Pretoria: Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has called for a balanced approach to migration that protects South Africa's borders while upholding the dignity and human rights of foreign nationals and other vulnerable groups. Chikunga made the call at the Gertrude Ntiti Shope Memorial Lecture, held at Freedom Park in Pretoria. According to South African Government News Agency, Chikunga delivered the keynote address and reflected on the legacy of the late liberation struggle stalwart. She used Ma Shope's life and internationalist outlook to highlight the need for humane and orderly migration policies. Chikunga emphasized that South Africa's approach to migration must be informed by the country's history, noting that apartheid used migration and migrant labour as instruments of domination, exploitation, and subordination. Chikunga stated that migration has become one of the defining challenges of our time, with war, political instability, poverty, econo mic inequality, persecution, and environmental disasters pushing people across borders in search of safety and opportunity. She acknowledged that mismanagement of migration can leave communities concerned about the governance of borders, public services, and labour markets but warned against blaming foreign nationals for broader social and economic problems. Chikunga further remarked that Ma Shope's legacy, who lived and worked in several countries during her years in exile, offers important lessons on migration, solidarity, and human dignity. She highlighted the vulnerability of women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, refugees, and victims of trafficking, noting that these groups often carry the heaviest burden when migration systems fail. The Minister underscored that South Africa has both the right and responsibility to secure its borders and enforce its immigration laws, ensuring these processes are carried out through lawful and fair procedures. She stressed that immigration law enfo rcement should remain the responsibility of authorised state institutions and warned against communities taking the law into their own hands by demanding proof of nationality on the streets. Chikunga also condemned the exploitation of undocumented workers by employers who take advantage of their vulnerable status.
