The Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie has reiterated his demand for the deportation of illegal foreigners, declaring "Abahambe,” (let them go), insisting that undocumented foreigners working in restaurants and receiving healthcare should leave.

McKenzie argued that illegal immigrants dominate the restaurant industry in Cape Town, Western Cape, while South Africans remain jobless.

He added, despite being labelled as xenophobic for his views, he has embraced the label.

“I've embraced that. But here's the issue. This is the uncomfortable thing that you don't want to hear, but you're going to hear today,” McKenzie said in an interview with BizNews.

McKenzie, who also serves as the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, has repeatedly called for the deportation of illegal foreigners.

He claimed that undocumented foreigners are not contributing to the country’s economy by VAT, and are taking the jobs that South Africans could fill.

“Illegal foreigners working in your houses, working in your businesses, you don't VAT them. You leave them with your children, you don't know who they are,” McKenzie said.

He further alleged that some of these people were arrested in their home countries and, upon release, entered South Africa illegally.

“Some of them, when they are in jail in Ethiopia, when they get released from jail, they come to South Africa. When they are in jail in Zimbabwe, when they are released, they come to South Africa,” he said.

“All illegal foreigners need to leave this country.”

McKenzie expressed concern with foreign nationals being hired as workers while South Africans are often overlooked for jobs.

He suggested this is driven by racism, as employees prefer foreigners who have no rights, unions, or recourse.

“When you start saying stuff like, ‘Zimbabweans are hard workers, South Africans don't want to work, no, it's not about South Africans who don't want to work. It is your racism that you are hiding, that you prefer a foreigner, because they have no rights,” he said.

He continued, stressing the harm caused by undocumented immigrants, especially in violent incidents.

“If somebody kills your brother, your sister, your mother, and they are not documented, it's only then when you'll see the harm that illegal foreigners are causing us.”

McKenzie called on all restaurants in Cape Town to stop employing illegal foreigners.

“Go to every restaurant in Cape Town, illegal foreigners are working. Stop hiring illegal foreigners. Get someone who is South African and can pay VAT.”

He also argued that illegal foreigners should not receive medical attention in the country, saying that their presence contributes to the long lines at healthcare facilities.

“The people that don't have medical aid must stand in the line and there's 10 Zimbabweans ahead of them,” he said.

McKenzie also criticised the housing system, claiming that foreign nationals are taking up the spaces on RDP housing lists meant for South Africans.

“The people that apply for housing must stand in the line because there are 300 Mozambicans on the same housing list,” he said.

He reiterated that 12% of South Africa’s prison population consists of illegal foreigners, which he said is “not normal.”

“So I'm still saying to you, Abahambe, they must go,” he said.

With the upcoming 2026 local government elections, McKenzie emphasised that deporting illegal immigrants, specifically those working in restaurants and accessing healthcare services will be a key focus for the PA.

“Next year, when we start the campaign, we are coming to all the businesses, all your businesses that are hiring illegal foreigners. We are going to give you South Africans to work there. They will have no excuse. . .,” he said.

“Get rid of your illegal foreigners now, because next year is not going to be easy. You heard it here first.”

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

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