“Alarmist reactions which approach xenophobia do little to solve South Africa’s immigration problem, or to flesh out the differences between legal and illegal immigration. Indeed, South Africa’s commitment to the liberalisation of capital, trade and technology since 1994 is in conflict with a policy which inhibits legal immigration. In the recent past, strict regulation of foreign workers has made it difficult for skilled immigrant labour, which does not replace South African labour, to remain securely, and invest their earnings, in the country. On the other hand, the number of illegal immigrants coming into South Africa increased with the unbanning of liberation movements in 1990 and subsequent democratisation in South Africa. Many of these illegals come from countries, such as Zimbabwe, which supported the African National Congress (ANC) during the liberation struggle. Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi
argues that illegal immigrant labour adds to the unemployment rate in South Africa, which stands at about 38%.”
