South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday that the authorities would take action in response to growing concerns over illegal migration amid intensifying anti-immigrant protests and sentiment in Africa’s largest and most developed economy, the Associated Press reports.

In a national television address, he effectively acknowledged the existence of tensions, stressing that in recent months groups advocating tougher migration policies have gained strength in the country.

Some of them said they intended to set a deadline — June 30 — for foreign nationals staying in the country illegally to leave.

Ramaphosa noted that the concerns of part of society are not unfounded, linking them to high unemployment and pressure on the healthcare and education systems.

“Many South Africans are asking difficult but justified questions. These concerns are real. They need to be heard and taken seriously,” he said.

At the same time, the president stressed that the state would not allow vigilante actions against migrants or violence on these grounds.

“Only authorized state bodies may act in cases of law violations,” Ramaphosa said, warning that some groups are “stoking” tensions.

South African authorities do not have precise statistics on illegal migration, but estimates range from 2 million to 5 million people out of a population of about 62 million.

The country has traditionally remained the main migration destination in the region, receiving citizens from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, as well as Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, and Ethiopia.

In recent weeks, a number of African states, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Mozambique, said that their citizens are facing threats and attacks in South Africa. Ghana previously repatriated about 300 of its citizens, and Mozambican authorities reported that five people had been killed in suspected xenophobic attacks.

According to the government, over the past two years more than 100,000 people staying in South Africa illegally have been deported from the country, and about 450,000 attempts to cross the border unlawfully were prevented over the past year.

Ramaphosa acknowledged that there had been “weak points” in the country’s migration policy in the past and promised more decisive action, while also urging citizens not to allow society to become divided over the migration issue.