The issue of undocumented foreign nationals has been a contentious one in South Africa for nearly two decades.

In 2008, the country witnessed one of its most devastating outbreaks of violence, during which about 60 people lost their lives, and more than a thousand were injured in various parts of Gauteng.

In the years that followed, sporadic incidents continued to occur, often accompanied by criminal attacks targeting spaza shops run by foreign nationals.

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These incidents have frequently been fuelled by frustration among unemployed youth who see limited job opportunities as a barrier to improving their lives.

Even today, many questions remain around this issue, yet it often feels as though the country lacks either the capacity or the political will to address it effectively. Perhaps the uncomfortable truth is that responsibility does not lie solely with the government.

Maybe, for once, we should reflect on our own role rather than constantly blame external factors. If we are not responsible in some way, then who is?

Can businesses honestly claim innocence when they exploit cheap labour?

And as ordinary citizens, are we not also part of the problem when we hire domestic workers who cannot provide valid documentation or identification simply because they are willing to accept lower wages?

These are uncomfortable questions, but they are necessary ones. Conducting basic due diligence may reveal truths about the system we participate in.

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Of course, it is not always easy. Many people have seen individuals standing at busy intersections with signs advertising their skills—painter, plumber, gardener—while enduring harsh weather conditions in the hope of finding work. It is a difficult reality to witness.

However, compassion should not prevent us from asking legitimate questions or ensuring that proper documentation exists.

This debate resurfaced again during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), where he acknowledged the issue and emphasised the need for stricter enforcement.

“Employers who hire foreign nationals without the required permits or visas will face the full might of the law. To tighten enforcement, we will hire an additional ten thousand labour inspectors this year. As we undertake these interventions, we insist that the laws of our country must be observed by everyone,” Ramaphosa said.

Yet instead of treating immigration as one of several complex factors affecting South Africa’s socio-economic challenges, the issue is often politicised and used as a pawn in ideological battles that do little to serve the country’s interests.

Each time the debate resurfaces, it triggers a wave of emotional reactions across the political spectrum, with various parties advancing their own agendas while ordinary citizens remain caught in the middle.

Without casting aspersions on anyone, we should ask a serious question: How many systems will begin to buckle if this issue remains unresolved? Many public services and infrastructure systems are already under severe strain. Gauteng, for example, has recently struggled with persistent water supply challenges.

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In the broader scheme of things, how can South Africa aspire to become a developed nation if it struggles to manage such fundamental challenges? Why are we so hesitant to confront issues that clearly hold the country back?

In recent years, some groups have taken it upon themselves to tackle the matter directly. Organisations such as Operation Dudula have emerged, claiming to represent the concerns of communities on the ground.

While such groups may believe they are acting in the public interest, their activities have at times been overshadowed by internal disputes and legal challenges, particularly when their operations fall outside the law.

Another concern is how language can normalise certain illegal activities. Illegal miners, for example, are often referred to as zama zamas, a term loosely translated as ‘those who try their luck’. While the phrase may sound harmless, it risks softening the seriousness of what is, in reality, a dangerous and unlawful activity.

South Africa cannot afford to treat this issue as something that simply comes and goes. The longer meaningful and lawful solutions are delayed, the more complicated the problem is likely to become.

While I largely agree with President Ramaphosa’s remarks in the SONA, the issue requires far greater urgency. It should not be reduced to another political talking point that deepens divisions among citizens already frustrated with the state of the country.

The real question is whether the country is willing to confront this challenge honestly—and collectively—before it becomes even more difficult to resolve.

It is easy for politicians to speak about these matters from a position of privilege, far removed from the everyday pressures experienced by many communities.

But it must be nice though…