KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli flanked by Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Musa Zondi (left) and Sports, Arts and Culture MEC Mtomuhle Khawula ( right) leads the provincial celebration of Africa Day parade in Durban on Monday.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers
As protests against illegal immigration rage on in the country, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has issued a stern warning to locals and businesses that continue to harbour illegal foreigners.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Africa Day commemoration in Durban on Monday, Ntuli warned that businesses and locals who are providing accommodation and hiring illegal foreigners would be arrested.
He reiterated his government’s dismissal of assertions that protests that are taking place and led by Zulu regiments are xenophobic.
Ntuli said the marches that emanated from his province and spread to other provinces are directed at illegal immigrants who are undocumented not against those who are legally in the country.
”As we celebrate Africa Day we must warn locals and businesses that accommodate illegal foreigners in their private properties that it is a crime to hire an illegal foreigner in your businesses. Police will arrest the foreigners together with local employers for contravention of the Immigration Act. We are happy that even President Cyril Ramaphosa during the State of the Nation Address warned businesses about harbouring illegal immigrants,” said Ntuli.
His warning comes amid the growing sentiments against illegal immigration in the country as more provinces are joining the Zulu warriors’ call to ensure that all illegal foreigners leave the country by the end of next month.
The June 30 deadline was announced by the Zulu warrior Phakelumthakathi Ndabandaba. He has led many marches together with the March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese and former Ukhozi FM radio personality Ngizwe Mchunu.
The group shot to prominence and got community support in the beginning of the year when they fought for the placement of local children at Addington primary school who were refused enrollment by the school.
The school had cited the space shortages, however, parents reached out to the group and complained that the school had enrolled foreigners’ kids who were undocumented.
The school and the provincial Education department eventually backed down and registered local children.
The persistent protests have forced scores of foreigners to flee their residences and camped outside the police station in Durban seeking protection. This has led to many African countries offering to evacuate their nationals from South Africa in anticipation of the outbreak of xenophobic violence as the June 30 deadline approaches.
The sentiments grew and spread outside KwaZulu-Natal particularly in Gauteng and Eastern Cape where locals were angered by the ‘coronation’ of a Nigerian man as a king.
On Monday morning locals in the Free State province took to the streets of Bloemfontein and forced the closure of foreign-owned businesses. There were reports of looting of foreign-owned shops.