The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has strongly condemned the resurgence of tribal rhetoric in public discourse, warning that such statements risk deepening social divisions at a time when South Africa faces severe economic and social strain.
As unemployment rises and communities experience growing pressure on limited resources, the party has urged political leaders to exercise responsibility and leadership by promoting unity rather than encouraging division. The MK Party argues that illegal immigration is a national challenge that affects South Africans across all provinces, language groups and cultural communities, and should never be framed as the burden of a single group.
National spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said attempts to portray the issue through a tribal or regional lens are both misleading and dangerous.
“Illegal immigration is a reality faced by communities throughout the country. To suggest that it belongs to one province or one community is not only dishonest, but cowardly. At this critical moment, South Africans deserve leadership that unites rather than inflames tensions,” Ndhlela said.
The party noted that concerns related to illegal immigration are not new. For decades, residents in areas such as Alexandra, Diepsloot and Khayelitsha have raised alarm over increased pressure on employment, housing and basic services. These frustrations were evident during violent unrest in 2008, as well as in subsequent outbreaks of violence in 2015 and 2019. According to the MK Party, this history clearly demonstrates that illegal immigration is a national issue rather than a localised or tribal one.
The MK Party has rejected outright the scapegoating of Zulu-speaking communities or any other group. It argues that tribalism neither conceals nor resolves the structural challenges posed by illegal immigration, but instead deepens divisions among communities that are already struggling.
“Tribalism offers no solutions. It distracts from the real issue and places the burden on communities that are themselves victims of economic exclusion. The poor and working class suffer the most as they are forced to compete for scarce jobs and opportunities,” Ndhlela added.
The party also criticised the ANC-led government for what it describes as a continued failure to act decisively. Despite sustained public concern, the Border Management Authority remains under resourced and inadequately staffed, limiting effective border control. The MK Party further pointed to the Immigration Amendment Act of 2025, supported by the ANC, the DA and other parties, which it says has made the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants more difficult by requiring the state to fund legal representation. This, the party argues, places further strain on already stretched public resources.
According to the MK Party, the persistence of illegal immigration is not accidental but deliberate. It claims the system mirrors the cheap labour model inherited from colonialism and apartheid, now maintained in a different form. The party maintains that this model primarily benefits white monopoly capital by suppressing wages and undermining the economic security of ordinary South Africans.
Reaffirming its position, the MK Party said it remains committed to firm and lawful immigration management and to protecting the dignity and economic interests of all citizens. It warned that irresponsible rhetoric undermines social cohesion, fuels tribal tensions and diverts attention from the broader struggle for economic justice and true liberation.
“We call on South Africans to reject divisive narratives and opportunistic politics. Our future lies in unity, justice and the collective pursuit of genuine economic freedom,” Ndhlela said.
The MK Party concluded by urging society to remain focused on building a united, just and truly liberated South Africa.
