South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a coordinated regional response to migration as concerns over undocumented immigration and tensions involving foreign nationals intensify in South Africa.

Speaking at the 46th Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Durban, Ramaphosa said the migration challenge was complex and required greater cooperation among the 16 member states.

The issue has become increasingly sensitive in South Africa, where anti-immigration groups have staged demonstrations demanding tougher action against undocumented migrants.

Ramaphosa said South Africa had openly raised its migration concerns with regional partners and called for collective action to address the issue.

Ramaphosa has argued that migration cannot be addressed through enforcement alone. He has called on SADC countries to tackle the underlying causes pushing people to leave their countries, including conflict, political instability, poverty and limited economic opportunities.

At the same time, South Africa is strengthening the enforcement of immigration and labour laws, tightening border controls and improving its migration-management systems.

The debate comes as South Africa continues to face high unemployment, inequality and pressure on public services, factors that have fuelled public frustration over migration.

Ramaphosa has also condemned discrimination and attacks against foreign nationals, warning that concerns over immigration should not lead to xenophobia or violence.

With South Africa holding the rotating SADC chairmanship for 2026-27, migration is expected to remain high on the regional agenda.

For Ramaphosa, the challenge is to manage migration more effectively while addressing the economic and security conditions that push people to leave their countries.

The objective, he argues, is to ensure that migration becomes a matter of choice rather than desperation.