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.[1] Estimates have been published and vary widely. According to Statistics South Africa's 2011 census, 6.2 million foreigners live in South Africa.[2]

Xenophobia

The sociologist Alice Bloch notes that migrants in South Africa have been the victims of xenophobia and violence, regardless of their immigration status.[3]

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[4] 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.[5] However, many immigrants to South Africa continue to live in poor conditions, and the South African immigration policy has become increasingly restrictive since 1994.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Chiumia, Sintha (5 November 2013). "How many Zimbabweans live in South Africa? The numbers are unreliable". Africa Check. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Wilkinson, Kate (15 July 2015). "New York Times & others STILL wrong on number of immigrants in S. Africa". Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  3. ↑ Bloch, Alice. "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". Sociology. 44 (2): 233–250. doi:10.1177/0038038509357209.
  4. ↑ "Unwanted African immigrants in South Africa", Radio Netherlands Archives, June 9, 2004
  5. ↑ "African Security Review Vol 5 No 4, 1996: Strategic Perspectives on Illegal Immigration into South Africa". Archived from the original on 19 October 2005.
  6. ↑ "Queens College: The Brain Gain: Skilled Migrants and Immigration Policy in Post-Apartheid South Africa". Archived from the original on 25 November 2005.


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