South Africa has an uncommon demographic profile, marked by a heterogeneous population base, social issues brought on by the legacy of apartheid, divisions within ethnic groups, HIV/AIDS and emigration. The Rainbow Nation demography consequently plays a prominent role in public policy.
Blacks compose about 79.7% (2007 est.) of the population and represent different ethnic groups, including Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho and Swazi, as well as recent immigrants from other parts of Africa (particularly Zimbabwe and Nigeria). Whites compose 9.1% (2007 est), being the descendants of Dutch, French, British, and German settlers who began arriving at the Cape from the late 17th century, immigrants from Europe who arrived in South Africa in the twentieth century, and Portuguese who left the former Portuguese colonies of southern Africa (Angola and Mozambique) after their independence in the mid-1970s. Coloureds (8.8%, 2007 est) are mixed-race people primarily descended from the earliest settlers, their slaves, and the indigenous peoples. The remaining 2.4% are categorised as 'Indian/Asian', including the descendants of Indian indentured sugar estate workers and traders who came to South Africa in the mid-19th (particularly around Natal), as well as a small Chinese population of approximately 100,000 people.[1]
South Africa has reltively high rates of emigration (the majority of whom are White). According to OECD data, countries with a large number of South African immigrants (irrespective of naturalisation) include the United Kingdom (141,405, 2001 est), Australia (79,425, 2001 est), United States (68,290 est, 2000 est), Canada (37,680, 2001 est) and New Zealand (26,061, 2001 est). Smaller South African communities are in Portugal, Netherlands, Greece and Ireland.[2]
South Africa as an immigration destination currently
The general experience for middle and upper class people immigrating to South Africa is that of a wonderful country with a great standard of living where one can buy more than at home and the beauty of the country is abundant. The HSBC Expat Experience Report 2009[3] recorded South Africa as the 6th best experience one can get in a new country.
For lower class immigrants standards of living have been lower. Africans, especially, have formed part of this group, and have been the victims of countless wrongdoings.
Challenges for immigrants
As mentioned, immigrants have generally had a good experience in South Africa, although in 2008 and sporadically since then, xenophobia has reared its ugly head.
On May 12, 2008 a series of riots started in the township of Alexandra (in the north-eastern part of Johannesburg) when locals attacked migrants from Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, killing two people and injuring 40 others.[4]
The violence spread to other townships later that week across the Gauteng Province of South Africa with riots reported in several settlements including Diepsloot, Johannesburg central, Jeppestown, Hillbrow and others.[5] A man was burnt to death near Reiger Park on the East Rand.[6] Police had arrested more than 200 people on charges including murder, attempted murder, rape, public violence and robbery.[5] Armed police used tear gas and rubber bullets to quell rioting in central Johannesburg, attacks on foreigners and looting of foreign owned shops. The violence then spread to the coastal city of Durban[7]
Criticism also exists in the form of immigrants to South Africa getting upset with the authorities. As of mid-2010, the South African Department of Home Affairs has removed the ability for people to lodge immigration applications locally and regionally, and these are now all sent to what has been nicknamed "The Hub" by immigration practitioners and consultancies. This is an effort to curb the corruption and bribery which was rife in the local Home Affairs offices, and has to some extent succeeded in doing so.[8] The Department of Home Affairs has also threatened to remove Immigration Practitioners from the Immigration Act, which would effectively mean that only lawyers or state-appointed immigration officers could represent someone in lodging a permit application, otherwise they would have to submit themselves, and in person. This in the face of the long waiting times to receive most permits. [9] The 16 leading immigration companies of South Africa have teamed up to sue the Department of Home Affairs with the goal to get a better service quality of the department and better processing times for permits.
References
- ^ [Statistics South Africa Mid-year population estimates, South Africa: 2007 http://www.statssa.gov.za/PublicationsHTML/P03022007/html/P03022007.html]
- ^ [OECD Database on immigrants and expatriates http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/23/34792376.xls]
- ^ "HSBC Expat Experience Report 2009". HSBC. 2010-09-16. http://www.offshore.hsbc.com/1/2/international/expat/expat-survey/expat-experience-report-2009. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
- ^ "South African mob kills migrants". BBC. 2008-05-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7396868.stm. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
- ^ a b "South Africa: Xenophobic Rage Leaves Trail of Havoc in Gauteng". AllAfrica.com. http://allafrica.com/stories/200805190001.html. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
- ^ "Flames of Hate". Archived from the original on May 21, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080521022725/http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/photos/2008/05/flames-of-hate/. Retrieved May 18, 2008.
- ^ "South Africa attacks reach Durban". BBC. 2008-05-21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7412128.stm. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
- ^ "Immigration South Africa". Green Immigration South Africa. 2010-09-10. http://www.immigrationsouthafrica.org/. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
- ^ "South African Immigration". Intergate Immigration Service. 2011-01-11. http://www.intergate-immigration.com/. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
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