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Government warns against online incitement of foreign nationals

Published

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration said on Sunday that people who use social media to incite violence or intimidate foreign nationals will face consequences. It also said deportations will continue while government seeks court guidance on a Constitutional Court judgment.

The committee said online content is inflammatory and misleading. It said the content could provoke hostility against foreign nationals, public officials and State institutions. It also said talk about the judgment has caused uncertainty, speculation and tension in some communities.

The Constitutional Court handed down the judgment on 7 July 2026. It dealt with how asylum applications are processed and declared sections of the Refugees Act unconstitutional.

Committee chair Mmamoloko Kubayi said: "Our work on enforcing the law will continue; this therefore means deportations will continue". She said government is seeking legal guidance on how to apply the judgment. The Department of Home Affairs will strengthen its capacity to handle asylum cases.

Key facts

Who
Mmamoloko Kubayi (IMC Chair); Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration (government committee issuing the warning); Department of Home Affairs (government department to strengthen asylum administration capacity)
What
The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration warned against online incitement and intimidation of foreign nationals amid tensions over migration and asylum applications, and said deportations would continue while government seeks court guidance on a Constitutional Court judgment of 7 July 2026.
When
11 October 2026
Where
South Africa
Status
Reported

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