Migration policy to be reviewed
THOUSANDS today heeded King Goodwill Zwleithini’s call to gather in Durban’s Moses Mabhida for an Imbizo where, he condemned the recent spate of violence against foreign nationals. Some who attended the Imbizo, found it as an opportunity to raise their own concerns, including the lack of jobs, as one resident carried a plaque card, which states he has been unemployed for eight years. THOUSANDS today heeded King Goodwill Zwleithini’s call to gather in Durban’s Moses Mabhida for an Imbizo where, he condemned the recent spate of violence against foreign nationals. Some who attended the Imbizo, found it as an opportunity to raise their own concerns, including the lack of jobs, as one resident carried a plaque card, which states he has been unemployed for eight years.
Babalo Ndenze
Political Bureau
THE country’s migration policy is up for a major review following the most recent spate of attacks on foreigners.
President Jacob Zuma will host a series of consultative meetings to discuss the migration policy, which will look at promoting “orderly migration” and good relations between citizens and other nationals.
Zuma’s engagements will also take into account the concerns raised by South African citizens about the implementation of the migration policy.
The Presidency said Zuma intended to build “lasting partnerships” with those involved in migration to ensure that the “shameful attacks on foreign nationals do not recur”.
“No grievance can ever justify the cold-blooded murder of fellow human beings, the destruction of property or the displacement of hundreds of people, including women and small children,” said Zuma.
“Millions of South Africans condemn these atrocious killings and abhor xenophobia and all related intolerances. Together, we must work harder to root out violence and hatred.”
Zuma will also meet leaders of organisations representing asylum seekers and refugees this week as well as the media.
Tomorrow, Zuma will meet representatives of faith-based organisations, business, labour, youth, creative industries, women, sports, the social development sector and others. “However, the challenge of migration requires a long-term solution. In this regard, I have established an inter-ministerial committee to work systematically, looking at all aspects of migration,” said Zuma.
The committee will be chaired by Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Jeff Radebe and include 10 other ministers.
Zuma also emphasised that while there was understanding of the grievances raised by some citizens, none justified the taking of human life as well as the destruction and looting of shops belonging to foreign nationals.
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, who will also be part of the inter-ministerial committee, said his department would introduce a green paper on the new policy framework by next year.
Gigaba said the ANC’s 4th National Policy conference in 2012 discussed migration policy and came up with recommendations that were being implemented by the government. The policy conference noted that the existence of undocumented migrants posed both an economic and security threat to the country.
It further stated that there was “empirical evidence” that the majority of asylum seekers do not comply with international legal requirements for refugee status and protection.
Gigaba said the government needed to review the immigration policy framework and that several programmes aimed at educating communities were ongoing.
“We are going to be announcing others, more integrative and more extensive. Many NGOs and civil organisations have been involved.”