The IFP has issued an urgent appeal for public order and strict adherence to the law as South Africa manages a high-stakes immigration crisis, marked by the mass gathering of foreign nationals at repatriation centres and upcoming nationwide protests scheduled for June 30.

On Wednesday, the party called for heightened coordination between South African authorities and African governments to manage the swelling numbers of undocumented immigrants seeking to return to their home countries.

Thousands of foreign nationals, including undocumented immigrants, have assembled at embassy offices and temporary repatriation centres across South Africa, waiting for formal verification and processing.

To prevent logistical bottlenecks and humanitarian concerns, the IFP has urged neighbouring African governments to cooperate directly with Pretoria.

The party stressed that expediting the verification process is vital to ensuring that those wishing to return home can do so safely and efficiently.

A central pillar for the IFP is ensuring that the repatriation system is not exploited by individuals fleeing justice.

The party urged that the South African Police Service and border law enforcement agencies block the departure of any foreign national currently facing criminal charges or wanted for offences in South Africa.

"Those accused of criminal conduct must be held accountable and allowed to face the full might of the law," stated IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa.

With tensions escalating across the country, the government has intensified security preparations ahead of planned nationwide demonstrations on June 30. The IFP has appealed directly to citizens and residents to remain calm, while explicitly calling on protest organisers to maintain absolute discipline.

While Hlengwa acknowledged that the right to protest is fully protected under South Africa’s Constitution, he emphasised that it must be exercised responsibly. Protests, he noted, must never infringe on the safety, dignity, or rights of others living in the country.

The IFP noted years of systemic vulnerabilities in South Africa’s immigration framework, including porous and poorly monitored borders, inadequate enforcement mechanisms by Home Affairs and corruption in the immigration system.

The party also highlighted the severe strain of undocumented immigration on employment, public services, and infrastructure.

The party reaffirmed its commitment to economic policies that prioritise employment opportunities for South African citizens, while still accommodating scarce and critical skills necessary for broader economic development.

Hlengwa clarified that demanding the legal deportation of undocumented individuals is not rooted in xenophobic hostility, but rather in the universal right of any sovereign State to regulate its borders and protect its national interests.

Crucially, the IFP noted that all immigration enforcement must ultimately remain the sole responsibility of the State, executed in strict alignment with the Constitution, the rule of law, and South Africa's international human rights obligations.