South Africa is at a crossroads. The March and March against undocumented foreign nationals calls for immigration reform. In addition, the campaign has brought to the surface real frustrations, real fears, and a real demand for government action. As a youth activist, my responsibility is to speak with clarity, courage, and a commitment to unity.
We acknowledge the lived reality of the South African youth unemployment crisis. Many youths in the Free State and across all nine provinces experience pressure on public services, the informal economy, and entry-level jobs. To ignore this frustration is to ignore the people we claim to represent. We affirm SA’s constitutional and continental obligations. Our Constitution protects the dignity and rights of all persons in SA.
As a member of the African Union and Southern African Development Community (SADC), South Africa has a history of providing refuge and opportunity. Migration is a regional reality. Reform cannot mean abandoning the rule of law or our humanity. We call for comprehensive, enforceable, and humane immigration reform. The March and March must translate into policy action.
We therefore call on all spheres of government — Parliament, Home Affairs, SAPS, and NEDLAC, to urgently address the following:
* Systemic Capacity: Fully resource and digitise the Department of Home Affairs to eliminate backlogs, reduce corruption, and ensure timely processing of permits, asylum, and citizenship applications.
* Border Management and Compliance: Strengthen lawful border management and consistent enforcement of immigration law, without profiling or brutality.
* Economic Pathways with Accountability: Create clear, legal pathways for documented migrants to work and start businesses, while simultaneously accelerating youth employment, township economy support, and SMME access for South African citizens.
* Community Safety and Social Cohesion: Act decisively against xenophobic violence, criminal exploitation, and hate speech. Law enforcement must protect all residents equally, and perpetrators must face the law.
* Data, Dialogue, and Oversight: Publish transparent data on migration, service uptake, and enforcement. Establish structured, youth-inclusive social dialogue through platforms such as NEDLAC and provincial structures.
We call on all marchers to lead with discipline and purpose. The right to protest is protected by the SA Constitution. I urge every young person participating in the March and March to do so without the destruction of property or targeting of foreign nationals. Our message is strongest when our conduct is beyond reproach.
SA must work for the youth who were born here, and it must remain a country governed by law and guided by dignity. Immigration reform is not about choosing between SA and migrants — it is about building a system that is fair, functional, and fit for the future we all must share. We offer ourselves as youth leaders to be part of the solution — in dialogue, in oversight, and in implementation.
- Lekgutsa Mbele is chairperson of the South African Arts & Culture Youth Forum in the Free State.
