ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula warned against the rise of vigilante groups while addressing South Africa's immigration debate in Durban.
The statement comes as anti-immigrant tensions rise across the country. The government faces increasing pressure to manage illegal immigration, a topic expected to be a primary focus of President Cyril Ramaphosa's national agenda.
Speaking at the Volunteers Assembly in Durban on May 23, Mbalula addressed the legality of current protests. He said South Africa is a constitutional democracy that cannot allow vigilante groups to operate outside the law [2]. The warning occurred shortly before President Ramaphosa was scheduled to deliver a national address at 6 p.m. [1, 4].
Mbalula addressed a planned shutdown targeting undocumented migrants scheduled for June 30 [3]. He said the party will not support the planned shutdown [3]. This rejection signals a party line emphasizing legal processes over grassroots disruptions, and targeted actions against foreign nationals.
The Secretary-General also touched upon the role of party members in governance. On May 16, Mbalula said ANC parliamentarians are not being asked to disregard the law by rallying behind President Ramaphosa [5].
These comments follow a period of heightened volatility regarding border controls and the presence of undocumented residents. Mbalula said the government should take decisive action on illegal immigration to prevent citizens from taking the law into their own hands [3].
“South Africa is a constitutional democracy that cannot allow vigilante groups to operate outside the law.”
The ANC's public rejection of the June 30 shutdown suggests an attempt to balance the demands of a frustrated electorate with the need to maintain constitutional order. By condemning vigilantism while simultaneously urging government action on illegal immigration, the party is attempting to position itself as the only legitimate vehicle for immigration reform, steering public anger away from street-level violence and toward state-led policy changes.
