From store visits to the campaign trail: How foreigners took the spotlight in 2022

Immigration remained a political hot potato as minority parties canvassed for support around it.

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa addressed it at the beginning of the year, saying the party needed to lead an orderly debate on the matter and align it with principles of pan-Africanism or risk it being hijacking by right-wing elements.

“The ANC is urged to continue to mobilise progressively for this on the continent and globally to advance a progressive international agenda to counter the strong hegemonic agendas being imposed in some parts of the world. A rising and increasingly prosperous Africa will impact progressively on South Africa’s prospects as well,” he said.

In July the party's national executive committee (NEC) said the country's approach to migration should be built on protecting national interests, maintaining peace and friendships, and promoting progressive pan-Africanism.

It called for:

• Improved border security through the Border Management Agency.

• Institute legislative reform to address contradictory regulations.

• Improved home affairs’ capacity to process applications and implement regulations without undermining the economy or abusing human rights.

• Law enforcement to crack down on human trafficking and abuse of immigrants.

ANC Veterans’ League president Snuki Zikalala got tongues wagging in March when he told Operation Dudula and Dudula Movement protesters to go to school, get skills, and not harass foreigners.

This while chairperson of the ANC subcommittee on international relations Lindiwe Zulu said countries should take responsibility for their citizens.

Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi split opinions with his comments on illegal immigrants, but the attention turned to Limpopo health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba in August after she was filmed confronting a foreigner scheduled for surgery at a hospital in the province.

“You are supposed to be with Mnangagwa (Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa). You are killing my health system. When you guys are sick you just say, 'Let's cross the Limpopo river, there's an MEC there who's running a charity department'.

“In Limpopo we have 5.7-million people, 91% do not have medical aid, they are dependent on the state. The 9% have medical aids. Instead of using the budget for what it's meant for ... You are not even registered anywhere, you are illegal ... This is unfair ...” she said.

Speaking to TimesLIVE, Ramathuba said her comments were taken out of context.