There are two different types of illegal immigrants living in South Africa — those who want to contribute to the economy and those who have malicious intentions.
This is according to Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba‚ who was addressing members of the media at the department’s head offices in Pretoria on Tuesday.
“Believe you me‚ many of them don’t stay permanently in South Africa‚ they come and go out. Some of them stay permanently and commit crimes but they are no different from South Africans who were born here‚ live here‚ commit crimes and also have malicious intentions to society in general‚”said Gigaba.
His remarks come after he and Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba held a meeting on Tuesday where they discussed Mashaba’s recent remarks in which he labeled illegal foreign nationals “criminals” and ordered them to leave the country’s economic hub.
Mashaba made the comments two weeks ago during his 100 days in office progress report.
The other immigrants according to Gigaba‚ had means of contributing towards the South Africa’s economy and to also purchase goods to resell in their countries of origin.
“Most of the immigrants from Africa‚ come to South Africa‚ a country in Africa‚ using documents‚ using legal means and to either do groceries or to purchase bulk goods. They also pay for toll fees on our roads‚ they also pay for taxes when they purchase goods in our retail stores and also support jobs in South Africa‚”added Gigaba.
He commended immigrants that use legal documents to enter the country‚ saying that this ensured that they were just as safe as South Africans and also contributed to the diversity and social cohesion of the country.
Mashaba and Gigaba both agreed that the issue of illegal immigrants was a problem in the country‚ and Johannesburg in particular.
They will meet again next year‚ along with other government stakeholders to pave a way forward on how to clamp down on illegal immigrants.
Gigaba said there were currently 3‚500 National Defence Force officers deployed at the country’s ports of entry.
Two types of illegal immigrants in SA – those with malicious intentions and those who want to contribute to economy
There are two different types of illegal immigrants living in South Africa — those who want to contribute to the economy and those who have malicious intentions.
This is according to Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba‚ who was addressing members of the media at the department’s head offices in Pretoria on Tuesday.
“Believe you me‚ many of them don’t stay permanently in South Africa‚ they come and go out. Some of them stay permanently and commit crimes but they are no different from South Africans who were born here‚ live here‚ commit crimes and also have malicious intentions to society in general‚”said Gigaba.
His remarks come after he and Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba held a meeting on Tuesday where they discussed Mashaba’s recent remarks in which he labeled illegal foreign nationals “criminals” and ordered them to leave the country’s economic hub.
Mashaba made the comments two weeks ago during his 100 days in office progress report.
The other immigrants according to Gigaba‚ had means of contributing towards the South Africa’s economy and to also purchase goods to resell in their countries of origin.
“Most of the immigrants from Africa‚ come to South Africa‚ a country in Africa‚ using documents‚ using legal means and to either do groceries or to purchase bulk goods. They also pay for toll fees on our roads‚ they also pay for taxes when they purchase goods in our retail stores and also support jobs in South Africa‚”added Gigaba.
He commended immigrants that use legal documents to enter the country‚ saying that this ensured that they were just as safe as South Africans and also contributed to the diversity and social cohesion of the country.
Mashaba and Gigaba both agreed that the issue of illegal immigrants was a problem in the country‚ and Johannesburg in particular.
They will meet again next year‚ along with other government stakeholders to pave a way forward on how to clamp down on illegal immigrants.
Gigaba said there were currently 3‚500 National Defence Force officers deployed at the country’s ports of entry.
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