By: Zilungile Mkhize
Calls are mounting for the Government of National Unity (GNU) to work together on coordinated measures to strengthen law enforcement, improve border management and prevent further outbreaks of violence linked to growing tensions in communities across South Africa.
The calls come as thousands of foreign migrants have been displaced in various parts of the country amid ongoing anti-immigrant unrest. More than 6,000 migrants are currently sheltering at a temporary camp in Sherwood, Durban, where they are awaiting the processing of their deportation and repatriation arrangements.
Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Glynnis Breytenbach is among those calling for urgent intervention. She says Parliament’s security cluster committees should immediately convene a joint sitting to address mounting concerns over attacks on foreign nationals, community unrest and the broader implications for public safety.
Breytenbach argues that a coordinated response from all GNU partners is essential to restore stability, protect vulnerable communities and uphold the rule of law. She says government departments responsible for policing, home affairs, justice and border management must work together to address the root causes of the crisis and prevent further violence.
The DA has also stressed the importance of ensuring that law enforcement agencies are adequately resourced to maintain order, while at the same time safeguarding the rights and safety of all people living in South Africa.
As pressure continues to mount on authorities, community leaders and civil society organisations have echoed calls for swift action to prevent the situation from escalating further and to promote peaceful coexistence in affected areas.
