Immigrants Choose South Africa to be Safe and to Secure a Brighter Future, Part 1
Reading Time: 2 minutesImmigrants living in South Africa have returned to their respective countries in droves after the unrest. But they have a reason for wanting to settle in Mzansi.
Image Credit: James Wiseman on Unsplash
Immigrants living in South Africa have gone through a difficult phase recently, Youth Express journalism intern, Philani Ngobeni begins his opinion editorial series on immigration in this first post.
Immigration has been part of South Africa’s narrative for many years. People move to the country
for different reasons, including searching for jobs, education, safety and a brighter future for their
families. While immigrations bring many benefits, it also creates challenges that requires
understanding, cooperation and fair policies.
Immigrants settling in SA
South Africa is one of the most developed economies in Africa, making it an attractive destination
for people from neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Malawi, as well
as from other parts of the world. Many immigrants contribute to the economy by working in
different industries. They also introduce new cultures, languages, traditions, and ideas, making
South African society more diverse and vibrant.
Some have left their homes because of conflict, economic hardship and political instability.
Are immigrants competing or adding value
However, immigration comes with some thought-provoking difficulties. High unemployment,
poverty, and limited access to housing and public services have caused some South Africans to feel
that immigrants are competing with them for jobs and resources. These frustrations have led to
multiple encounters of xenophobia and unrest in the country. Such violence caused fear, destroys
communities and damages South Africa’s reputation as a nation that advocates and upholds human
rights.
Every human deserves peace
It is important to be mindful of the fact that behind every immigrant is a personal story. Some have
left their homes because of conflict, economic hardship and political instability. Others want to
provide their children with a better life. Like anyone else, they hope to live in peace, work honestly
and contribute to society. Seeing immigrants as individuals rather than stereotypes help build
understanding and compassion.
Philani, pictured left, writes in his personal capacity and will delve into this topic even further in future posts speaking more about the personal stories of immigrants he has interacted with.
