LGE results: Schreiber outlines govt’s plans to strengthen immigration management
The plans come amid continued concerns about border control and the enforcement of immigration laws.
Mongezi Koko
Politicians at the IEC’s Results Operations Centre in Midrand, where the final local government election results were announced. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
With the 2026 local government election results declared, the focus now shifts from campaigning to governance as parties face pressure to deliver.
As the final results were announced on Sunday, Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber took the opportunity to outline the government’s plans to strengthen immigration management.
The plans come amid continued concerns about border control and the enforcement of immigration laws.
Schreiber was among the government officials gathered at the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) Results Operations Centre in Midrand, where the final local government election results were announced.
The African National Congress (ANC) won the largest share of the national vote, with 30.89%, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), with 24.60%.
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party received 9.61%, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and ActionSA secured 6.25% and 5.68%, respectively.
The results also left 127 municipalities with hung councils, meaning parties will have to negotiate to form governments.
On the immigration front, Schreiber said the government is moving ahead with a new online registration system for asylum seekers, which is expected to go live on Tuesday.
The system will require biometric information to help verify applicants’ identities, check previously rejected claims and strengthen the processing of applications.
The minister, who represents the DA in the Government of National Unity (GNU), was speaking in his capacity as Home Affairs Minister.
“The issue we have is capacity; we have just over 700 immigration officers in the country, we are hiring another 300, but we want to sign MOUs with many more parts of government so we can bolster that capacity and work together.”
Schreiber said the plan is part of the government’s wider migration management approach, which includes tougher immigration enforcement, more immigration officers and improved security at the country’s borders.