Democratic Alliance (DA) Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane has distanced the party from anti-immigration protests that have swept through parts of the country, saying the party will not support violence or threats against foreign nationals in an effort to win votes ahead of the local government elections.
Speaking during the launch of the party’s mayoral pledges for Ekurhuleni on Wednesday, Rasilingwane acknowledged growing public frustration over illegal immigration and failures in border management but insisted that immigration laws must be enforced through legal processes rather than community-led crackdowns.
Her remarks come amid a charged political climate as anti-immigration protests continue across several communities, with some groups claiming undocumented foreign nationals have until June 30 to leave South Africa.
The demonstrations have turned violent in some areas, with foreign-owned spaza shops and vehicles reportedly set alight. The unrest has also triggered diplomatic tensions, with Ghana and Nigeria summoning South African high commissioners .
Malawi and Ghana have moved to repatriate some of their citizens.
“There has been issues within the border management and that is the reason why we sit with many of the challenges that we do have today,” Rasilingwane said.
“However, as a Democratic Alliance, we’re not going to go ahead and join the vigilante that is taking place where people are being killed and people are being threatened just so we can gain or garner votes.”
She said immigration laws must be enforced through the rule of law and proper government processes.
“We are saying that things must be done thoroughly through the rule of law so that people can be taken back and they can come back through proper documents to be able to enter South Africa.
“We are not going to campaign with that strategy because we don’t think that is the right way to do things. We do not believe that we should be killing people to be able to get governance right.”
Rasilingwane blamed years of poor management at the Department of Home Affairs for contributing to the country’s immigration challenges.
“We need to tell the ANC that the reason we sit with the challenges that we have now is simply because they failed to manage Home Affairs for the longest of time, and now we need to have a proper strategy and not kill people to be able to win votes,” she said.
Her comments come days after President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on the issue, warning citizens against taking immigration enforcement into their own hands and stressing that only authorised law enforcement agencies have the power to enforce the country’s immigration laws.
The immigration debate formed part of the DA’s broader election message as Rasilingwane also unveiled what the party described as a five-point plan to rescue Ekurhuleni from service delivery failures, corruption and financial instability.
Addressing supporters alongside DA federal leader Geordin Hill-Lewis, Rasilingwane painted a bleak picture of the metro’s current state, accusing successive administrations of mismanagement and corruption.
“Ekurhuleni stands at a crossroads,” she said.
“We are a city blessed with opportunity. A city strategically positioned to be the economic engine of South Africa. Yet despite all these advantages, too many of our people wake up every day feeling forgotten.”
She cited water outages, housing backlogs, deteriorating infrastructure and rising crime as evidence of governance failures across the municipality.
“While residents worked, politicians looted. While communities waited, corruption flourished. While families struggled, billions disappeared,” she said.
The DA’s first pledge focuses on growing the economy and creating jobs through improved service delivery and reducing bureaucratic obstacles for businesses.
“Our goal is to make Ekurhuleni the easiest metro in South Africa to invest in and do business in because we believe that the greatest anti-poverty programme is a job,” Rasilingwane said.
The second pledge centres on stabilising the city’s finances through improved billing systems, fair property valuations and better budget prioritisation.
Her third pledge focuses on tackling corruption, including conducting lifestyle audits and skills audits on senior officials, strengthening disciplinary processes and blacklisting contractors implicated in corruption.
“We are going to strengthen consequence management by ensuring rapid disciplinary processes and firing officials found guilty of wrongdoing,” she said.
On public safety, Rasilingwane pledged to expand and reform the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), improve cooperation with community policing structures and strengthen by-law enforcement.
“A government that cannot keep its people safe has failed in its most basic duty,” she said.
The party’s fifth pledge focuses on restoring basic services through infrastructure maintenance, improved water and electricity networks, pothole repairs, streetlight restoration and enhanced refuse collection.
Rasilingwane also sought to frame the upcoming local government elections as a choice between the DA and the ANC.
“This election is a two-horse race. The next government of Ekurhuleni will either be led by the Democratic Alliance or it will be led by the ANC,” she said.
“Ekurhuleni cannot afford another five years of chaos. It needs a party that is serious about governing, one with a plan, with the courage to make difficult decisions, and one which will put residents first.”
She concluded by urging residents to register and vote, saying the future of the metro would ultimately be determined by its people.
“The plans are ready. The team is ready. The vision is ready. The only thing missing is your mandate,” she said.
