- Freedom Front Plus leader Dr Cornè Mulder commented on the anti-illegal immigration protests that shook parts of South Africa
- Dr Mulder made the remarks during a party election campaign tour in Durbanville, Cape Town, ahead of the local government elections
- His comments drew sharp and divided reactions from South Africans, with some praising the stance and others criticising it
Source: Getty Images
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has spent a decade reporting on South Africa's political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online journalism.
WESTERN CAPE — Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) leader Dr Cornè Mulder has described protests targeting undocumented foreign nationals as understandable, wading into one of South Africa's most contested political issues ahead of the local government elections.
Dr Mulder made the remarks on 21 October 2026 while addressing party members during a campaign tour stop in Durbanville, Cape Town. The issue of undocumented migrants has been a contentious issue in the country, with tensions boiling over on several occasions.
Dr Mulder calls for secure borders
Speaking directly to the concerns raised by party members, Mulder argued that South Africa cannot simply allow people to cross its borders without the required documentation and expect no consequences.
"You cannot just allow people to stream into a country and take no action in terms of what should be done," Mulder said.
"We need to address this quickly; it doesn't make sense in terms of just leaving your borders open and saying, well, there is nothing we can do. It should start basically with making our borders secure again.
"People are welcome to come; they just have to apply and come to South Africa with the necessary visa or permit, and then you will be accommodated."
His comments came weeks after violent unrest broke out in Durban and Soweto in early October 2026, during which vehicles were set alight and foreign-owned shops were looted. The unrest followed a Constitutional Court ruling that eased certain asylum access restrictions, which sparked widespread misinformation and public anger.
The broader context stretches back to earlier in the year, when protest movements in March called for action against undocumented immigrants, setting an unofficial deadline for foreign nationals to leave the country by the end of June.
South Africans divided over Dr Mulder's comments
Mulder's remarks drew split reactions on social media.
Collin Vusi wrote:
"Politicians with common sense are very rare in South Africa. I am glad we still have one."
Fano Fanza added:
"VF plus is the only solution to this problem we are having as a country. They can fix the damage caused by the ANC within five years."
Others were more sceptical.
Moafrika Sekhukhune said:
"I don't believe him. Elections make people say things they don't mean."
Solly Palare commented:
"They want black votes. After elections, they will go back to factory settings."
Lennox Usher Mhlongo noted:
"So every party is campaigning on the use of foreigners as a strategy for votes."
FF+ says Afrikaners willing to help South Africa
Freedom Front Plus leader Dr Mulder responded to President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address speech.
Dr Mulder discussed Afrikaners' willingness to help fix some of the country's problems, but noted it was not unconditional.
Donald Trump has previously weighed in on the unhappiness of Afrikaners in South Africa, offering them refuge in the USA.
Source: Briefly News
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