By Linus Kawuondi

South Africa, a major immigrant destination in Africa, faces a crisis as xenophobic violence threatens the socio-economic rights of immigrants, who currently form at least 5% of the country’s population. Historically complex, migration surged post-1994 due to democratization of the State and open market policies. Intensified anti-migrant riots since  2019, often leading to hundreds of immigrant deaths and loss of property, underscore the urgency for policy reform, legislative reinforcement, educational initiatives, and community engagement to foster inclusivity and combat xenophobia, ensuring the protection of immigrants and their livelihoods.

Introduction

South Africa’s history and position as Africa’s economic powerhouse makes it a major destination country for immigrants from the region and elsewhere (OECD/ILO, 2018, p. 20). Moyo (2021) notes that South Africa is home to about 2.6 million immigrants, which accounts for 5% of the population of the nation. Driven by factors ranging from political instability, economic hardships, and harsh climatic conditions such as cyclones, desertification, drought, and famine,  the foreign nationals either seek temporary or permanent residence with the hope of rebuilding their lives socially and economically. The violent anti-immigrant uproar across the cities and towns in the country has continually shattered the desire of the immigrants. The xenophobic attacks have threatened the socio-economic rights of the immigrants in South Africa and, therefore, caused a migrant crisis. This article seeks to help in understanding the plight and socio-economic rights of immigrants in South Africa. 

Conceptualizing Migration in South Africa

Migration in South Africa is not a new phenomenon. It is rather an episode inherited from precolonial and colonial times mixed with contemporary forms of migration associated with the opening of the country’s borders in 1994. It is also associated with urbanization, and economic development that induced an increase in formal and informal migration (International Organization for Migration, 2013, p. 13). In 1994, a new regime of democratic leadership rapidly embraced neo-liberal economic policies that encouraged the free movement of people and capital and international trade (Handmaker & Parsley, n.d., p. 41). This also marked the beginning of a trend in which blue-collar migrants and refugees from other African countries flocked to South Africa. As such, the movement of foreign nationals into South Africa expanded and became more complex. 

While in the past, most of the migrants were those seeking asylum and refuge as a result of war and persecution, the new immigrant influx into South Africa, to a large extent, is attributed to economic factors. Mozambique, for example, was beset by a crippling economy and environmental disasters generating a new generation of forced migrants, not least the devastating floods that displaced hundreds of thousands in the years 2000 and 2019 (Handmaker & Parsley, n.d., p. 41). 

Another stimulating factor in migration into South Africa is the demand for employment. Due to the adoption of the neo-liberal economic policies, many multinational corporations and companies moved to South Africa and invested huge capital into the economy. Thus, there was a need for more labor. With a limited professional and artisanal workforce among the inhabitants, South African companies were forced to recruit non-residents. Hence, with a more industrialized economy, the solid middle-income South Africa has absorbed diverse migrants from unstable African countries. The majority of these migrants are entrenched in the South African informal sector as they seek to better their livelihood. 

Violent anti-Migrant Riots in South Africa

In August and September 2019, foreign nationals were targeted in lootings, arson, and assault following a series of police raids on undocumented migrants in the Johannesburg Central Business District (Politics Web, 2019). This was not the first occurrence of xenophobic attacks on immigrants. In September 1998, a mob of unemployed South Africans demonstrating against the presence of foreigners in South Africa murdered one Mozambican and two Senegalese asylum seekers who were scrapping a living selling sweets to passengers (Handmaker & Parsley, n.d., p. 44). Similar reports of attacks on immigrants have happened in other subsequent years between 2008 and 2019.

Consequently, xenophobia, hatred, and intolerance have spread rapidly in South Africa, a country that was once considered hospitable to immigrants after having come from a history of apartheid rule. Thus, immigrants, refugees, and foreigners have now found it that they have more to fear from the ordinary citizens than from the agents of the state (Handmaker & Parsley, n.d., p. 44). While it is conventionally accepted that immigrants must receive protection and humanitarian assistance from the state, the case of the socio-economic rights of the immigrants in South Africa is now at stake. It is, therefore, important that both the South African government and the International community take necessary measures to ensure that the immigrants’ sources of livelihood and life are protected. With recent reports of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals, immigrants in South Africa are in crisis.

In South Africa, addressing Xenophobia requires a multifaceted strategy that includes policy initiatives, community engagement, education, and advocacy efforts. First and foremost, the South African government should strengthen its anti-discrimination legislation. This will give law enforcement agencies the legal mandate to respond to violent incidents of xenophobia promptly and effectively. Secondly, there is a need to create educational programs offered at colleges and universities aimed at making young people aware of the negative effects of xenophobia. Such education programs will encourage inclusivity and build a culture of tolerance and acceptance among the youth. Finally, community initiatives such as intercultural dialogue and interfaith dialogues would help in celebrating diversity to promote tolerance.

Reference

Handmaker. J. & Parsely. J. (2001). Migration, Refugees, and Racism in South Africa. Refuge 20 (1): 40–51.

OECD/ILO. (2018). How immigrants contribute to South Africa’s economy. OECD Publishing: Paris. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264085398-en

International Organization for Migration. (2013). The well-being of economic migrants in South Africa: Health, gender and development. IOM Publishers: Geneva. https://www.iom.int/files/live/sites/iom/files/What-We-Do/wmr2013/en/Working-Paper_SouthAfrica.pdf

Moyo, K. (2021). South Africa reckons with its status as a top immigration destination, apartheid history, and economic challenges. migrationpolicy.org. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/south-africa-immigration-destination-history

Politics Web. (2019). Public opinion versus reality on immigration in South Africa. https://www.politicsweb.co.za/opinion/migration-i-public-opinion-versus-reality-on-immig