President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government must shoulder responsibility for the chaos unfolding in parts of the country, where citizens have taken to the streets in protest against illegal immigration.
These demonstrations are not sudden eruptions but the inevitable consequence of years of neglect at our borders. For far too long, SA’s immigration system has been porous, allowing undocumented individuals to cross into the country with little resistance.
Law enforcement agencies, instead of acting decisively, have often turned a blind eye, leaving communities to grapple with the presence of undocumented immigrants without any assurance that the state is in control.
The lack of investment in immigration enforcement has compounded the problem. Proper systems to ensure that every visitor is documented and accounted for were never prioritised. This failure has created fertile ground for frustration among citizens, who now feel abandoned by the very institutions meant to safeguard their interests.
The parties within the government of national unity have also failed to provide leadership. As public impatience grows, the vacuum left by political inaction has been filled by opportunistic movements whose motives remain unclear.
The rise of organisations such as Operation Dudula and March and March is a direct reflection of this leadership deficit.
The ANC, once the moral compass of society, has become consumed by internal squabbles. Leaders appear more concerned with factional battles than with the pressing needs of the people.
This inward focus has left communities vulnerable, as seen when Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma of March and March led a march in KuGompo, formerly East London. Where was premier Oscar Mabuyane and his cabinet during this moment of public unrest?
Their attention was fixed on ANC internal politics, with Mabuyane seemingly more concerned about retaining his position as provincial chairperson than addressing the urgent concerns of Eastern Cape residents.
This abdication of responsibility is dangerous. Politicians must wake from their slumber and reclaim their role as leaders of society.
They must not only enforce immigration laws but also educate citizens that not all foreigners are undocumented, nor are they all criminals.
In a country plagued by high unemployment and poverty, competition for scarce resources is inevitable. Yet violent protests misdirect anger toward immigrants instead of holding the government accountable for failing to secure borders, create jobs, and deliver basic services.
The unrest is a clear signal: people are desperate for leadership. If politicians continue to shirk their duties, SA risks sliding into a leaderless revolution, driven by vigilante movements rather than legitimate governance.
It is time for our leaders to step forward, restore trust, and guide the nation away from chaos.
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