Kimberly Mutandiro – Johannesburg
“Employ us, not foreigners.” This has become a common phrase in South Africa. South Africans living in informal settlements and townships have become desperate for jobs.
Unemployment levels in the country continue to rise. They are cutting the corners and are knocking on company gates, demanding jobs. Long and often futile job application processes are no longer sufficient.
The new strategy is simple but brutal. “Undocumented migrants must be removed from companies, and South African citizens must be employed instead.” South Africans are demanding.
It is the largest economy in Africa with a GDP of over $400 billion. Being
They accepted smaller wages than South Africans.Overall the rate of economic growth in South Africa has been slow, resulting in high unemployment levels for locals, worsening already existing inequality levels.
Migrants from poor neighboring countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Swaziland, and Lesotho seemed to find employment easily. They accepted smaller wages than South Africans.
Citizens have directed their anger towards African migrants, accusing them of taking their jobs. Companies and factories employing migrants are being accused of taking advantage of cheap labor by employing undocumented migrants and violating the country’s laws.
Unemployment protests, targeting companies and factories, have increased across South African provinces. Groups such as March and March, Operation Dudula, and other opposition parties have led most of the protests.
The common belief that South Africans are lazy compared to migrants is being challenged. Illegal migrants are being pushed to return home. In some cases even legal migrants have been pushed to leave their jobs to make room for South Africans.
Employment opportunities have opened up in some cases. However, some companies have been reluctant to let their migrant workers go.
RELATED
RAMAPHOSA CRACKS DOWN ON VIGILANTE IMMIGRATION CHECKS AS XENOPHOBIA FEARS INTENSIFY
