Migration Expert Says Blaming Foreigners for Job Problems Is Wrong

A migration expert from Wits University says South Africans are blaming foreigners for problems like unemployment and poor services. But he says the real causes are bad planning and lack of investment by the government.

Who Is the Expert?

Professor Loren Landau is a migration expert at Wits University. He says the anger against migrants is not based on facts. Migrants make up only 3% to 5% of the population. So they are not the main reason for the country's problems.

What Happened on June 30?

Some activists told undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa by June 30. The government said this had no legal power. Although there was no widespread violence on that day, many people's lives were already disrupted. Some lost their homes or businesses. The expert says we need to help those people now.

Why Are People Angry at Migrants?

Many South Africans are struggling to find jobs and get good services. But the expert says the problem is not migrants. He gives an example: in Gauteng, the population grew a lot in the last 20 years. But most of that growth came from South Africans moving from other provinces, not from foreigners. The government did not plan for this growth. So now there is not enough for everyone.

Do Migrants Steal Jobs?

No, says the expert. Migrants actually create jobs. Research from the World Bank shows that migrant workers help create jobs for South Africans. They also support trade with other countries. For example, traders in Johannesburg's Jeppe Street sell goods to Zimbabwe, Mozambique and other countries. This helps the whole region. When these countries are poor, South Africa also suffers.

What Should Be Done?

The expert says the government and businesses need to focus on creating jobs and helping young people. They should support entrepreneurs and provide training. He also says we should inspect workplaces more to stop employers from exploiting undocumented workers. And the government needs to stop corruption in the Home Affairs department.

Most importantly, South Africa needs a national conversation about migration. We must see how migrants have helped the country grow. Instead of blaming each other, we should solve the real problems like unemployment and poor planning.

This article was originally published on TimesLIVE.