Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's statements that tightening our borders and deporting illegal immigrants would not solve anything, is very cold comfort for South Africans.

Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's statements that tightening our borders and deporting illegal immigrants would not solve anything, is very cold comfort for South Africans.

South Africa's Constitution needs to be respected and upheld.

Does the minister want to turn our country into a free for all banana republic where people do as they please? Surely, people cannot come to this, or any country, without the relevant documents.

If we are going to allow people to come across illegally, then why do we need borders? I truly love my African brothers and sisters, but they need to be here legally. Surely the honourable minister has seen the chaos caused by undocumented Mexicans in the US.

How do we even begin to trace people who commit crime if there is no record acknowledging their presence? They can leave fingerprints at the crime scene, but nothing can be done about it. Since there is ample proof that some immigrants are involved in crime, we need to give SAPS a chance against everyone who commits crime, including immigrants.

Mapisa-Nqakula seems to be saying: "I have done everything I could and I have dismally failed, so I am washing my hands of the matter."

I think it is about time that politicians lived up to their promises that they made to citizens four years ago.

Richardson Mzaidume, Pimville