As a concerned South African, I am deeply troubled by the prospect of our country hosting the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in 2028. South Africa is currently grappling with a severe crisis of illegal immigration. Our borders are porous, and the laws meant to regulate and manage immigration are not being enforced as they should. Hosting an event of this magnitude, which requires welcoming a vast number of foreign nationals, poses an enormous risk to our national security and social stability.

Illegal immigration is a significant issue in South Africa, with millions of undocumented immigrants currently within our borders. According to the Institute for Security Studies, as many as 3.2 million undocumented immigrants are living in South Africa. This influx strains public resources designed for the benefit of South African citizens, such as healthcare, education, and social services, and contributes to rising unemployment rates, which stood at 32.6% in the first quarter of 2023, according to Statistics South Africa.

At present, our focus should be on fixing the broken immigration system. We need effective border control measures, stricter enforcement of existing laws, and sound policies to ensure that South Africa remains a safe and prosperous nation for its citizens. Until these issues are addressed, hosting international events like Afcon 2028 should not even be a consideration.

Furthermore, the economic burden of hosting Afcon is immense. In previous tournaments, the cost has run into billions of Rand, money which could be better spent on bolstering our infrastructure, educational systems, and healthcare facilities, providing direct benefits to our citizens.

Our government needs to prioritize its citizens and focus on resolving these pressing issues. Until we have secure borders and an immigration system that is effectively regulated, we should not be in the position to host any more international gatherings, including the Africa Cup of Nations.

I urge you to sign this petition and call on South African authorities to focus on securing our borders and enforcing immigration laws before considering hosting another major international event. Let's ensure a safe and prosperous future for all South Africans.