Madam,

As South Africa approaches the much-publicised  June 30 deadline set by anti-illegal immigration groups, one message must rise above all the political slogans and public anger: No human life is worth sacrificing to prove a point.

South Africa undoubtedly faces legitimate challenges. Illegal immigration places additional pressure on public services, housing, healthcare, education and employment opportunities. Every sovereign nation has the right to protect its borders and ensure that immigration laws are respected. No reasonable person can argue against the enforcement of the law. However, there is an equally important principle that must never be forgotten: The rule of law cannot be replaced by mob justice.

The disturbing images emerging from parts of South Africa, foreign nationals being assaulted, families forced from their homes, businesses looted and journalists attacked, serve as a painful reminder of how quickly public frustration can descend into lawlessness. History offers a sobering lesson. The xenophobic violence of 2008 claimed more than 60 lives, displaced thousands and left scars that remain visible nearly two decades later. South Africa cannot afford to repeat that tragedy.

This places an enormous responsibility on both the South African Police Service and the leaders of protest movements.

Police must protect every person within the country’s borders, regardless of nationality or immigration status. At the same time, they must exercise professionalism, restraint and sound judgment, ensuring that force is used only when absolutely necessary to save lives.

Equally, protest organisers cannot simply distance themselves from violence after the fact. Leadership means taking responsibility before violence occurs. If demonstrations are genuinely intended to call for stronger immigration enforcement, then organisers must insist that supporters remain peaceful, unarmed and respectful of the law. Any message that encourages intimidation or hatred only fuels chaos and undermines the legitimacy of their cause.

The South African Government also has a duty to confront the root causes of public frustration. Border management must be strengthened, immigration systems improved and applications processed efficiently. Allowing illegal immigration to persist unchecked only creates fertile ground for anger, vigilantism and political exploitation. Enforcing immigration laws and protecting human rights are not contradictory goals; they are both essential responsibilities of a constitutional democracy.

For neighbouring countries, including Eswatini, stability in South Africa is of immense importance. The two nations share deep economic, social and family ties. Any widespread unrest inevitably affects trade, employment and regional security.

As June 30 approaches, wisdom must prevail over emotion. Protesters have a constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully. Police have a constitutional duty to maintain order. Neither responsibility should come at the expense of innocent lives.

The measure of any society is not how loudly it expresses its frustrations, but how responsibly it addresses them. Africa must remember its shared humanity beyond borders. While every nation has the right to enforce its laws and protect its citizens, we cannot allow division, violence or hatred to define us. Our strength as a continent lies in unity, respect and peaceful coexistence. Let us not turn against one another in moments of tension, but instead choose dialogue over destruction and understanding over hostility. Africa, let us be united.

Numbers of Malawian Nationals is rapidly increasing in Durban streets. (Pic: Mlondi Radebe)