African Immigrants In South Africa

This work looks at the fate of black African immigrants in South Africa and the xenophobic attacks against them which have taken place in many parts of the country through the years since the end of apartheid. The xenophobic violence has been perpetrated by black South Africans, prompting some people to describe this phenomenon as the new apartheid - by blacks against other blacks - after the end of white minority rule. Besides the violence directed against them, black African immigrants also face hostility in general from a significant number of South Africans including educated ones and members of the middle class as well as some leaders who "encourage" them to "go home." In 2008, black African immigrants were attacked in different parts of the country in the worst form of violence since the end of apartheid. Tens of thousands were left homeless and just as many were forced to flee South Africa and return to their home countries. The author looks at the factors behind the violence and why many Africans are forced to flee their home countries in search of greener pastures elsewhere. Bad African leadership is one of the main factors. He also argues that South Africa can not solve the problems of other African countries, including unemployment, and should not be expected to. The attacks against the immigrants have resulted in many deaths and destruction of property through the years. And their plight is inextricably linked with the transformation the country has been undergoing since the end of apartheid, the author contends. This work also looks at prospects for transformation and the challenges South Africa faces in its quest for social justice across the spectrum in a society still dominated by whites in terms of economic power. Millions of blacks are still trapped in poverty with no relief in sight, a factor which explains some of the violence that has been directed against foreigners, mostly black African immigrants who are accused of taking jobs away from black South Africans, especially those living in poverty in the townships which were also the scene of the worst form of violence perpetrated against the immigrants since the end of white minority rule.

How Immigrants Contribute to South Africa’s Economy is the result of a project carried out by the OECD Development Centre and the International Labour Organization, with support from the European Union.

Includes statistics.

The book is a response to the dominant discourse of South Africa as unwelcoming to African immigrants. Acknowledging the reality of xenophobia against African migrants in South Africa, it explores the positive spaces of interactions between South Africans and African migrants that do not necessarily result in tension. Hence, the book is about conviviality, cohabitation, interdependency and the production of a multicultural rainbow nation. South Africa, its constitution and representation as a multicultural society is the perfect context to experiment with the ideas in the book. Part of the objectives is therefore to demonstrate, as contained in the title, the ambivalence of this relationship which the popular discourse of xenophobia has silenced.

Building on global interest in migration development, the volume draws attention to one of the most important migration systems in sub-Saharan Africa. It reviews South Africa’s approach to international migration in the post-apartheid period from a regional development perspective, highlighting key policy issues, debates, and consequences. The authors find at least three areas where migration is resulting in important development impacts. First, by offering options to those affected by conflict and crises in a region that has limited formal disaster management and social protection systems. Second, by mitigating shortcomings and distortions in regional labour markets. Third, by providing support to struggling rural economies and ever expanding urban areas in terms of livelihoods and social capital transfers. Chapter One consists of a study of the country’s historical experience of migration and, in particular, analyses the changes in official attitudes throughout the twentieth century, indicating the roots of contemporary ideas and policy dilemmas. Chapters Two, Three, Four and Five complement this analysis of the South African State’s capacity to reform and manage the South African migration situation by looking at often neglected dimensions: the first explores the question of skilled labour, a crucial question given the unbalanced structure of the South African labour market; the second examines the impact of migration on local government in South African cities and specifically implications for urban planning, service delivery, health, security, and political accountability; the third analyses the nature of undocumented migration to South Africa and the challenges it raises to both State and non-State actors; The book concludes with an examination of health as a critical issue when examining the relationship between migration and development in South Africa, in light of recent empirical data.

This work looks at South Africa and its people including all the racial and ethnic groups in all the provinces and their different cultures. It's also a general historical background of South Africa since the founding of the country. Also the country's natural resources in every province is one of the subjects covered in the book. African immigrants in South Africa, a relatively new group in the country especially since the end of apartheid, is another subject addressed by the author. And there's much more that's covered in this work.