Illegal immigrants take centre stage ahead of Elections 2019

In recent months one of The BEAT reporters — I honestly do not remember who — engaged me against the backdrop of violent attacks on foreign nationals of African descent in the Gauteng settlement of Diepsloot.

The reporter suggested we conduct interviews with people across the Waterberg to tease out their views on the burning issue of economic migrants flooding South African towns and cities.

Many of these arrivals are refugees from war-torn countries, while scores of others escaped economic hardships from their home countries.

Unfortunately, as is the case all over the world, there would be the more cunning arrivals such as drug smugglers and money launders.

And oh, we have also been blessed with the arrival of clergymen of all persuasions coming to save us from our sins. Hallelujah!

But I digress. My response to the reporter’s suggestion was to the effect that we should rather err on the side of caution.

That is, what if every single person we interview spews out xenophobic rhetoric and dare that all migrants — be they refugees or the proverbial man-of-God — should be bundled out of the
country?

Makes you think, ain’t it?

This column was inspired by a personal observation relating to the rhetoric and actions of especially the major political parties ahead of the forthcoming general elections, scheduled for the
month of May.

It all started a couple of months ago when the Democratic Alliance indicated that central to its election campaign would be the issue of illegal migrants.

At the time the DA assured foreign nationals that the party had no problem with people residing and working in South Africa legally.

If memory serves me well, the party also suggested that those in the country illegally should be assisted — wherever possible — to access documents such as work permits.

I may be wrong, but recent developments subtly suggest that the ruling class was not about to be left behind.

Suddenly there were massive raids on foreign-owned stores by the authorities in KwaZulu-Natal, openly known as the electoral heartland of the ANC.

Some have even questioned the timing of the arrest of the self-styled present-day prophet, the Malawian Huxley Bushiri.

Why now, oh why?

All this takes place against the backdrop of mumblings from sections of the nation that immigrants — be they illegal or otherwise — are “taking away” what are perceived to be jobs exclusively
for South Africans.

From time to time I do wonder if a Cuban medical doctor working in the rural hinterland, is taking away what is supposed to be my job!

The mainstream media reports that to the contrary, the Economic Freedom Fighters’ Commander-In-Chief, Julius Malema, has boldly called for a borderless continent, adding that Zimbabwe,
Mozambique and Botswana should be part of the broader region.

It remains to be seen if voters would be swayed by such talk.

— The BEAT