Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
03 February  2024 | 14:49 CAT

Photo/ Getty Images

According to a 2022 report by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), an independent research organisation
based in the Capital of Pretoria, there are about 3.95 million migrants in South Africa, making up 6.5/ of the population, a figure in line with international norms.

Radio Islam International explores African Migration, particularly in South Africa, with Idris Nungu, the CEO of African Migration.

Providing an overview of the current migration landscape in South Africa, Nungu says, “We have done a lot of work around South Africa due to the foreign nationals being treated roughly with politicians who are talking carelessly the public.”

The African Migration operates in Durban, Gauteng, Pretoria, and the Desmond Tutu Refugee Center.

While the African Migration assists foreign nationals with their applications at Home Affairs, a major issue is that Home Affairs is very slow in providing services. The slow service of Home Affairs results in the arrest of these people by SAPS as they don’t have documents.

“It does not mean that foreign nationals don’t want papers, they need papers. The government should think in what ways are going to assist these African people that are coming to South Africa, running from different types of problems from their countries,” says Nungu.

Meanwhile, Xenophobia is nothing new to South Africa, but experts warn attacks on foreigners could rise as nationalist campaign rhetoric heats up.

South African vigilante group Operation Dudula has become notorious for raiding businesses belonging to foreign nationals and forcing shops to close.

Operation Dudula was established in Soweto two years ago. It was the first group to formalise sporadic waves of xenophobia-fuelled vigilante attacks in South Africa that date back to shortly after white-minority rule ended in 1994. It calls itself a civic movement running on an anti-migrant platform, with the word “dudula” meaning “to force out” in Zulu.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Muallimah Annisa Essack.