South Africa July 2006 |
|
| Deporting illegal aliens futile says minister, (Cape Argus, 2006-07-19):-Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula acknowledged last night that the drive to deport illegal immigrants was a futile exercise and a waste of millions of rands, unless the economic situation in their countries was addressed. Mapisa-Nqakula was answering questions about work permits and immigration issues at a function hosted by the Black Management Forum in Johannesburg. The minister said tightening borders was not a solution: "We need to deal with some of the push factors in (the migrants') economy, because South Africa is economically attractive to them, it is a pull country. "Every week we deport thousands (costing) a lot of money. Sometimes you look and say (this is a) futile exercise because they say 'madam we will be back here next week, thanks for allowing us to see our families'. "And we spend millions in deporting them. We deport the Mozambicans and Zimbabweans by rail, which is cheaper, but those from the north we deport them on a chartered aircraft." The minister raised concerns on the spread of xenophobia in the country, particularly targeting what she termed "dark skinned" African immigrants in South Africa. "Who is targeted? The dark-skinned foreigners. It is never the Bulgarians, it is never the Russians. That's what worries us. Where the dark-skinned are employed is cheap labour," she said. She said security issues such as border control had been over-emphasised by her department, and more attention should be placed on the positive role immigrants could play: "Little attention is given on how immigration can play a role in economic growth." Mapisa-Nqakula admitted her officials were ineffective despite sound policies, for example, on migration and work permits. "The department has its own problems. (There are) a number of officials who are not efficient. There is a lot of bureaucracy and the turnaround time is not what I expect it to be," said Mapisa-Nqakula."But in terms of policy, we are very good but we are disappointed by our directors and officials who are not doing their job." She said this was why she had asked the Department of Public Service and Administration and the Treasury to intervene and assist home affairs in efficiency, monitoring and quality assurance. Mapisa-Nqakula said her department was doing its best to change the situation, such as arresting and firing corrupt officials. She also chastised her communications department with the way it had dealt with the controversial issue of a University of Witwatersrand Professor. The professor, Mukul Gupta, has reportedly gone back to India because of immigration problems. At the time, it was reported that his children could not join him in South Africa because of red tape at the Department of Home Affairs. Mapisa-Nqakula said the problem was a lack of research on the part of the media, but "typical of the Department of Home Affairs, people in communications never put their perspective (across)". Earlier in her speech, she said that amendments to the Immigration Act of 2002 made it less difficult for skilled personnel to enter the country, and these immigrants added to the economic growth of South Africa. She said there was now a variety of permits which allowed skilled foreigners greater flexibility in working in South Africa. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |