The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has warned that landlords who rent accommodation to illegal immigrants risk arrest as South African authorities intensify efforts to enforce immigration laws amid renewed anti-foreigner tensions.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli gave the warning on Wednesday during a community security meeting in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where residents and traditional leaders discussed measures to tackle crime.
According to Ntuli, landlords must ensure prospective tenants present valid identity documents before renting out their properties, warning that those who harbour undocumented foreigners could face prosecution alongside their tenants.
“Everyone who owns cottages, your tenants must first produce IDs before you grant them permission to live there. Community members, may you please report to the police if there are landlords harbouring illegal foreigners so that police can arrest both that person and the landlord,” he said.
The premier’s warning followed concerns raised by traditional leaders, who alleged that some rental properties had become hideouts for criminals who were difficult to trace after committing offences.
Ntuli said community cooperation remained critical to tackling crime, adding that stricter enforcement of immigration laws would help close loopholes exploited by criminal elements.
The development comes amid heightened anti-foreigner sentiment in South Africa, where the March and March movement has been campaigning for the removal of undocumented immigrants from the country.
The renewed tensions have prompted the Nigerian government to evacuate citizens who indicated interest in returning home from South Africa.
The federal government has already evacuated hundreds of Nigerians in four batches.
