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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated his government’s commitment to lawful migration management, stressing that violence, intimidation, xenophobia and the spread of misinformation have no place in the country.

Addressing the nation on Sunday, Ramaphosa outlined actions and behaviours that he said are unacceptable, including unauthorised individuals demanding documentation or proof of nationality, blocking access to public services, and acts of violence against foreign nationals.

The President also condemned racism, sexism, xenophobia, Afrophobia and other forms of intolerance, as well as the spread of misinformation, incitement and fake news on social media.

According to Ramaphosa, employers who exploit undocumented workers are equally engaging in conduct that cannot be accepted.

“Only authorised law enforcement agencies may act against violations of the law,” the President said, adding that “all people must be treated with dignity and respect,” regardless of their nationality or immigration status.

Ramaphosa also announced the adoption of a Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management aimed at strengthening border security, enforcing immigration laws, tackling corruption and closing policy loopholes as part of efforts to address illegal immigration in South Africa.

The President said the plan was approved by Cabinet last week and endorsed by the President’s Coordinating Council, which comprises premiers, local government representatives and traditional leaders.

“As government our objective is clear. We want a South Africa where every person who enters the country does so lawfully; a South Africa where immigration laws are respected and enforced; a South Africa where businesses compete fairly; a South Africa where communities feel safe and secure, and a South Africa that remains true to its constitutional values and its commitment to human dignity,” he said.

According to Ramaphosa, the strategy is built on five pillars: cracking down on violations of immigration and labour laws, preventing illegal entry into the country, rooting out corruption in the immigration system, strengthening immigration laws and policies, and enhancing cooperation with other countries to address migration challenges across the region and continent.

On enforcement, the President said government agencies would intensify efforts to identify and deport undocumented foreign nationals residing illegally in the country.

“The Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority, South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies have been and will intensify the process of identifying and deporting undocumented foreign nationals residing illegally in South Africa,” he said.

Highlighting progress already made, Ramaphosa disclosed that “in the past year alone, the BMA managed to intercept and stop over 450,000 people who were attempting to enter South Africa illegally.”

He also announced plans to establish dedicated immigration courts to accelerate deportation processes involving undocumented migrants.

The President said the second pillar of the strategy focuses on strengthening border management and ensuring authorities know who enters the country, why they are entering and how long they are permitted to stay.

“Secure borders are not a sign of hostility towards other countries. They are a fundamental requirement of a sovereign and well-governed State,” Ramaphosa said.

He added that government would continue investing in modern technology, infrastructure and personnel to secure borders while facilitating legitimate trade, travel and economic activity.

As part of the measures, the government will begin a phased relocation of refugee reception centres to border posts, starting with the Tshwane centre later this year.

Ramaphosa said the third pillar centres on eliminating corruption and improving the efficiency of the immigration system through technology-driven reforms.

“We are continuing the crackdown on corruption and inefficiencies in the Department of Home Affairs.

“We must recognise that illegal immigration is often enabled by corruption. Officials who sell documents, facilitate unlawful entry or abuse public office for personal gain betray the trust of the South African people. We will pursue these cases relentlessly.”

According to the President, officials implicated in such offences are already facing disciplinary and criminal action.

“Those responsible are facing dismissal, criminal prosecution and the full consequences of the law,” he said.

Ramaphosa also cited the establishment of an Intelligent Population Register containing biometric data for every person in the country, describing it as a key step towards the introduction of a Digital ID system.

He said efforts to phase out the green ID book would continue, noting that the document remains vulnerable to identity theft and abuse.

The Department of Home Affairs, he said, would soon announce a deadline after which the green ID book would no longer be recognised.

The President further revealed that the move would help curb abuse of the Traffic Registration Number, which foreign nationals require to register or purchase vehicles.

“The Department of Transport will issue new regulations to align with the identification laws of our country within the next three months,” he said.

Addressing legislative reforms, Ramaphosa acknowledged weaknesses in South Africa’s immigration framework.

“The laws that regulate immigration in South Africa are fragmented and often contradictory. They allow legal loopholes that are exploited by undocumented migrants. We are addressing these loopholes,” he said.

On regional cooperation, the President stressed the need for African countries to work together to tackle the root causes of migration.

“We need to address the factors that drive migration on our continent and elsewhere,” Ramaphosa said.

He added that South Africa would continue collaborating with neighbouring countries and other African nations to create conditions where migration is driven by choice rather than necessity.

“As part of this effort, I will be sending envoys to a number of sister African countries to outline the measures that we are announcing this evening,” he said.

Ramaphosa assured citizens that Cabinet would continue monitoring implementation of the migration strategy and regularly review progress on the measures announced.

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Former Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, has expressed support for a stronger United States military presence in Borno State, urging American forces to establish a base in the Mandara Mountains to help eliminate Boko Haram insurgents operating in the region.

Ndume made the call on Sunday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, amid renewed concerns over terrorist activities in parts of the North-East.

The senator, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, said the United States could play a critical role in clearing insurgent strongholds in the Mandara Mountains, Sambisa Forest and other enclaves where terrorists continue to operate.

He said, “I’m hoping that they (Donald Trump and his men) could even go far beyond, as I said earlier, when the issue of Americans coming in (was reported) since last year. So I wish they could even establish their base under the Mandara Mountains and drive away all those Boko Haram elements from there.

“And then from the Mandara Mountains, it can serve as a point to even observe up to Sambisa. They have the technology to monitor those (insurgents). So I am in full support.

“In fact, I am appealing. Let the Americans go to Gwoza and take over the Mandara Mountains, please. It will go a long way to cut down on (insecurity) because they have a ring road in Borno State.”

He further explained that the geographical positioning of the Mandara Mountains could help disrupt supply routes and movement corridors used by insurgents across Borno State.

“So, from Sambisa, they can go to Lake Chad and come through the route in Kaga. From Kaga, they can go down through Mandaragirau or Buni Yadi and move on to Gwoza through Mandaragirau, as I said. With that, they have cycled to Borno State.

“So if that cycle can be cut off, we’ll have a reduction (of insurgency). In fact, there will be nowhere for them to go to get support or supplies. But you can’t do that, as I said, without a team and enough boots on the ground. The Nigerian army needs the resources,” he added.

The lawmaker’s comments come against the backdrop of ongoing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in the fight against terrorism in the North-East.

Last month, the Defence Headquarters announced that joint counter-terrorism operations conducted in collaboration with the United States Africa Command had resulted in the killing of 175 ISIS terrorists in North-East Nigeria.

The Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, disclosed this in a statement, noting that the coordinated operations represented significant progress in efforts to dismantle terrorist networks operating in the region.

For more than a decade, Borno has remained the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency, with security forces continuing military operations across the Sambisa Forest, the Mandara Mountains and the Lake Chad Basin to contain terrorist activities and restore stability to affected communities.

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The Federal Government has introduced fresh measures aimed at strengthening financial discipline across Ministries, Departments and Agencies by placing new limits on reimbursable imprest and tightening oversight of public funds.

The new directives are contained in the 2026 Annual General Imprest Warrant signed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele and conveyed through a Federal Treasury Circular issued by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

The circular, dated June 3, 2026, and signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, authorises accounting officers across the three arms of government to approve funds to eligible imprest holders while setting clear spending thresholds and compliance requirements.

According to the circular, ministers will be entitled to a maximum reimbursable imprest of N700,000, while permanent secretaries and directors-general will be limited to N500,000. Directors and heads of departments will be entitled to N300,000, while heads of formations in states and other authorised imprest holders will have a ceiling of N100,000.

The Office of the Accountant-General said the move was in line with the provisions of Financial Regulation 1003 and forms part of efforts to ensure accountability and prudent management of public resources.

The circular stated, “All Accounting Officers in the three arms of government, including Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Offices and Agencies, are hereby authorised to approve funds to eligible imprest holders.”

However, it added that “the limit of reimbursable imprest shall be” N700,000 for ministers, N500,000 for permanent secretaries and directors-general, N300,000 for directors and heads of departments, and N100,000 for heads of formations and other authorised holders.

In another significant directive, the government restricted the frequency of imprest reimbursements.

“The frequency of reimbursement of any standing imprest shall normally be once in a quarter and shall not exceed twice in a quarter where the need arises,” the circular stated.

The government also directed all accounting officers and expenditure controllers to ensure that procurements above N1m are conducted through contract awards in line with existing procurement laws.

“All local procurement of stores and services costing above N1,000,000 shall be made only through the award of contracts, except as otherwise provided by the Public Procurement Act,” the circular noted.

The directive further emphasised strict compliance with financial regulations governing the management and retirement of imprest accounts.

To strengthen monitoring, all self-accounting ministries, extra-ministerial departments and agencies have been directed to submit returns to the Accountant-General within 30 days of the circular.

The returns are expected to contain details of how 2025 imprest allocations were retired, as well as lists of approved imprest holders for 2026 and their locations.

The government also ordered imprest holders to operate dedicated operational bank accounts in compliance with the Federal Government’s electronic payment policy.

According to the circular, monthly reports detailing funds paid into the accounts and evidence of retirement of such funds must be submitted to the Office of the Accountant-General.

The Accountant-General warned that the Treasury Inspectorate Department would conduct routine inspections throughout the financial year and impose sanctions for violations.

“Any breach of the regulations in the operation of imprest accounts shall lead to the withdrawal of the right to issue any imprest by the affected accounting officer, and appropriate sanctions shall be applied accordingly,” the circular stated.

The directive was addressed to senior government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of extra-ministerial agencies, service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, chairmen of federal commissions and anti-corruption agencies, as well as heads of revenue-generating institutions.

Imprest is a cash advance provided to public officers to cover routine and urgent official expenses that may not require the full government procurement process.

Under Nigeria’s Financial Regulations, imprest holders are required to account for all expenditures through supporting documents and retire such advances before obtaining fresh approvals.

Successive administrations have sought to strengthen controls around imprest management following concerns raised by audit reports and oversight institutions over weak documentation, delayed retirement of advances and instances of misuse of public funds.

The Federal Government has, in recent years, expanded the use of electronic payment systems, tightened treasury controls through the Treasury Single Account policy and strengthened compliance requirements for Ministries, Departments and Agencies as part of broader public financial management reforms aimed at improving transparency, accountability and value for money in government spending.

The latest circular signals the government’s intention to further tighten oversight of cash advances and reinforce adherence to financial regulations across the federal public service.