Where do South African parties stand over illegal immigration ahead of local government elections?
As South Africa gears up for the 2026 local government elections, the battle over illegal immigration is heating up, and political parties are clashing in their stances.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) warns against ‘xenophobic panic’ over the issue, while the ANC Youth League links surging illegal immigration to escalating crime. The DA points fingers at government corruption for border chaos, and ActionSA sounds the alarm over undocumented foreigners and deep systemic failures at Home Affairs.
With tensions mounting, the immigration debate is shaping up as one of the most explosive issues of the upcoming elections.
EFF
EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo has rejected claims that South Africa’s immigration crisis will dominate next year’s local government elections, describing the so-called crisis as xenophobic and arguing that voters consistently refuse to reward parties that use anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Responding to claims that immigration will dominate the 2026 local government elections, Thambo dismissed the idea as unfounded.
“This has been a comment since 2008 xenophobic outbreaks – it never materialises as a deciding factor in an election,” he said. Thambo went on to praise South Africans for resisting divisive politics.
“South Africans, and it is curious, do not bite the bait of political parties whose central motivation and drive is this question,” he said.
The EFF member argued that despite frustrations over undocumented migration and crime, ordinary citizens continue to hire and trade with foreign nationals, showing a “deep-seated culture of the ability to co-exist, and root out a rot when identified but not make that rot representative of a collective identity.”
Ahead of the elections, parties seem to be adopting differing strategies.
ANCYL
In contrast, the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) has urged swift and decisive action to curb rising crime and the presence of undocumented foreign nationals, warning that the situation is slipping out of control.
Addressing delegates at the 2nd ANCYL National General Council in the Northern Cape, ANCYL president Collen Malatji painted a grim picture of lawlessness in towns across the country, claiming that many South Africans feel like outsiders in their own communities.
“The issue of crime and violence in this country is huge. Our towns are taken over by criminals, mainly illegal foreigners. Every small town in this country is hijacked by drug lords and illegal foreigners,” said Malatji.
He singled out areas such as Hillbrow, Durban’s South Beach, Sunnyside in Tshwane, and Kempton Park near OR Tambo International Airport as examples of places where South Africans no longer feel safe.
“You go to Hillbrow, you go to Durban South Beach, you will think that you are an illegal foreigner yourself,” he said.
Democratic Alliance (DA)
The DA accuses the South African government of failing to address illegal immigration, warning that the issue has created ‘chaos and disorder’ across the country.
“Illegal immigration has brought chaos and disorder to South Africa. And the government has done nothing. They have allowed their corruption to spread to our Home Affairs and our border control,” said the party.
The DA claimed that widespread corruption within key state institutions has left South Africa vulnerable to uncontrolled migration.
“The government is incapable of ensuring law and order in the country. They only care about enriching themselves and are incapable of managing the real problems South Africans face.”
However, the party has also requested that Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia deploy public order policing units to secure healthcare facilities and guarantee that Operation Dudula does not prevent foreign nationals from accessing healthcare services.
ActionSA
ActionSA has continuously expressed concern over the number of undocumented foreign nationals living in the country.
“Estimates indicate that as much as 10% of all people living in South Africa are undocumented foreign nationals,” the party said.
It noted that the challenge is not the presence of foreign nationals themselves, but that many enter the country without following the proper legal processes. The party also highlighted systemic issues at Home Affairs, which it said prevent foreigners from obtaining the correct documentation for legal residency.
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