The Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands has issued a formal directive to property owners in the secondary town of Estcourt to stop renting out their premises to suspected illegal immigrants to conduct business while flouting the country’s immigration laws.
The directive dated 7 April 2026 was issued after the Mayor of the IFP-run municipality, Mduduzi Myeza, late last week said that after the long Easter weekend, they would embark on an official campaign to drive out illegal immigrants from the area.
Myeza also told the business owners to stop leasing their properties to the suspected illegal immigrants.
“After the Easter holidays we will face foreign nationals head on, their time is over, especially in town (Estcourt). I have heard that some of them say they are not going anywhere, we will see who shall have the last word on the matter.
“Those people who are owning the buildings particularly in town they must stop giving the illegal foreigners buildings,” Myeza said in a post on his official Facebook account.
In the formal directive issued by the office of the Municipal Manager, the property owners were reminded that they have an obligation to help uphold the country’s immigration laws.
“The Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality has noted with concern the increasing number of business premises with the Estcourt Central Business District (CBD) being leased or sub-leased to individuals operating businesses unlawfully, and in some instances, are suspected to be foreign nationals without the required legal documentation to conduct business within the Republic of South Africa.
“The practice undermines regulatory compliance, creates unfair competition, and poses risk relating to health, safety, and orderly economic development within the CDB. Property owners and landlords are hereby reminded that they have a legal responsibility to ensure that tenants occupying their buildings operate lawfully and in compliance with all applicable legislation,” reads part of the directive to the property owners.
The directive further warned that municipal officials would soon undertake a process to enforce all applicable laws, and in cases where there are violations, actions would be taken.
“Please be advised that the municipality, together with relevant law enforcement authorities, will be conducting compliance inspections within the Estcourt CBD. Non-compliance may be subject to: compliance notices, fine and penalties, closure of unlawful businesses and legal action in terms of applicable legislation.
“The municipality requests your cooperation in promoting a lawful, safe and economically sustainable Estcourt CBD,” further reads the directive.
The local business federation, the Uthukela Business Federation, has yet to publicly comment on the directive issued to its members.
Myeza is not new to butting heads with suspected illegal immigrants, as he has previously led raids in local townships and peri-urban areas to evict them. He also led a protest march to get an alleged illegal immigrant jailed for raping a woman from Ntabamhlophe.
Late last month, Myeza was part of the anti-illegal immigration march in Durban, which was organised by the March and March Movement in conjunction with Operation Dudula. Other political parties that joined that march were the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP) and ActionSA.
