Perils of illegal migration
NO ONE in their right mind can deny that South Africa is facing an illegal migration crisis, and if the crisis is not well handled it will probably get out of hand, and no one will be spared the consequences.
Equally, no one can deny that in trying to address the issue, all parties, from the government to Operation Dudula proponents, have stepped on a potential landmine that could see South Africa isolated and having its multinational corporations all over the African continent sanctioned.
It is so unfortunate that South Africa adopted an open policy on hosting refugees when it was initially thought that only refugees and migrants from its neighbours would spill into it in case of unrest in their own countries.
However, it later turned out that even refugees from far-flung countries passed stable countries near them and flocked to South Africa, thus straining the limited resources the country has for its citizens and others.
For instance, in an ideal world, someone facing persecution in Somalia would be expected to seek refuge in nearby stable countries like Tanzania, Uganda or Kenya. It is not expected that a refugee who is fighting for survival would have the means to pass six stable countries to get to South Africa.
Coupled with hosting thousands of refugees, most of whom are not documented and are now competing with locals for scarce resources, thus creating hostilities, South Africa is also facing a wave of illegal migration.
Sadly, the issue of illegal immigrants has become a political football on the entire continent. In Nigeria, the government there, instead of dealing with its wayward citizens, has the nerve to threaten South Africa.
The Nigerian government has been joined by the Zimbabwean government and Zanu-PF in trying to turn the issue into a political football and blackmail the South African government and South African businesses.
Addressing this matter needs cool heads from all sides, not the political blackmailing we are seeing from all quarters right now.
People will always migrate to greener pastures for various reasons. But that should be done legally, and if not, there will be challenges like xenophobia and tensions between sisterly countries.