ActionSA proposes constitutional amendments to stem SA's immigration problems

CAPE TOWN - ActionSA is proposing a raft of amendments to the Constitution aimed at stemming the country’s immigration problems.

Among these are changes to the Bill of Rights on provisions related to housing, healthcare and education.

The party’s Athol Trollip says that for too long, the country’s hospitality and limited resources have been exploited.

The deadline for submissions to Parliament’s constitutional review committee closed on Saturday, with it having already received more than 200 submissions by late last month.

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ActionSA says amendments to the Constitution should start with the preamble, which has been used to extend constitutional protections even to those residing in the country illegally.

The party says this deliberate misreading has placed undue pressure on limited public resources.

Parliamentary leader Athol Trollip says amendments should also be made to Chapter 2 of the Bill of Rights in respect of Sections 26 and 27, related to housing and healthcare, respectively.

"This is an area of exploitation that has a massive impact on our economy, and our municipality’s ability to deliver the services required by people living in this country."

Trollip says more than 70% of patient files at Johannesburg clinics belong to foreign nationals, while there’s also pressure on schools to find placements for learners, prompting a recommendation to also amend Section 29 on education.

"To provide only citizens, legal immigrants, and legally recognised residents, rather than all people living in South Africa, because this is where the illegal immigration crisis impacts our country so dramatically."

It will now be up to the parliamentary committee to hold oral hearings and to debate whether to propose amendments to the house, which will require a two-thirds majority to pass.