Migration News - March 1998

March 1998

• SAPA (Washington 31/03) reports that the South African government - despite its progress in black-white reconciliation - is tolerating an alarming rise in xenophobia as shown by mounting attacks against immigrants and asylum-seekers, according to a US human rights group. A report by the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), has detailed a range of abuses suffered by immigrants from neighbouring countries and takes the ruling African National Congress (ANC) government to task for failing to address the situation. Abuses include arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention, extortion, robbery and beatings, according to the report. At least one refugee, Jean-Pierre Kanyangwa of Burundi, died after being beaten in police custody, according to the 236-page report. The report immediately was denounced in South Africa by Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi who accused HRW of calling for "five-star treatment of ‘illegal aliens’ while more than 50 percent of South Africans live below the poverty line."

• City Press (29/03) reports that the Felicia Mabuza-Suttle Show of 23 March made a very important point, which was not followed up. The show ended up giving the impression that there is a problem in the relations between African-Americans working and living in South Africa and local Africans. It is known that South Africa encouraged whites from every corner of the world to come and settle in South Africa, mainly to add the missing skills needed in our economy, as well as to fulfill the political aim of increasing the number of whites compared to Africans. No articles in white newspapers were seen about tensions and struggles between white South Africans and these whites immigrants, and nor were there TV shows on the issue, simply because it was a non-issue. In other countries people are invited from regions of the world into the country for economic reasons as well as political reasons of nation building.

• The Cape Times (29/03) reports that fellow Africans, people whom just less than a decade ago hosted thousands of refugees from apartheid are now victims of our brutality. Black and white officials of the Department of Home Affairs, police members as well as members of the South African National Defense Force, hound, arrest, physically assault and steal from these poor and helpless people. The situation is worse with respect to farm workers. They are still subjected to some of the most inhumane treatment at the hands of white farmers. They are under-paid, ill treated and evicted from the farms once they are no longer of any use to the farmers. If they could do this to their compatriots, it is to be expected that they will behave even worse to foreign blacks, whom they consider no better than chattel slaves.

• SAPA (Bangui, 28/03) Central African Republic - Authorities in Central African Republic plan to send home all Rwandan refugees after fighting between refugees and locals resulted in six deaths. Home Affairs Minister Bedaya Djadder said officials decided to expel more than 2,000 Rwandans living in several camps, including one near the northern city of Bouca, where refugees allegedly killed two policemen on March 17. Civilians from Bouca retaliated over the weekend by destroying the refugee camp and looting U.N. feeding facilities. Four Rwandan refugees were killed in subsequent fighting. The United Nations refugee agency said it was negotiating with the government to reverse its decision. The Rwandans, mostly Hutus, fled their country fearing retaliation after the 1994 genocide in which about 500,000 people - mainly Rwandan Tutsis - were killed by Hutu militants.

• SAPA (Harare 24/03) reports that decades-old co-operation between South Africa and Zimbabwe at the Beitbridge border post has been withdrawn in a major row between the two countries, a Zimbabwean daily reported on Tuesday. The state-controlled Herald newspaper quoted unnamed officials on Tuesday as saying immigration, customs and police officers on both sides of the Limpopo River, which separates the two countries, would not be allowed to travel freely into each other's countries without documentation. Free entry for officials on either side has speeded up official business at the crowded frontier post, the biggest gateway linking the two countries. It was also critical to police pursuing criminals, and for the repatriation of thousands of "illegal immigrants" seeking a better life in South Africa. For the first time since the border post opened in 1929, officials were now having to produce passports. The newspaper alleged that South Africa first withdrew the right of free passage for officials from Zimbabwe. In retaliation, the Zimbabweans imposed the same restrictions on South Africans. South African police ferrying truckloads of Zimbabwean "border jumpers" back over the Limpopo were allegedly told to return for full documentation on several occasions, the newspaper said. "They must come with their passports and certificates of repatriation for each and every border jumper they have," the official was quoted as saying.

• SAPA (Messina 20/03) reports that Messina police in the Northern Province arrested more than 2000 "illegal immigrants" since the beginning of the year, the province's safety and security MEC Seth Nthai said on Friday. The arrests reflected a 10 percent increase on arrests over the same period last year, African Eye News Service reported. Nthai said most of the "illegal immigrants" were arrested in January, returning to jobs in Gauteng after spending Christmas with their families in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. An average of 750 immigrants were being arrested every month in the province. A total of 2,262 were arrested between January and March. "The issue of the illegal immigrants and their economic impact on a country such as South Africa is fast becoming the most burning issue in South Africa today," Nthai said. He said the liaison committee met him on Thursday to discuss better ways of dealing with illegal border crossings. He declined to give details.

