South Africa To Deploy 10,000 Officers To Hunt Foreign Workers Without Permits

By Advent Shoko

South Africa is set to hire an additional 10,000 enforcement officers to hunt down foreign workers without valid permits, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday. Ramaphosa said:

“Employers who hire foreign nationals without the required permits or visas will face the full might of the law. Now, to tighten enforcement, we will hire an additional 10,000 labour inspectors this year.”

The president emphasised that while the government intends to enforce immigration and labour laws, it will not tolerate violence against foreigners. He added:

“As we undertake these interventions, we insist that the laws of our country must be observed by everyone. We will not tolerate violence and acts of lawlessness directed at foreign nationals. No foreign national should be unlawfully barred from accessing public facilities, including health facilities and schools.”

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Ramaphosa also highlighted the broader reforms aimed at strengthening South Africa’s public service, saying,

“To build a stronger South Africa, we need an ethical and capable developmental state. A capable state needs committed and honest public servants with the right skills and a deep culture of service. Over the past year, we have passed significant new legislation to professionalize the public service.”

He outlined measures including the Public Service Amendment Bill, which will safeguard key appointments from political interference, enforce lifestyle audits for senior officials, and establish a central registry for disciplinary cases across all government spheres.

The announcement comes amid rising pressure from vigilante groups, including the Operation Dudula Movement, which have been targeting foreign nationals in townships. These groups accuse foreigners of contributing to crime, although no evidence has substantiated their claims. Some foreign nationals have been subjected to harassment, torture, and worse, whether they hold legal documents or not, leaving many in fear for their safety.

South Africa has long been home to a significant Zimbabwean population, many of whom arrived during the early 2000s amid economic collapse and political unrest in Zimbabwe. Some continue to live without proper documentation, and the new enforcement drive is likely to affect them and the families that rely on their support.