President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on South Africa’s comprehensive migration strategy following Cabinet approval of a National Action Plan on migration on Wednesday 4 June 2026. Image: Supplied/GCIS
President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on South Africa’s comprehensive migration strategy. This Ramaphosa migration address was announced by Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni on Friday 5 June 2026 following a Cabinet meeting. Furthermore, Cabinet approved a National Action Plan on migration developed by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration. The announcement comes as anti-immigrant tensions continue to spread across multiple provinces.
Ramaphosa Migration Address: What Cabinet Approved
Minister Ntshavheni confirmed the details at a post-Cabinet media briefing in Pretoria on Friday. Cabinet received and approved a comprehensive approach to migration in South Africa. Furthermore, Cabinet approved the National Action Plan Country Report on migration. The Department of Employment and Labour also finalised a National Labour Migration Policy introducing maximum quotas for documented foreign nationals. As a result, employers who hire undocumented workers will face prosecution under the new framework.
Cabinet also approved a revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection in March 2026. The White Paper follows extensive public consultation across all nine provinces. Furthermore, it aims to curb fraud and abuse, strengthen national security and improve service delivery through digital transformation. Ntshavheni confirmed that the President will address the nation on the full migration strategy shortly.
What Ramaphosa Has Already Said
Ramaphosa has been increasingly direct on illegal immigration in recent weeks. Speaking at the Presidency Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday 2 June 2026, he pledged a crackdown on illegal migration while urging against xenophobia and vigilantism. Furthermore, he warned that violence against foreign nationals would not be tolerated.
“We will not tolerate violence and other acts of lawlessness directed at foreign nationals,” Ramaphosa said. However, he also acknowledged that illegal immigration was fuelling real tensions in communities already under pressure from unemployment and economic hardship. He pledged to hire up to 10,000 labour inspectors to enforce immigration and labour laws. Furthermore, he confirmed that the Border Management Authority intercepted 450,000 people attempting to cross into South Africa illegally over the past financial year.
Speaking alongside Botswana’s President Duma Boko in Gaborone, Ramaphosa also insisted that South Africans are not xenophobic. “South Africans are not xenophobic,” he said. He acknowledged that many migrants have integrated and contributed positively to South African communities while maintaining that illegal immigration must be addressed decisively.
The Pressure Building on Government
The migration address comes under significant pressure from multiple directions. Anti-illegal immigration movement March and March has set a 30 June 2026 deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country. Furthermore, movement founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has demanded that Ramaphosa address the nation on migration before 30 June or face a national march on that date.
Anti-immigrant protests have spread to Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape in recent weeks. Violence has broken out in parts of Mossel Bay and surrounding areas. Mozambique claimed five of its citizens were killed in Mossel Bay. However, Western Cape police confirmed only two Mozambican deaths while investigations continue.
Multiple African countries have also responded to the tensions. Ghana screened hundreds of citizens for repatriation. Malawi announced a voluntary repatriation programme. Nigeria warned its citizens against retaliatory attacks on South African businesses abroad. Furthermore, the African Union has been formally requested to place South Africa’s alleged xenophobia on its agenda.
What South Africans Are Expecting
South Africans are watching closely to see whether the presidential address will contain concrete and enforceable commitments or broad policy statements. The government has previously pledged labour inspections, border enforcement and employer prosecutions without delivering meaningful results on the ground. As a result, there is significant public scepticism about whether this announcement will translate into action.
Commentary across social media reflects the view that words alone will not satisfy a public that has been raising immigration enforcement concerns for years. Many are specifically watching for commitments on employer prosecution, a timeline for the 10,000 inspectors and concrete steps to address the 30 June deadline set by protest movements.
For official government communications visit gov.za.
Editors Note A specific date for President Ramaphosa’s national address on migration had not been confirmed at the time of publication. All information in this article is based on the post-Cabinet media briefing by Minister Ntshavheni on 5 June 2026 and publicly available statements by President Ramaphosa. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.