South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks during the Public Lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the 46th SADC Summit in Durban, South Africa, Aug. 14, 2026. (GCIS/Handout via Xinhua)
DURBAN, South Africa, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday called on Southern African countries to address the root causes of migration while working toward greater freedom of movement in the region under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Vision 2050.
Speaking at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa's coastal city Durban ahead of the 46th SADC Summit, Ramaphosa said regional integration should ultimately allow people to move freely in accordance with established principles, protocols and laws, while ensuring that migration is driven by choice rather than desperation.
"We need to work together to address conflict, instability, governance failure, poverty and social discord. We need to create equal economic opportunity and build inclusive institutions of governance," he said.
Ramaphosa also condemned discrimination and ill-treatment of foreign nationals amid growing tensions over migration in South Africa.
"The criminal actions of a few within our communities are a repudiation of the solidarity upon which this community was founded. We cannot preach integration at summits and practise exclusion in our streets," he added.
His remarks came as South Africa continues to grapple with heightened tensions over migration and a series of protests calling for tougher action against undocumented migrants.
In June, Ramaphosa announced a five-point migration management plan. The plan includes tighter enforcement of immigration and labor laws, enhanced border security, improvements to migration-management systems, the review of gaps in legislation and policy, and stronger cooperation with other African countries.
The government has since intensified deportation and repatriation operations. According to an update by the Border Management Authority this week, around 90,000 people had left South Africa over the past three months.
The 46th SADC Summit is scheduled for Aug. 17 in Durban under the theme "Resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialization through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World."
South Africa formally assumed the chairmanship of the SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials on Aug. 6 for the period from August 2026 to August 2027. ■