Immigrants may face getting the boot

THOUSANDS of foreigners working, living and visiting Zululand could be forced to return to their motherland in compliance with South Africa’s new immigration laws.

The thorny visa regulations, gazetted by the Department of Labour in May, has sparked criticism for being ‘unconstitutional’, breaking up multi-national families and putting the jobs of skilled imported personnel at risk.

But local economist, Dr Irrshad Kaseeram, Head of Department of the Economics at the University of Zululand, believes the new rules would fortify the country’s borders against an influx of harmful factors.

‘The stricter laws are similar to the immigration laws in force in the US and Europe,’ said Kaseeram.

‘They are intended to ensure that only foreign nationals with scarce skills are permitted to live and work in the country as opposed to foreigners occupying positions which can be filled by unemployed South Africans.This will result in the reduction of the unemployment rate.

‘Moreover, such South Africans will spend and invest their incomes here, thus having further positive spin-offs on the economy in regard to investment, production and consumption (known as the multiplier effect), while foreigners tend to send a significant portion of their finances to their families across the borders,’ said Kaseeram.

‘With the use of advanced technology and effective policing, it would properly regulate movements in and out of the country.

‘The likelihood of a reduction of xenophobic attacks is also great, since these are usually triggered by South Africans living at the margins of society that compete with semi and unskilled foreign nationals for jobs.’

The cons

However, closing the gate to Africa has its downside too, said Kaseeram.

‘The biggest losers in this situation will be South African businesses that employ foreign nationals because they work hard for low wages to compete with local workers. These businesses enjoy high productivity rates at low costs.

‘From a social perspective, many foreigners here have developed intimate relationships with locals and have nurtured families. Their lives would be adversely affected.’