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The apartheid monitored and hindered all movement of its black population and therefore was not very welcoming to Africans from elsewhere. Between 1913 and 1986, black people could only enter South Africa illegally or as contract workers as they were not allowed to apply for temporary or permanent resident permits (Maharaj, 4). It makes sense that once South Africa’s borders became more open Africans would enter to pursue a better life. Today, the legal and policy framework in South Africa is favorable to documented immigrants of all kind. Basic rights to life, dignity, equality before law, administrative justice, basic education, basic health care and labor rights are allotted to all citizens including documented and undocumented non-citizens. Select non-citizens are entitled to social grants, public housing, and other state support, however very few actually receive this aid (Popular Movements in and to South
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It is estimated that in 2004 between 60% and 70% of Zimbabwe’s economically active population had left the country (Zimbabwe Torture Victims Project, 2). Zimbabwe is now a victim of the ‘brain drain’ because its most valuable citizens are leaving or have left the country.
Delays in the determination of refugee status and the lack of social assistance for refugees and asylum seekers in Johannesburg and other cities in South Africa have been stemmed by the Immigration Act of 2002 and the Refugee Act (Maharaj). In addition to the UNHCR’s attempts to reduce Xenophobia, the South African government needs to increase the ability of Zimbabweans to be self-sufficient and reduce their need for humanitarian support in South Africa. They must also implement whatever programs are necessary to “increase the ability of Zimbabweans to productively contribute to the South African economy by utilizing their skills in the formal labour market and through entrepreneurialism.” In order to combat the brain drain issue, all the parties involved must enable Zimbabweans in SA to contribute to Zimbabwean reconstruction through remittances. Economic recovery in Zimbabwe is in South Africa’s national interest (Polzer). The changes that the Zimbabwean government needs to address are of an entirely more complex problem that goes beyond the enforcement of human
It is estimated that in 2004 between 60% and 70% of Zimbabwe’s economically active population had left the country (Zimbabwe Torture Victims Project, 2). Zimbabwe is now a victim of the ‘brain drain’ because its most valuable citizens are leaving or have left the country.
Delays in the determination of refugee status and the lack of social assistance for refugees and asylum seekers in Johannesburg and other cities in South Africa have been stemmed by the Immigration Act of 2002 and the Refugee Act (Maharaj). In addition to the UNHCR’s attempts to reduce Xenophobia, the South African government needs to increase the ability of Zimbabweans to be self-sufficient and reduce their need for humanitarian support in South Africa. They must also implement whatever programs are necessary to “increase the ability of Zimbabweans to productively contribute to the South African economy by utilizing their skills in the formal labour market and through entrepreneurialism.” In order to combat the brain drain issue, all the parties involved must enable Zimbabweans in SA to contribute to Zimbabwean reconstruction through remittances. Economic recovery in Zimbabwe is in South Africa’s national interest (Polzer). The changes that the Zimbabwean government needs to address are of an entirely more complex problem that goes beyond the enforcement of human