Is South Africa A Promise Land For Immigrants?

In January, the President of the USA, Donald Trump signed an executive order, explicitly stating that he suspends admissions for Syrian refugees and limits the flow of other refugees into the United States. Now, this poses a few questions in terms of immigrants and immigration policies in our own beloved country being the Republic of South Africa.

One would ask how many immigrants flood our South African borders on a daily basis. I’m afraid, that is something that I nor the government can answer. South Africa is a major immigration destination country, with immigrants arriving from across the African continent and beyond. Some head to South Africa for reasons of conflict, insecurity or persecution at home, more make the journey to find work and improve their economic conditions. Whether fleeing from fear or drawn to opportunity, what African migrants in South Africa have in common is the belief that post-apartheid South Africa is within its democratic constitution, open economy and relative riches, offers the possibility of a better life.

However, is this an inimitable solution for the current refugee problem when some of these migrants have died together with Zimbabwean nationals in attempt to go into the rainbow country for a promising future? There are countless reasons behind why citizens from other countries flee to South Africa. Mainly as previously mentioned, the conditions within their territorial boundaries and borders are horrific and usually unbearable. They seek to countries such as South Africa, the US and UK for a better life, but as constituents let us not be deluded. Immigration is a global phenomenon, driven by global factors.

Nevertheless, can the South African government handle having more than the actual 52.98 million citizens? On average, a South African is six times better off than an average Zimbabwean and twenty times better off than a Malawian, so that draws people in. Conventionally, an assumption has been made, that most immigration between and across sovereign borders takes place for the purpose of economic betterment for the immigrants and their families, it was thought that growing unemployment and economic recession in traditional destination countries would reduce the incentive to relocate.

However, the proportion of the world’s population that are international and local migrants has remained steadily at around 3%. Recession and debt crises have not, made a dent in well-established migration patterns. While numbers of immigrants have not changed, their reception in host countries has. Hostility against immigrants, and aims at curbing both legal and undocumented migration has become the norm across the industrialized and westernized world. Drawing in people is an amazing thing especially for our economy but South Africa faces proportionate challenges such as a series of riots and xenophobic barrage which started in the township of Alexandra (in the north-eastern part of Johannesburg) where locals attacked immigrants from Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Job-seeking South Africans feel that jobs are being taking away from them by immigrants but unfortunately, these “jobs” do not even exist, as 40% of South Africans are unemployed and 37% live below the breadline. There is uncertainty that immigrants are adding to South Africa’s economic existence in many ways, including infusing the labour market with much needed skilled and motivated workers, often willing to take on the country’s least attractive jobs. There is also undeveloped doubt that many South Africans view immigrant’s arrival as a serious problem rather than an opportunity.

In the case of South Africa, the immigration regime is far from making the best situation out of immigration. There are no elementary solutions to South Africa’s immigration challenges. The pragmatic acknowledgment that international immigration is here to stay as the key lies in a more active, rewarding and approachable immigration approach. The question is how to manage it in the best possible way for society as a whole. South Africa’s immigration approach needs a gigantic overhaul. Immigration should not merely be treated as a matter of policing and immigration control, but needs to be taken into account at all levels of planning and policies, whether schooling, healthcare, labour, agriculture, urban planning – and indeed foreign policy.

Only then, can South Africa make the best out of immigration in which we can tap into our economic potential while remaining true to our post-apartheid goal of African solidarity and integration with the rest of the continent.

As Gavin Mageni said, “The only person that can bring meaning to designing my own setting is me.” Looking at the immigration administration, a few things come to mind. Leaving your home is never easy. Fleeing from your country and uprooting your roots for preferable convenience is hard. As South Africans, we need to come to a place of understanding. A place of understanding in the sense that, most of us know that poverty, crime, corruption and unemployment is inescapable. Those factors and elements exist right here on our doorstep and they are no different in other sovereign states. Immigrants deserve a chance to be great just like anyone else. They just need one chance. One opportunity to make something of themselves. South Africa is a land filled with possibilities. We have the aptitude and can rehabilitate change within our surroundings. Let us not forget that, Africa is a village. For us to move forward, not only as a country but also as a continent, we need to stop stigmatizing against our own. We need to embrace, transcend and recreate lives regardless of background or citizenship. Living in a non-racial society starts home, your own backyard. Home being not only South Africa but Africa too.

Redesigning your world starts with you!

Be the change you want to see in the world…