UN envoy calls for immigration policy change
SOUTH Africa must face the reality that it will continue to have "economic migrants" and change its immigration policy likewise
This was the word from a high-profile United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Jorge Bustamante, yesterday.
Speaking to members of Parliament's home affairs portfolio committee Bustamante said South Africa should ditch the notion that only skilled migrants were needed in South Africa.
"If there are undocumented migrants from a number of countries in South Africa now it is because there is a demand for their labour. There has been resistance in many reception countries to recognise this and that results in undocumented immigrants," he said.
Bustamante said if politicians were short-sighted about the issue of migration the country's 2008 xenophobia attacks could happen again.
He was completing a seven-day fact-finding mission that has taken him to Lindela repatriation centre in Krugersdorp, Musina, Pretoria, and other places.
While he will only release his final report on the human rights of migrants in South Africa in June, Bustamante told the committee that there was a gap between South Africa's human rights laws - and the reality.
He said South Africa had refused to sign a 1990 UN convention to protect the working rights of migrants - like most other countries that receive a large number of migrants.
But members of Parliament from all the political parties defended South Africa's human rights record towards migrants.
"You will find them in our communities, socialising and having fun with the locals," DA MP Masizole Mnqasela said.
"It is our policy to integrate people from other countries in our townships and not keep them isolated in camps," ANC MP Margaret Maunye said.
Cope MP Kiki Rwexana said the only problem with xenophobia that South Africa had experienced were the 2008 attacks.
Some of the more recent reports were just rumours, Rwexana said.
mmss200
On that issue I salute you South African government for not signing that and never ever sign it even in future South Africa want scarce skills like doctors,scientist, nurses and engineers not forgetting artisans. To South African political parties I salute you as you stand all by one thing, and protect our country against Neo colonialism we need to be free and away from colonial influence to our daily running of the country. Why is UN not going to France and investigate as France was chasing foreigners away? So we have to avoid institutions that were formed in order to let colonialism survive.Our immigration law must not change.Report Abuse
MhuntiYoFelaTinyaweni
Viva SA to stand your ground against the so called UN. What are they saying about the US, France and UK? UN is quick to see things in African countries but they can't see the same with America and EuropeReport Abuse
CrusaderOfLogic
Yes Indeed...to hell with the UN. Most 1st world countries accept well skilled immigrants.@ mmss200 You are so right about France. They dont wnat immigrants there.
South Africans are not as xenophobic like Russians. Africans are beaten up in the streets of Moscow for just being there. Jorge Bustamante has nerve telling our government to open doors to immigrants. Unemployment is high as it is. South Africans needs jobs. Is he going to feed this immigrants when they come here.Our resources are not even enough for us, let alone sharing them with poor, uneducated, under skilled immigrants. Rich countries like Canada are under populated, maybe instead of coming here to tell us to change our laws, they can pack up the unskilled immigrants and fly them to Canada
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HIMINA
The UN is undermining us as a country. UN should understand that we are a sovereign country and we do not need them to come and tell us what to do. South Africa is one of the countries that is very and more tolerant to foreigners and we do not really treat them as foreigners. We allow foreigners to intergrate into the society and expose their skills yet the UN does not recognize and appreciate these. I salute our political parties for being brave enough and tell the UN the truth. The country has done a lot to ensure that our immigration laws comply with the requirements of our supreme law - the Constitution.Report Abuse
mohalepm
HOLA DIBLOGGERSif SA can stand firm agaisnt anything else like they did against UN, nothing is going to tear us apart. we need to focus and protect our country against anything including makwerekwere. this guys are tearing the image of our country. everyday they rob,kill and taking our jobs.
un must just f*******of
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