Government will work with a Zulu royal delegation and civil society groups to deal with illegal migration, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said on Monday.
Kubayi chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration. She spoke to the media in Pretoria after the committee met the delegation. According to SAnews, the two sides also agreed to work on reclaiming hijacked state buildings and on enforcing immigration laws.
“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 delegation was led by iNkosi Malusi Zondi, Chancellor of the Zulu King. It included members of the Black Business Forum and leaders of Hlangana Mzansi. Binca Nation was represented by its president, Ngizwe Mchunu.
The meeting came after several marches to Home Affairs offices. The groups behind these marches raised concerns about illegal migration and how immigration laws are enforced.
Kubayi said the group made it clear that it does not oppose legal immigration. She said its opposition is aimed at illegal migration and undocumented migrants.
“They made it clear that what they vehemently oppose is illegal migration and undocumented migrants,” the IMC chair said.
According to Kubayi, the delegation said it respects South African laws, the courts and their judgments. The group also raised worries about unemployment, especially among young people. It said it would support efforts to rebuild investor confidence and tourism, mainly in KwaZulu-Natal.
Hijacked government buildings were a main topic at the meeting. Kubayi said the delegation wants to help remove people who illegally occupy state buildings. She said some of these buildings are allegedly used for crimes such as drug dealing and human trafficking.
“We have identified hijacked government buildings by street in the eight metros and appointed legal representatives to facilitate the removal of unlawful occupants,” Kubayi said.
She said government is also working with the private sector to give new uses to abandoned buildings. According to the minister, state buildings in all metros have been located and profiled. The next phase will look at state buildings in secondary cities.
The IMC has already met premiers, mayors, city managers, metro police and a senior police official on the problem. Kubayi said a team of lawyers was appointed to handle the legal steps.
The delegation also wants to take part in court cases about migration and asylum seekers. These include the Scalabrini matter, where the Constitutional Court ruled on the rights of asylum seekers.
There are also Gauteng High Court cases with judgments that contradict each other. They deal with whether people in the country illegally who have applied for asylum may be detained. The IMC asked that this matter be heard by a full bench.
Kubayi warned people not to share unverified information about the Constitutional Court judgment. “Check that the information you get is from a credible source and that it is correct,” she said.
She said government will keep following the five-point plan President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in June. The plan covers stopping breaches of immigration laws, securing the borders and fixing the immigration system. It also covers closing gaps in migration laws and working with other African countries.
The delegation raised concerns about how migrants are documented. It also raised claims that some South African immigration officials issue illegal documents. The group said calls to enforce immigration laws should not be seen as xenophobia.
The meeting ended with an agreement that government will work with the delegation, traditional leaders and other groups on the issues raised. The Gauteng matter is set to be considered on Thursday, 29 October 2026.
Source: this article is based on reporting by SAnews.gov.za. Image: GCIS via SAnews.gov.za. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.