{"id":19273,"date":"2026-07-05T06:53:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T06:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umuakatimes.com\/topnews\/?p=19273"},"modified":"2026-07-05T06:53:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T06:53:27","slug":"south-africa-should-grant-amnesty-to-undocumented-migrants-says-umuaka-born-accounting-expert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umuakatimes.com\/topnews\/south-africa-should-grant-amnesty-to-undocumented-migrants-says-umuaka-born-accounting-expert\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa should grant amnesty to undocumented migrants, says Umuaka-born accounting expert."},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/span> 16<\/span> Views<\/span><\/div>

An Isiozi Akah-born corporate executive based in South Africa, Mr. Toochukwu Egonu, has called on the South African government to consider granting amnesty to undocumented migrants as a practical solution to the country’s ongoing immigration challenges.<\/p>\n

Mr. Egonu, an indigene of Isiozi Umuaka and Principal Partner at Isiozi Ego & Associates (Pty) Ltd, an accounting and consultancy firm specializing in accounting and management services, made the recommendation in a press statement made available to Umuaka Times amid the ongoing deportation exercise targeting undocumented foreign nationals in South Africa.<\/p>\n

According to him, the ongoing “All Must Go” campaign against foreign migrants is having significant economic implications, arguing that South Africa stands to lose billions of Rands if the current approach continues without a comprehensive policy to regularize undocumented immigrants.<\/p>\n

“The impression that all other African people in the country are undocumented is a huge task for the government to address,” Egonu told the South African correspondents of Umuaka Times last week.<\/p>\n

“The simplest way to address this is by granting amnesty to undocumented persons. Case closed. They are already here and are willing to work or establish businesses and eventually pay taxes.”<\/p>\n

He maintained that a well-structured amnesty program would not only improve immigration management but also strengthen the country’s economy through greater tax compliance. Explaining his position, Egonu outlined several reasons he believes an amnesty policy would benefit South Africa.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

According to his matrix, regularizing undocumented migrants would help curb corruption within the country’s identity management and immigration systems.<\/p>\n

“It will curb corruption in the identity management system of foreign nationals. Police and immigration officials have resorted to taking bribes to stall applications and release offenders, thereby undermining the rule of law,” he stated.<\/p>\n

He further argued that documenting migrants would expand the government’s tax base, as those regularized would become subject to applicable tax obligations and other statutory requirements.<\/p>\n

“It will increase the government’s tax base because all identified persons shall be subject to various applicable tax obligations,” he added.<\/p>\n

While acknowledging that residing illegally in South Africa is against the law, Egonu cautioned against the generalization that all foreign nationals are undocumented or engaged in unlawful activities.<\/p>\n

Quoting Nigerian politician Obinna Orgazi, he said, “The reputation of millions is shaped by the conduct of a few.”<\/p>\n

He emphasized that enforcing immigration laws remains the responsibility of government institutions and warned against citizens taking the law into their own hands.<\/p>\n

“Law enforcement officials are empowered to enforce the law. Citizens usurping the duties of law enforcement authorities is wrong and condemnable irrespective of the shortcomings of the agencies,” he said.<\/p>\n

Addressing concerns that foreign nationals place undue pressure on South Africa’s economy, Egonu argued that many of the existing challenges stem from the informal employment of undocumented migrants rather than their presence alone.<\/p>\n

He explained that undocumented workers often remain outside the tax system, reducing government revenue, while some employers exploit their status by paying below the legal minimum wage.<\/p>\n

“Employing undocumented migrants is against the law but remains beneficial to some capitalist employers because it reduces labour costs. This, in turn, reduces employment opportunities for South African citizens and affects tax collection,” he stated.<\/p>\n

He stressed that labour laws require employers to comply with statutory regulations, including adherence to the national minimum wage, protection of workers’ constitutional rights, and declaration of employees to relevant government authorities for tax purposes.<\/p>\n

From the advocacies of Egonu, bringing undocumented migrants into the formal system would ensure greater compliance with labour laws, improve tax collection, reduce corruption, and create a fairer labour market for both citizens and legally documented foreign nationals.<\/p>\n

His comments come amid renewed debates over immigration, deportation policies, and the role of foreign nationals in South Africa’s economy, as authorities continue efforts to address illegal immigration and enforce existing immigration laws.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

16 ViewsAn Isiozi Akah-born corporate executive based in South Africa, Mr. Toochukwu Egonu, has called…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19275,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[1177,1176],"yoast_head":"\nSouth Africa should grant amnesty to undocumented migrants, says Umuaka-born accounting expert. -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/umuakatimes.com\/topnews\/south-africa-should-grant-amnesty-to-undocumented-migrants-says-umuaka-born-accounting-expert\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"South Africa should grant amnesty to undocumented migrants, says Umuaka-born accounting expert. -\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" 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