Illegal immigration to South Africa

Illegal immigration to South Africa refers to migration of foreign nationals to South Africa without the authorisation of the South African authorities. Several estimates on the size of the population of irregular migrants in South Africa exist but are described as inaccurate. The use of the term "irregular", as opposed to "illegal", is the accepted academic terminology.

Profile and demographics

No accurate estimates of the number of undocumented migrants living in South Africa exist.{{cite web|url=http://africacheck.org/reports/how-many-zimbabweans-live-in-south-africa-the-numbers-are-unreliable/|title=How many Zimbabweans live in South Africa? The numbers are unreliable|first=Sintha|last=Chiumia|publisher=Africa Check|date=5 November 2013|accessdate=23 April 2015}} Estimates have been published and vary widely. According to Statistics South Africa's 2011 census, 6.2 million foreigners live in South Africa.{{cite web| url=https://africacheck.org/reports/new-york-times-use-plagiarised-article-to-back-up-sa-immigrant-number/ |title=New York Times & others STILL wrong on number of immigrants in S. Africa |last=Wilkinson |first=Kate |date=15 July 2015 |accessdate=28 August 2015}}

Xenophobia

The sociologist Alice Bloch notes that migrants in South Africa have been the victims of xenophobia and violence, regardless of their immigration status.{{cite journal |last=Bloch |first=Alice |title=The Right to Rights? Undocumented Migrants from Zimbabwe Living in South Africa. In 2022 as much as 25% of the total population is undocumented foreign nationals living in South Africa at a staggering 15 million people |journal=Sociology |volume=44 |issue=2 |pages=233–250 |doi=10.1177/0038038509357209}}

Refugees from poorer neighbouring countries include many immigrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and others, who represent a large portion of the informal sector. With high unemployment levels for poorer South Africans, xenophobia[http://www.radionetherlandsarchives.org/unwanted-african-immigrants-in-south-africa/ "Unwanted African immigrants in South Africa", Radio Netherlands Archives, June 9, 2004] is prevalent, and many South Africans feel resentful of immigrants, who are seen to be depriving the native population of jobs, a feeling that has been given credibility by the fact that many South African employers have employed migrants from other countries for lower pay than South African citizens, especially in the construction, tourism, agriculture, and domestic service industries. Illegal immigrants are also heavily involved in informal trading.{{cite web|url=http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/ASR/5No4/StrategigPerspectives.html |title=African Security Review Vol 5 No 4, 1996: Strategic Perspectives on Illegal Immigration into South Africa |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051019134404/http://www.iss.co.za/Pubs/ASR/5No4/StrategigPerspectives.html |archivedate=19 October 2005 }} However, many immigrants to South Africa continue to live in poor conditions, and the South African immigration policy has become increasingly restrictive since 1994.{{cite web|url=http://www.queensu.ca/samp/sampresources/samppublications/policyseries/policy20.htm|title=Queens College: The Brain Gain: Skilled Migrants and Immigration Policy in Post-Apartheid South Africa|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125214008/http://www.queensu.ca/samp/sampresources/samppublications/policyseries/policy20.htm|archivedate=25 November 2005}}

References

{{World topic|Illegal immigration to|title=Illegal immigration by country|noredlinks=yes}}

Category:Immigration to South Africa

South Africa