Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a strategic move by the government to relocate refugee reception centres closer to border posts, beginning with the Tshwane centre this year. This initiative aims to streamline the processing of asylum applications, ensuring they are handled more efficiently and securely.

According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa, in his address to the nation on Sunday, emphasized that positioning reception centres near the borders will help determine protection needs at the entry point. This approach is intended to provide timely assistance to those genuinely in need of protection.

President Ramaphosa highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to tackle migration challenges by fortifying the immigration system through anti-corruption measures and advanced technology deployment. He underscored the importance of eliminating corruption within the Department of Home Affairs, noting that illegal immigration is often facilitated by corrupt practices. The President stated that officials involved in such activities face severe consequences, including dismissal and prosecution.

He further stressed the importance of embracing migration as a global reality while reinforcing the legal framework to address illegal immigration and its associated challenges. President Ramaphosa called for unity in respecting the Constitution and upholding human rights, while simultaneously protecting the nation's borders and maintaining human dignity.

Expressing optimism, President Ramaphosa assured that South Africa has the capacity to overcome the issue of illegal immigration, drawing on the country's history of overcoming significant challenges.