‘Crime, not migrants, is the common enemy we must work together to defeat’ – Ramaphosa

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA|

TWENTY-FIVE years ago, our new democratic Constitution came into effect. In adopting this Constitution, we affirmed our commitment to a society based on democratic values, social justice and human rights.  

We were also making a complete break with our past. This was a past of race-based social engineering that manifested itself through influx control, job reservation, group areas and the dreaded dompas. When our forebears drafted the Freedom Charter in 1955, whose principles have been incorporated in our constitution, and declared that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, they were seeking a society free from ethnic chauvinism, tribalism, racism and sexism.  

It is therefore deeply disturbing how the recent incidents of anti-foreigner sentiment in parts of the country echo our apartheid past.  

We have seen people being stopped on the street by private citizens and being forced to produce identification to verify their immigration status.