Curtis Singo
Pretoria - The daily developments resolutely advancing within South Africa’s immigration cycles, with Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsaoledi at the epicentre of all forms of vengeful attack by various groupings, requires our patriotic attention.
Unfortunately, these attacks are being carried out through platforms such as social networks, newspapers, television and radio interviews within our borders, mainly in Gauteng province, where most of the attackers live. It is becoming evident that Dr Motsaoledi has taken the bull by the horns as he spearheads the full implementation of the Immigration Act.
When the Immigration Act No13 of 2003 was approved, the intention was to preserve the country’s national interests. As the act’s preamble says, it aims “to provide for the regulation of admission of persons to their residence in, and their departure from, the Republic; and for matters connected therewith”.
Subsequently, since 2002, South Africa’s immigration services have been a decaying system with illegal immigrants undermining them by entering the Republic as they wish, without accountability, aided by the weakness from within.
It is worth noting that South Africa has a good Immigration Act, notwithstanding the fact that it is being undermined through illegal parallel activities in support of illegal immigrants. Dr Motsaoledi is cleaning up the immigration services from within and without, with those who have flouted it for years without repercussions are being confronted head-on.
The ongoing arrests of Home Affairs officials, driven by Dr Motsaoledi working closely with law enforcement agencies, are putting into effect the sixth administration’s efforts to secure the country’s national interests.
It has since become normal for the country’s immigration services to be a dominant subject in the public discourse. This is because of dubious characters who are illegally selling the country’s official documents such as IDs, passports and work permits.
However, South Africa’s immigration services are proving to have the capacity to clean out the rotten elements, under Dr Motsoaledi’s leadership.
On the other hand, others have presumed that ineffective immigration laws contribute to the country’s high unemployment rate as foreign nationals are ready to take jobs at lower rates than South Africans.
So, we must have discussions to avoid the erosion of our democratic country’s founding principle of ubuntu, which enjoins us to live in peace with our neighbours. As Oliver Tambo envisioned decades ago, we seek to live in peace with our neighbours and the people of the world under conditions of equality, mutual respect, and equal advantage. It has always been South Africa’s approach to global affairs to try to advance the interests of the African continent.
South africa is not facing weak immigration laws, but ethical and patriotism challenges. One hopes initiatives taken by the National School of Governance will yield the desired outcomes, and those entrusted with protecting the immigration law will do so patriotically.
The Immigration Act argues that any foreign nationals legally entering or exiting our shores be accounted for, and there seems to be a national consensus that Dr Motsoaledi has come at the right time. His unwavering commitment to root out the rotten potatoes within the department cannot be overemphasised as it shows that he has the characteristics of the type of leader we yearn to have.
So, as the nation ponders the challenges we face, we should do so by trying to amplify Dr Motsoaledi’s efforts within the confines of our laws to prove that South Africans are capable of leading despite the challenges we face.
We should begin to understand our rules to easily defend them when either illegal immigrants or greedy officials threaten them. Dr Motsoaledi epitomises patriotic leadership.
Pretoria News