Negative Economic Impact

67% of 9 million international tourists to South Africa in 2007, were from other African countries.

30% of international tourism revenue, comes from tourists from other African countries.

1.2 million South Africans are employed in the tourism sector.

Most of the international tourists for the Soccer World Cup in 2010 were expected to come from Africa.

South Africa: Immigrants Create Jobs and Add to Economy

27/06/2008 by Tamar Blieden

The recent xenophobic violence that ravaged through South Africa was sparked partly by accusations of foreigners stealing local jobs; this however is a "misconception" says the government.

It is therefore a misconception to conclude that migrants steal jobs from South Africans. The opposite is actually true. They are job creators, first for themselves - and for the rest of us," said labour minister Membathisi Mdadlana at the 21st Annual Labour Law Conference held in Sandton, South Africa, yesterday.

According to various research results referred to in this address, the fact that South African immigrants are in fact creating jobs rather than stealing them is shown. This is essentially due to the fact that foreigners contribute to the country financially, particularly those from other African countries.

Statistics show that visitors from Africa and the Middle East spend more in South Africa than in fact those from the US and seven of the top spending countries in 2005 were from other Southern African countries, such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Ironically these countries were the most targeted during the recent violence.

"South Africa should welcome immigration," says Nicholas Geladaris of www.globalvisas.com, immigration and visa specialists. He however adds that "it must be legal immigration; illegal immigration needs to be stopped. But foreigners are integral to the growth of South Africa."

Not only have immigrants been affected by xenophobic violence where 62 people were killed and thousands more displaced, but foreign African workers also suffer labour exploitation. Foreign nationals are often not treated fairly in terms of labour law requirements where many do not receive paid leave or are not registered with the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

Mdadlana is therefore calling for the need for immigration to South Africa to be recognised through more regulated immigration laws, whereby more foreigners receive legal documentation and permanent visas.

nevertheless, a step in a positive direction towards immigrant treatment has come about recently with the Labour Court decision that states that all workers, locals and legal or illegal immigrants will now receive equal labour rights.