivers."

Lamola said the purpose of the seminar was not necessarily to achieve complete consensus.

"Indeed, reasonable people will disagree on many aspects of migration policy.

"Our willingness to engage with one another honestly, to test our assumptions, and to deepen our collective understanding of the issues is of greater value, as it enables us to progress from rhetoric to practical solutions."

Speaking on possible solutions, Lamola said South Africa cannot address migration challenges on its own.

"What we need to understand is that the migration challenge confronting South Africa cannot be addressed through South African solutions alone. Addressing this issue requires solutions that are specifically tailored to the realities of Africa.

"It is not feasible or sustainable to consider migration only from a national perspective. We need to strengthen regional cooperation, step up economic integration, and work together to create opportunities across the African continent."

Lamola said the prosperity and stability of African countries are interconnected.

"We must recognise that the prosperity and stability of one African nation are intrinsically linked to the prosperity and stability of others.

"As Africans, we share a common history, a common destiny, and, increasingly, common challenges.

"The question before us is not simply how SouthAfrica manages migration but how Africa creates the conditions under which migration becomes a matter of choice rather than necessity."

He said Africa must move beyond narrow national responses.

"Our challenge is to look beyond narrow national responses and toward a continental conversation based on solidarity, shared responsibility, and a commitment to inclusive development.

“Only then will we have the chance to develop solutions that are effective and sustainable and just.

"In the current context, it is for the benefit of our great continent, Africa, that we come together to examine the issue of migration into South Africa not merely as a South African challenge but as an African challenge."

Lamola said South Africa has experienced increasing migration from several African countries, particularly Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Malawi.

Secure borders and human rights can coexist

According to him, migration is driven by economic opportunities, political and governance challenges, environmental factors, and enduring family and cultural ties across borders.

"This reality presents the critical question: how do we as leaders and citizens of the SADC region work together to address the conditions that compel people to leave their countries of origin?

“How do we grow our economies, deepen regional integration, and create opportunities that allow our people to thrive in their own communities if they want to?"

He called on SADC member states to increase cooperation and engage in honest discussions on economic development, youth unemployment, governance, skills mobility and regional investment.

"It is important to tackle the root causes of migration, not just migration management.

"Let me put it very clearly: South Africa remains committed to the ideals of Pan-Africanism, and we continue to welcome our brothers and sisters from across the continent.

"Our history is a reminder of the importance of solidarity, and we thank many African countries who stood with us in our struggle for freedom."

However, Lamola said social cohesion and public confidence in migration depend on a legal and orderly framework.

Rejecting vigilantism

"We need to have proper and secure management of the migration flows, processing documentation efficiently, protecting the rights of migrants and enforcing immigration laws fairly and consistently.

"We should therefore not look to divide Africans or create animosity towards migrants. Rather, our objective should be to build a migration system that is humane, well-managed, and responsive to the legitimate concerns of both host communities and migrants themselves."

"We will not build the future we seek through isolation but through partnership; not through blame but through cooperation; not through division but through a shared commitment to building a prosperous, stable, and integrated Africa."

He said only then can migration become a source of opportunity rather than tension.

"The question often asked is: What is the SouthAfrican Police Service or Government doing to combat illegal immigration and to manage the tensions arising from migration-related protests?"

Lamola said the government continues to strengthen migration management through coordinated efforts involving the South African Police Service, theDepartment of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority.

"These interventions include enforcement operations, improved border management and stronger action against immigration-related criminal activity.

"While citizens have the constitutional right to protest peacefully, the enforcement of immigration laws remains the responsibility of the State.

"This reflects a core value of our constitutional democracy: worries about illegal immigration are legitimate issues for public debate and government action, but they must be addressed lawfully and democratically, not through vigilante justice or hostility toward migrants."

According to Lamola, police have maintained a visible presence during migration-related demonstrations to prevent violence, intimidation,vigilantism and attacks on foreign nationals.

However, during the nationwide protests against undocumented immigrants on June 30, some people were arrested for public violence.

The National Joint Operational and IntelligenceStructure (NatJoints) previously said more than 900 people were arrested during the demonstrations, with the majority being undocumented foreign nationals.

Some were arrested for public violence, others for harbouring undocumented immigrants, and others for business robberies at spaza shops.

"We need to assist law enforcement agencies in carrying out their duties and address the root causes of migration through regional cooperation, economic development, and stronger partnerships among SADC member states.

“In the end, secure borders, effective migration management and African solidarity are not mutually exclusive goals, but complementary pillars of a stable and prosperous region."

Lamola insisted South Africans are not xenophobic.

"South Africans are not inherently xenophobic; they are a welcoming and Pan-Africanist people. Our country remains open to legal immigrants," he added.

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