ITSHOKENG KEKANA | Conflict over immigration a cumulative cost of governance that arrives too late

The article argues that growing public concern and protests over illegal immigration have created a cumulative governance cost that arrives too late, producing friction among state institutions. It says different organs respond to the same crisis through their own constitutional mandates, but when those actions are uncoordinated they can conflict, undermining each other. Labour organizations have raised concerns that migrant workers have allegedly been dismissed, retrenched, or barred from returning to workplaces amid a climate where some employers may act under heightened public pressure. The government, meanwhile, has announced tougher measures against employers hiring undocumented foreign nationals, including more workplace inspections and proposals for significantly harsher penalties. The piece describes a “circular blame” dynamic, noting that border security, law enforcement, employer compliance, and labour defense responsibilities are not mutually exclusive. It contends that delayed enforcement and independent interventions after years of unresolved issues contribute to a systemic failure rather than isolated institutional shortcomings.