Lesufi calls on South Africans to help strengthen illegal immigration legislation

Gauteng Premier and African National Congress (ANC) co-convenor Panyaza Lesufi is calling on South Africans to actively participate in processes aimed at strengthening legislation on illegal immigration.

Lesufi said that he shares public frustration over the issue, but insists responsibility for addressing it lies largely with the national government.

This follows several protests across the country, some of which have turned violent over the influx of undocumented foreign nationals.

On Wednesday, civic movement March and March is expected to present its demands for tougher action against illegal immigration at Lesufi’s offices.

In a candid interview on the Clement Manyathela Show, Lesufi warned that the situation is a ticking time bomb.

"If we know whose mandate it is to deal with these issues, I think it will make it easier for people to understand how to tackle it. But if we don’t understand whose mandate it is, it creates a problem. Because someone will think that it’s the MEC for Education that is allowing people that are not supposed to be in the classroom, or someone will think that it’s the MEC for Health, it’s not, our hands are tied. And someone will say the Premier of Gauteng is allowing people that are not supposed to work in our schools, to work in our schools, so, we can’t."

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