The government will partner with the Zulu royal delegation and civil society organisations to crack down on illegal migration, reclaim hijacked state-owned buildings, and tighten immigration law enforcement.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi met with a delegation led by iNkosi Malusi Zondi, Chancellor of the Zulu King, in Pretoria on Monday. The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration, which Kubayi chairs, hosted the meeting.
The delegation included members of the Black Business Forum, Binca Nation president Ngizwe Mchunu, and leaders from Hlangana Mzansi. The groups approached government after several marches to Home Affairs offices raised concerns about illegal migration and weak enforcement of immigration laws.
Kubayi told reporters after the meeting that the delegation wants to help government find solutions to illegal migration while building a safer and more prosperous country.
“The delegation expressed its support for the government’s efforts to build a safe, secure, prosperous and united country and to address illegal migration decisively. We welcome the community leaders’ commitment to nation-building and to finding solutions to illegal migration,” Kubayi said.
The group stressed its respect for South African laws, the judiciary and court judgments, while promising to promote stability and economic growth.
Unemployment and tourism concerns
The delegation raised concerns about unemployment, especially among young people, and pledged to support government efforts to rebuild investor confidence and revive the tourism sector in KwaZulu-Natal.
The group made it clear that it opposes illegal migration and undocumented migrants, not lawful immigration.
“They also reaffirmed that they are not opposed to immigration that is legal and migrants who respect South Africa’s laws and live amongst the South African people engaged in legal and productive activities. They made it clear that what they vehemently oppose is illegal migration and undocumented migrants,” Kubayi said.
The delegation stressed that calling for immigration law enforcement should not be seen as xenophobia.
Reclaiming hijacked buildings
A major focus of the meeting was the need to reclaim state-owned buildings that have been hijacked or illegally occupied.
The delegation wants to work with government to tackle the unlawful occupation of government buildings, which are allegedly being used for drug dealing and human trafficking.
The IMC has already met with provincial and municipal leaders, including premiers, members of provincial executive councils, mayors, city managers, metro police and senior South African Police Service officials, to develop a coordinated response.
“We have identified hijacked government buildings by street in the eight metros [of the country] and appointed legal representatives to facilitate the removal of unlawful occupants. The government is also working with the private sector to repurpose abandoned and illegally occupied buildings,” Kubayi said.
Government has located and profiled state-owned buildings across all metropolitan municipalities. The next phase will focus on identifying state-owned buildings in secondary cities.
A team of lawyers has been appointed to help with the legal processes needed to reclaim the buildings.
Court proceedings on asylum seekers
The delegation also wants to participate in ongoing court proceedings about migration and asylum seekers.
These include the Scalabrini matter, in which the Constitutional Court ruled on the rights of asylum seekers, as well as proceedings in the Gauteng High Court about contradictory judgments on whether people who are in the country illegally and have applied for asylum may be detained.
The IMC raised concerns about the contradictory Gauteng judgments and requested that the matter be heard by a full bench. The matter is scheduled for consideration on Thursday, 29 October 2026.
Kubayi urged citizens to exercise caution when sharing information about the Constitutional Court judgment and warned against spreading unverified information.
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“We also urge all citizens not to spread unverified information about the Constitutional Court Judgement. Citizens must ensure that they verify the sources of information about this judgment. Check that the information you get is from a credible source and that it is correct,” she said.
The government’s response to migration will continue to follow the five-point plan announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in June. The plan focuses on cracking down on violations of immigration laws, securing borders, strengthening the immigration system, closing gaps in migration laws and policies, and working with other African countries to manage migration.
The delegation also raised concerns about the documentation of migrants, the alleged issuing of illegal documents by South African immigration officials, and the role of law enforcement agencies in enforcing immigration laws.
The meeting concluded with an agreement that government would work with the delegation and other interested parties, including traditional leaders, to address the issues raised.
