President Ramaphosa discusses migration and National Dialogue with religious and interfaith leaders

President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, 17 June 2026, convened a meeting with religious and interfaith leaders at the Union Buildings, Pretoria, to discuss migration and the national dialogue. The meeting follows the government’s announcement of comprehensive measures to manage migration. 

South Africa has recently experienced a wave of anti-illegal migration protest. South Africans from every walk of life have raised concerns about migration, and illegal immigration in particular. 

These concerns arise in conditions of persistently high unemployment, poverty and hardship. They arise in communities that are plagued by crime, violence and corruption – and where there is increasing pressure on public services.

President Ramaphosa emphasised that illegal immigration is not the cause of South Africa’s social and economic difficulties.

“To tackle the challenges our country faces, we need faster and more inclusive growth, investment and the creation of jobs. We need to strengthen our efforts to tackle poverty and hunger. We must build safer communities by addressing the causes of crime, improving policing and ending corruption.

Migration is not the cause of our problems, but it is something that we must manage constructively and collectively, always holding firm to our Constitutional principles and shared values.”

President Ramaphosa called on the religious and interfaith leaders to work together with government and other social partners to ensure that people’s frustration is never turned into hatred, and that the stranger among us is met with the dignity that all our faith and traditions demand.

“We must demonstrate that there is a better way to manage these genuine concerns – a way that builds cohesion in communities and strengthens the bonds between us”, said President Ramaphosa.

National Dialogue:
President Ramaphosa added the importance of the National Dialogue, which together with the issue migration touches on the values that binds all South Africans as a nation and the shared responsibility to build a better future for the people of South Africa.

President Ramaphosa highlighted the vital role of the faith communities in the success of the National Dialogue and the need to ensure genuine inclusivity of the process.

“Faith communities are vital to this endeavour, for you reach into every village, township and suburb. The National Dialogue continues our proud tradition of coming together to confront our challenges, to build consensus and to chart a course for the future. At every defining moment in our history, we have found our way forward through dialogue with one another."

The National Dialogue is a people-led process that unfolds from local dialogue to national gatherings, through which all South Africans are able to define a vision and plan for our country.”, said President Ramaphosa.

The religious and interfaith leaders welcomed the government’s five pillars of managing migration comprehensively. 

The five pillars are:
1. Enforcement of migration laws
2. Securing South Africa’s borders 
3 Strengthening of immigration systems 
4. Closing the gaps in the laws and policies 
5. Working with sister African countries through diplomatic channels 

President Ramaphosa on behalf of the government expressed his appreciation to the religious and interfaith leaders for their response and inputs presented in the meeting. Amongst issues raised by religious and interfaith leaders is the strengthening of law enforcement to respond to cases of vigilantism, amplification of government communications, enhancement of diplomatic interventions and engagement and attendance to the pending situation in Sherwood, Durban in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. 

In response to the situation in Sherwood, Durban, the Department of Home Affairs has begun deportation proceedings through dedicated priority courts that are enabling the accelerated processing of Malawian nationals seeking to leave the country. This is due to a lack of capacity on the Malawian government-initiated repatriation of its citizens.The department of Social Development will also be mobilising resources to assist with providing relief. 
  

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President: media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria