South Africa’s GNU faces uphill battle over immigration policy
Can a government of national unity reconcile the competing interests of member states and achieve a pragmatic and unified approach?
Immigration has become an important issue in South Africa’s political debate. Although the country has progressive asylum and immigration policies, it falls short of a pragmatic approach to immigration governance. Several factors stand in the way, including bureaucratic inefficiency, conflation of refugees and immigrants, and politicized narratives about immigration.
Each election cycle, immigration issues have been amplified to garner votes. Political parties are using populist rhetoric and anti-immigrant rhetoric to garner support as public dissatisfaction with government service delivery, unemployment and crime grows.
In 2020, Afrobarometer reported that around half of South Africans believe foreigners should not be allowed to work in the country as they take jobs away from citizens. And 62% felt that the government’s immigration control was insufficient.
Anti-immigrant attitudes and attacks are more frequent in areas plagued by unemployment, crime, and poor service provision, but they are not limited to poorer populations. Afrobarometer found that people with post-secondary education and living in urban areas are less welcoming of foreign workers, especially those with post-secondary education. This suggests that opposition to immigration is not driven by xenophobia, but rather by socio-economic concerns, making it difficult to foster social cohesion between locals and foreign-born nationals. Suggests.
GNU needs a common understanding of the dynamics driving migrant labor to South Africa
Ahead of national elections in May 2024, populist rhetoric has increased, attacks on foreigners have accelerated, and some political parties have taken advantage of people’s fears that immigrants will cause unemployment and worsen security. Similar trends are expected for local government polls in 2026.
The country’s Government of National Unity (GNU) should strive to find common ground and lead the agenda by developing a practical and sustainable migration governance model. But finding consensus among the GNU’s 10 parties will not be easy. The Inkatha Freedom Party, Patriotic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus emphasize strong border security to limit immigration.
The Inkatha Freedom Party, which ranks fifth in terms of votes and seats, advocates tighter border controls to protect local jobs. Patriotic Alliance, in sixth place, built its platform on anti-immigrant rhetoric and advocated tough immigration policies to protect local jobs and resources. Freedom Front Plus also focuses on strict border controls, but links its position to maintaining cultural identity.
South Africa’s second-largest political party, the Democratic Alliance, supports attracting skilled migrants, but also insists on regularizing the status of Zimbabwean exemption permit holders and recognizing their legal presence since 2009. are. This reflects a commitment to legal immigration that goes beyond a focus on skills.
In contrast, the African National Congress has moved away from its Pan-Africanist roots toward harsher immigration enforcement, even as it promotes regional integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Improved immigration policies have the potential to address labor shortages, boost economic growth, and promote social cohesion
GNU has an opportunity to take a progressive, forward-thinking approach to migration. This model needs to be tailored to different groups, such as economic migrants and refugees, while moving away from a security-driven focus and bias towards specific migrant categories. But can GNU reconcile the competing interests of its members and achieve a unified approach?
The country has an unemployment rate of 32.9%, 26 million people dependent on social assistance and 55.5% living in poverty. Unless these fundamental issues are addressed, any immigration policy will remain inconsistent with this country’s deeper structural problems.
In addition to meeting international obligations, improved immigration policy has the potential to strengthen regional integration, address South Africa’s labor shortage, strengthen economic growth and social cohesion, and regularize the workforce. There is.
Democratic Alliance’s Leon Shriver began his term as interior minister in July with a pro-immigration approach, extending concessions to foreigners awaiting visa decisions and granting exemptions to Zimbabwean exemption permit holders. But public backlash against these measures led Mr. Shriver to focus on eliminating undocumented immigrant workers. This highlights the pressure on the GNU to balance the welfare of immigrants with public demands for stronger immigration controls.
Whether taking a more nationalist or a more liberal position, South Africa’s direction on immigration will have national and international implications.
As a major player in the African Union (AU) and SADC, the country is obliged to uphold regional immigration standards. The AU’s Agenda 2063 emphasizes that free movement of people is essential to Africa’s unity and economic integration. A restrictive approach could isolate South Africa, strain relations with strategic partners like Nigeria, and complicate its regional leadership role.
Parties to the GNU need a common understanding of the political, economic and security dynamics that drive migrant workers to South Africa. Recognizing these factors is essential to developing practical migration policies that are sensitive to the regional complexities that influence migration patterns.
GNU’s approach will test its ability to navigate contentious policy issues ahead of 2026 local elections
At a seminar at the Institute for Security Studies in August, Home Policy Director Siele Mthiyane highlighted GNU’s commitment to legal migration channels. However, he also acknowledged administrative challenges, such as resource constraints and inefficiencies, that can impede effective policy implementation.
Addressing these issues and addressing corruption, particularly the issuance of fake documents, is essential to restoring the integrity of South Africa’s immigration system. A more coordinated approach between the Home Office and the International Relations and Cooperation Department at executive and director-general level is also important.
Ultimately, GNU’s approach to immigration governance will be tested in its ability to navigate complex and contentious policy issues in the run-up to the 2026 local elections. This requires developing policies that are politically viable and address the socio-economic realities that drive anti-immigrant sentiment.
Success will depend on balancing immediate public concerns with a long-term strategy that integrates migrants, reduces tensions, and aligns with South Africa’s regional and international efforts. How the GNU treats immigrants could define its legacy and shape the country’s political landscape.
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