The Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, has reaffirmed the importance of humane migration policies in promoting human rights and protecting human dignity.
Addressing the two-day National Conference on Human Migration hosted by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in Johannesburg, Pandor stressed the need for continental unity in shaping and implementing meaningful migration reforms.
She expressed concern about what she described as hesitation in extending the principle of Ubuntu to black migrants from poorer African nations. According to Pandor, this selective application of solidarity undermines Africa’s shared values and collective identity.
Focusing on the South African context, Pandor criticised the growing tendency to blame immigrants for systemic government shortcomings. While acknowledging that illegal immigration can have negative consequences, she rejected the broad scapegoating of migrants.
“In South Africa, migrants are blamed for crime — and while some may commit crime, they are blamed for all crime,” she said. “They are blamed for unemployment and even for inadequate school places. This attitude is especially troubling in a country whose Constitution enshrines human dignity and equality.”
Pandor attributed the persistent hostility towards foreign nationals to deepening poverty and the fear and frustration arising from deteriorating service delivery. She cautioned that such conditions often fuel resentment and misinformation.
As part of the solution, Pandor called for coordinated awareness campaigns to educate the public about the history of migration and the foundational values embedded in South Africa’s Constitution. She expressed confidence that greater public understanding could play a critical role in easing tensions and countering migration-related hostility.
Concluding her address, Pandor urged all stakeholders to work collaboratively towards building a stable, efficient and humane migration administration system that upholds constitutional principles and safeguards human rights.
