UN calls for calm, respect for the rule of law, accountability and protection amid migration related tensions in South Africa

Pretoria, 12 June 2026 – The United Nations country team in South Africa echoes calls for calm and urges responsible leadership at all levels to help reduce tensions and restore trust.  The UN in South Africa is deeply concerned by recent reports of ongoing threats and violence, including deaths, assaults, destruction of property, intimidation, hate speech and other acts of criminality affecting migrants, migrant workers, asylum seekers, refugees and host communities.

The UN notes and commends the clear public statements by President Cyril Ramaphosa and other South African authorities and stakeholders reaffirming that the rule of law must prevail and that no individual or group has the right to take the law into their own hands regardless of nationality as comprehensive solutions are advanced to ensure orderly, dignified, safe and regular migration.

The UN recognizes the genuine concerns expressed by communities regarding the difficult socio-economic conditions and its impact on social cohesion. Addressing these challenges requires inclusive, lawful and practical responses that promote safety and respect for human rights in accordance with domestic and international law.

The UN expresses condolences for the lives lost and strongly condemns all forms of violence, vigilantism and incitement to hatred as they are contrary to national and international human rights standards. These must be addressed through the de-escalation of tensions, protection, accountability and respect for the rule of law and effective law enforcement.

Building on existing social cohesion initiatives and established mechanisms to prevent and address xenophobia, the UN in South Africa continues to support national policy engagement and implementation, service delivery, community based interventions, public communication and the implementation of recommendations from the UN human rights mechanisms, migration and refugee frameworks. These efforts also contribute to promoting safe, orderly and regular migration and the implementation of international norms and standards.

The UN is actively engaging with national, provincial and municipal authorities, including law enforcement, oversight and accountability institutions, as well as civil society, community leaders and affected communities. The UN is also drawing on recent field engagements in KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape provinces.

The UN recognizes that strengthening service delivery including equitable access to health care and education, livelihoods, food security, and economic and labour market opportunities is essential for addressing some of the underlying drivers of social tensions and vulnerability. These efforts aim to contribute to reducing tensions, reduce vulnerabilities, strengthening protection for at-risk populations, particularly women and children, and enhance opportunities for both host communities and migrant populations, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas. Further these efforts aim at countering misinformation, and scaling up practical, community-based responses that address both immediate needs and the underlying drivers of instability.

The UN is also supporting efforts to strengthen human rights-based approaches to migration governance, including improving documentation and case processing, addressing backlogs in asylum procedures, supporting route-based approaches and cross-border preparedness, and assisting voluntary return of refugees, where appropriate.

The UN stands ready to further support national, provincial and local efforts to restore calm, protect lives and livelihoods, and promote peaceful and inclusive communities.