The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has raised the alarm over recent violent attacks targeting foreign nationals, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal.

The commission is urging Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia to quickly intervene, warning that vigilantism undermines the nation’s constitutional democracy and threatens social cohesion.

The SAHRC condemned circulating footage of violence, intimidation, property destruction, and looting and said that while the public had a right to protest and raise grievances, it must be done peacefully and within the law.

The commission warned against vigilantism, adding that such acts threaten South Africa’s core constitutional values of dignity, equality, ubuntu, and the rule of law.  

Addressing the broader complexities of migration, the SAHRC highlighted the necessity for collaborative regional strategies across the Southern region, such as leveraging diplomatic channels and technological advancements for humane and responsible border management.

The SAHRC further outlined that several major challenges, including porous borders, illegal migration, unemployment, human trafficking, hijacked buildings, and gender-based violence and femicide must be addressed by relevant government departments through formal, lawful channels.

The commission reminded South Africans and non-nationals that everyone had a duty to abide by the country's laws. It stressed that any criminal act, whether allegedly committed by a citizen or a foreign national, should be reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

“No one, regardless of their nationality, should be denied access to essential services (such as healthcare), nor should they be subjected to extrajudicial violence and any individual accused of a crime must be subject to the rule of law, requiring arrest and a fair trial in a court of law,” the commission said.