The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation in South Africa (SA) has sought to debunk a number of myths that surround narratives around immigration in the country, saying solutions must be based on proper diagnosis.
The foundation is hosting an online rally this Saturday under the banner, “Defend Democracy. Reject the Shutdown.”
The event has seen scores of organisations, including trade unions, civil society, faith-based organisations, political parties and business speak out against the June 30 shutdown, which organisers say is aimed at ejecting illegal immigrants from the country.
The foundation has also raised the issue of the challenges of getting documentation in the country, not only for immigrants but for South Africans themselves, citing years-long administrative backlogs, inaccessible home affairs services and systemic failures.
Anti-Racism Manager at the Kathrada Foundation, Rethabile Ratsomo says, “We are constantly told that SA is being flooded by migrants, yet the data tells a different story. According to Statistics SA and the United Nations, migrants make up approximately 2.4 million people out of a population of 58.5 million, around 4.1% of the country’s population. That figure includes both documented and undocumented migrants.”
“We’ve also often been told that migrants are overwhelming our hospitals and clinics, but the evidence tells us that many documented migrants have medical aid and make use of private health care, while many undocumented migrants actively avoid public health facilities altogether because they fear arrest or deportation,” says Ratsomo.
–SABC–
