Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has made it clear—deportation is the only real option for dealing with illegal foreigners in South Africa. Although he’s now in charge of health, Motsoaledi isn’t shy about addressing immigration issues, having previously served as Home Affairs Minister.
Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, Motsoaledi set the record straight about his department’s role in tackling illegal immigration. He was particularly vocal about the misconception that Home Affairs is to blame for the influx of undocumented foreigners. “Not everyone who’s here illegally deserves papers,” he said, adding that many are in South Africa for no good reason and don’t meet the criteria for legal documentation.
Motsoaledi also explained that deportation is the only option for those who can’t prove their right to be in the country. “If you’re found to be illegal, there’s no other way to deal with you unless we made a mistake with your documents,” he said, reinforcing the importance of following South Africa’s immigration laws.
He also clarified that even though the country has systems like the National Population Register and the National Immigration Information System to keep track of legal citizens and foreign nationals, illegal foreigners—like zama-zamas (illegal miners)—won’t get any special treatment. “If you have no papers, you’re illegal,” Motsoaledi concluded, reinforcing that the system works to track who’s in the country and why.
For now, it seems South Africa will continue to enforce deportation for those found without the right paperwork. No shortcuts, just the law—straightforward, as we like it in Mzansi.