South Africa’s (SA) International Relations and Co-operation Minister, Ronald Lamola, says government welcomes several arrests linked to acts of vigilantism against foreign nationals, saying the enforcement of immigration laws remains the responsibility of the State.
Limpopo Province police arrested five suspects two weeks ago after they allegedly threatened a documented Nigerian business owner, ordering him to close his business and to leave the country.
Two other suspects were arrested in Limpopo for impersonating Home Affairs officials and allegedly robbing a Zimbabwean national.
In the Eastern Cape Province, 69 people were arrested in Jeffreys Bay last week for allegedly looting 23 shops, 60 were released on warning, with nine still in custody.
In Mpumalanga Province, four people were arrested in Emalahleni two weeks ago after they were found with stolen items, allegedly from a looted foreign-owned spaza shop.
Lamola, who was addressing the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation Winter Seminar in Sandton, Gauteng Province, stressed that concerns about undocumented migrants does not give private citizens the authority to enforce immigration laws.
–SABC–
KMF Winter Seminar – DIRCO Minister Ronald Lamola on immigration, meeting with Ghana president