• SAPA (Bisho 18/03) reports that the Eastern Cape Premier, Makhenkesi Stofile said today that the province and Lesotho would build a "hotline" to ease hostilities on their borders. This followed his meeting met with Lesotho's Foreign Affairs Minister Kelebone Maope to discuss cross-border cattle raids and violence. Stofile said that law and order, protection of property and lives was of prime importance. Maope said that cattle thieving had negatively impacted on the already "weak" Lesotho economy. He said that he had visited the provincial government because "people have lost too many animals and they are now losing their lives." He said that this had "poisoned" the relations between the "two communities" (Lesotho and East Cape) and that his delegation had visited the province with "a sense of urgency". Both the Premier and Maope emphasized that the two communities were neighbours and relatives and not enemies. Rev Stofile said: "The nitty-gritty of setting up a co-operative liaison must be our homework."

• SAPA (Mbabane 17/03) reports a single regional visa for South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique may be introduced to encourage cross-border tourism and eco-tourism, South African Tourism Minister Pallo Jordan said in Mbabane, Swaziland, on Monday. The suggested visa would be treated separately from a proposed South African Development Community protocol on the movement of member SADC citizens, Jordan said. He was attending a ministerial meeting on the R600 million Lubombo development project. Jordan said tourism policy makers had been discussing how to do away with the three visas needed to visit KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland and southern Mozambique. The largely unspoilt area is to be developed. "We need a common approach to soften our borders in specific areas... so that we can sell them both to investors and to tourists as a package," said Jordan. Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin said the proposed visa would assist with softening countries' borders near tourism developments. But it needed to be distinguished as separate from a proposed wider sub-regional SADC protocol being negotiated, Erwin said. "The SADC protocol would allow for the free movement of all people in member states, while the regional visa would allow for free access to node projects across borders in the region," said Erwin.

• SAPA (Mbabane 17/03) reports that Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa will launch a joint tourism investment drive in early May as part of the R600 million Lubombo development project, Tourism Minister Pallo Jordan announced in Swaziland on Monday. At least two cross-border parks linking conservation areas in South Africa and Mozambique, and Swaziland and Mozambique, were being packaged. Construction had already begun on the South African portion of the road and a passenger train service between Durban and Maputo was introduced last week. Upgrades on the N2 through Swaziland to Maputo had also begun on the South African side of the border to allow for an alternative commercial traffic route away from the new tourism road.

• SAPA (Maseru 17/03) reports Lesotho and South African government representatives are to meet Eastern Cape premier Makhenkesi Stofile in Bisho on Wednesday to discuss stocktheft and other crime along the two countries' borders. SA High Commissioner in Lesotho Japhet Ndlovu on Monday said Lesotho Foreign Affairs Minister Kelebone Maope would fly to Bisho on Wednesday. Ndlovu flew to Bisho on Tuesday. Maope would be accompanied by a delegation of senior Lesotho government officials, including top officers in the armed forces. On New Years' Day 11 South Africans were killed in clashes with villagers in a stocktheft raid in the southern districts of Lesotho. The rustlers were from the Eastern Cape's Transkei area. South African and Lesotho authorities launched a special investigation, but no report has been released yet. In a report by a district liaison committee combining the Eastern Cape and southern Lesotho districs, the SA Police Service said the crime not only affected farmers, but also the country's economy because the Eastern Cape was an important wool producing region. In their joint operations against cross border crimes, the South African and Lesotho armed forces discovered extensive gun running in exchange for dagga, the committee said.

• SAPA (Johannesburg 17/03) reports that three former Zairean generals were granted leave in the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday to stay in South Africa until their application for political refugee status is heard on April 21. Justice M Joffe said the generals, who have been living in South Africa since May last year, had 10 days to apply for political refugee status which would enable them to stay in the country legally. General Kpama Baramoto, General Ngbate Nzinloi and former Zairean Minister of Defence Admiral Mavua Mnoima fled to South Africa after President Mobutu Sese Seko was ousted by rebel leader Laurent Kabila in May last year. The three generals are living in Johannesburg, although their exact whereabouts are not known. Reacting to government statements recorded in letters between various departments that the generals had abused the South African judicial system as well as the country's hospitality, Joffe said this was not so. He said the court was open to everybody and people were entitled to seek protection as the court was the last refuge. The government was entitled to make political decisions concerning the three generals, but it had to be within the ambit of the law, he said. The generals, who did not appear in court, fear they will have to appear before a tribunal in their own country, which they believe will not be conducted lawfully, or that they will be murdered if they return.

• SAPA (Ladysmith 17/03) reports a joint operation by the military, police and other KwaZulu-Natal provincial authorities is reaping rewards in ongoing border action against Lesotho-based stock rustlers and dagga smugglers, it was announced at a media briefing in Ladysmith on Tuesday. The operation, launched two weeks ago, is a joint venture by Group 9 military base, the SA Air Force, the police and KwaZulu-Natal's conservation service and road traffic inspectorate. The officer commanding the multi-disciplined operation, Lieutenant-Colonel Piet Arlow, said the operation had led to the seizure of 600kg of dagga and 25 kilograms of dagga seed. Eleven Lesotho nationals had been arrested for entering the country illegally and six illegal weapons recovered. Arlow said in a similar operation in February this year, 34 Lesotho nationals were arrested. "The aim of this operation is to discourage illegal border crossings and to defend our territorial integrity," said Arlow. A senior police intelligence officer said the operation would also help to stabilize the area and prevent clashes between South Africans and well-armed Basotho rustlers.

