Craig Smith Weighs In on South Africa’s Anti-Migrant Protests and the Role of Political Rhetoric
As featured in IOL News, 2 May 2026
South Africa is facing a surge in anti-migrant protests, with demonstrations escalating across major cities and authorities warning of decisive action against those targeting foreign nationals. The IOL News report captures the growing volatility around immigration, with political parties, civic movements, and law enforcement all under scrutiny for their roles in either inflaming or containing the unrest.
Amid the tension, Craig Smith, immigration lawyer and founder of Craig Smith and Associates, offered a measured and legally grounded perspective. With local government elections approaching in late 2026, Smith noted that anti-immigrant sentiment has become a tool of electioneering, warning that politically charged language is being used irresponsibly and could result in criminal conduct. He urged all public figures to choose their words carefully.
Craig Smith also challenged the widespread misuse of the term “illegal,” stressing that a sound understanding of both the Immigration Act and the Refugees Act is required before any such label is applied to a foreign national, and that failure to make this distinction is both inaccurate and irresponsible.
On the protests themselves, Craig Smith was unequivocal, describing the marches targeting foreign nationals as clearly xenophobic and potentially criminal under the Riotous Assemblies Act, drawing a direct line between inflammatory rhetoric and the real-world violence that has historically followed such demonstrations.
Rather than endorsing enforcement through public action, Craig Smith proposed a constructive, government-led solution: deploying volunteers or unemployed youth to conduct door-to-door checks on legal status, an approach he argued would create jobs, support the Department of Home Affairs, and uphold the rule of law without encouraging vigilantism.
As South Africa navigates a sensitive immigration moment, Craig Smith’s commentary serves as a timely reminder that sound immigration policy requires legal literacy, institutional accountability, and leadership free from political opportunism.