• The Cape Times (17/03) reports that according to the human resources consultancy company, emigration continued to drain South Africa’s dwindling pool of middle management and other key personnel. A survey of 1997-1998 showed that 11 percent of top management and 5 percent of key specialists, 6 percent of middle management who resigned in 1997 did so to emigrate. This is expected to increase in 1998, the survey said. Some 96 percent of all employees who emigrated blamed crime for their decision. Falling standards in education were cited by 84 percent while 82 percent attributed their decision to violence. Declining standards in living and health were cited by 55 percent and 51 percent respectively. In addition, lack of confidence in the government, affirmative action policies and better employment opportunities abroad were also cited as reasons for emigration.

• The Mail and Guardian (13/03) reports that before you fly off to foreign shores, consider the cost of leaving home, warns Belinda Beresford. While many people don't formally emigrate but simply slip overseas with a suitcase or three and just don't return, removal companies report a steady rise in the number of people packing up their lives and going. Stuttaford Van Lines estimates last year saw about a 25% increase in the number of private individuals heading towards foreign shores, compared to a rise of about 18% in 1996. If you are thinking about moving countries, the financial ramifications can be far- reaching and many of the potential costs cannot be given an explicit value. You may face a lower standard of living - particularly if you move to somewhere like London, which is notoriously expensive.

• The Cape Times (10/03) reports that the influx of refugees into South Africa and the subsequent asylum applications were matters that demanded special attention. Briefing the National Council of Provinces’ social service committee, Director General of Home Affairs, Mr. Mokoena said the section of his department that handles asylum applications had been streamlined and its staff increased. Training of staff on refugee issues was being carried out with the assistance of the United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees. The department has also drafted a working document on a new refugee policy for South Africa. Finally, he said a task team would be appointed to finalize a policy proposal for a draft refugee Bill, which would be tabled in Parliament later this year.

• The Argus (06/03) reports that newcomers have spent a staggering R150 million on property in Cape Town after only two months. Arrivals from Gauteng and other parts of the accounted for 42% of Cape Town property sales revenue in December and January running to R70-million. Foreign buyers accounted for a whooping 46% (R80-million). Of these, most were from the UK (52%) and Germany (30%). While Gauteng remains the powerhouse of the economy, high crime and accompanying stress are driving scores of families south to the safer, more pleasant environment of the peninsula. Most newcomers are in the A and B income groups and can afford to cushion the effect of higher property prices. Many executives with careers in Gauteng are settling their families in the Cape and commuting weekly. However, the influx amounts mostly to an infusion of capital skills that is boosting the Western Cape economy.

• The Cape Times (04/03) reports that figures released by the Central Statistical Services show that 50 to 60 teachers are leaving the country every month to work abroad. Mr. Bheki Khumalo, spokes person for the Education Minister Dr. Sibusiso Bhengu, said nothing could be done to stop people pursuing their careers overseas. According to Western Cape Council of Teachers (WCCOT) spokesperson Mike Reeler, "teachers were leaving as a direct result of the uncertainty that has been caused by the central government and the inept way in which provinces have handled rationalization and financing". The problem is that it is the cream that is leaving. Ms Charmine Young, a South African teacher who has been working in New Zealand said, "South African teachers are sought after in New Zealand because they work so hard. Teachers are really appreciated there and rewarded for qualifications.

• The Argus (03/03) reports that more than 6,855 South Africans-including doctors, engineers and computer experts –emigrated last year, mainly to Europe, North America and Australia. Those who left between January and September included 3,843 people classified as economically active. Emigrants in the first eight-month of last year included 65 medical practitioners, 375 engineers, 98 computer experts and auditors, 23 architects, 352 teachers and lecturers and 30 farmers. Immigrants in these categories in the same period did not match the numbers of those leaving. However, Europe remained the destiny of choice for South Africans, with 2,314 emigrants going there, 1,167 to Australia, 1,124 to North America, 977 to New Zealand, 990 to other African countries, 197 to Middle East and 86 to a range of other regions.

• The Star (03/03) reports that more than 6,855 people emigrated last year, mainly to Europe, North America and Australia. Those who left between January and September included 3,843 people classified as economically active. Emigrants in the first eight months of last year included 65 medical practitioners, 375 engineers, 98 computer experts and auditors, and 23 architects. Europe remained the destination of choice for South Africans, with 2,314 emigrants going there, 1,167 to Australia, 1,124 to North America, 977 to New Zealand, 990 to other African countries, 197 to Middle East and 86 to a range of other countries.

Updated August 21, 1998