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| Buitlandse belegings in gedrang [boodskap #27888] |
Fri, 05 November 1999 00:00 |
Francois de Wet
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Business Day (11/04) reports that the home affairs department moved
yesterday to quell the anger of foreign investors, saying that a draft bill
envisaging the creation of a
separate department to deal with all immigration issues was likely to be
tabled in Parliament. Home affairs has been criticised by political
parties and foreign businessmen recently for bureaucratic snarl-ups that
have led to work application permits being turned down. Minister
Buthelezi said his department was striving to become "more sensitive"
towards attraction of foreign investments and skilled people and
speedily processing applications. Rather than making it difficult for
people who contribute to the growth of SA to gain permanent or temporary
residence, his department should concentrate on combating the problem of
illegal immigrants, he said.
The Business Day (11/04) editor wrote: Any country as starved of capital and
skills as
ours would be foolish to block the entry of foreign entrepreneurs. Yet
that is precisely what the department of home affairs is doing - so much
so that its obstinacy is now vying with crime and labour issues as the
primary disincentive to foreign investment. Stories abound of foreign
business initiatives being blocked by delays and obstructions in the
granting of visas and work permits to critical managers and technical
staff. Those delays invariably go unexplained by a department which has
kept the criteria for granting these permits a mystery to outsiders.
There are a number of possible explanations. One is rank incompetence
among junior officials. But the persistence of the problem, and the
fact that the department is reasonably competent in other areas,
suggests that capacity is not the issue. Another possible explanation
is corruption. Anecdotal evidence suggests this cannot be ruled out.
Whatever political complications the ANC might fear, Minister Mangosuthu
Buthelezi has to be called to account. The economic costs of not doing
so are growing.
. Sapa-AFP (Gaborone 4/11) reports that over 2,000 "illegal aliens" were
arrested in Botswana during a government "alien clean-up" in September.
Most of those arrested, and deported, were from Zimbabwe and Zambia, but
some were from Britain, China, Ghana, India, Malawi, Mauritius, Pakistan,
and South Africa. While the public increasingly blames "illegal immigrants",
especially those from Zimbabwe, for increased drug dealing and theft in the
country, President Festus Mogae warned against generalized finger-pointing,
yet added: "An unemployed illegal immigrant is more likely to commit
crimes." Further, he promised future "sweeps" to rid Bostwana of "illegal
immigrants" that "the country cannot afford."
. Sapa (Cape Town 4/11) reports that the Democratic Party has stated that a
separate department should not be created to deal with immigration. While
the White Paper on International Immigration provides for the separation of
the Home Affairs Department into two main branches, citizen services and
migration, with the latter being converted to an immigration service, Home
Affairs spokesperson Hennie Meyer denied that a separate department is
envisaged. In response to the controversy surrounding his department's
refusal to grant work permits to employees of an international company
wishing to invest in South Africa, Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu
Buthelezi stated that his department "should focus on dealing with aliens,
rather than making it difficult for would-be investors to obtain residence
in South Africa." Without elaborating, he also said that legislation was
being drawn up to "transform" his department, in keeping with the policy
outlined in the white paper.
. Sapa-AP (London 3/11) reports that outgoing secretary general of the
Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria, stated that globalization has
expanded the gap between rich and poor which in turn increases intolerance
and xenophobia. He added that while globalization has improved trade and
communications between rich and poor countries, it has also eroded borders.
Members of the Commonwealth range from some of the world's wealthiest
countries, such as Canada, Australia, Brunei, and Britain, and the poorest,
such as Bangladesh, India, and Mozambique.
. Sapa-AP (2/11) reports that over 1,500 Angolan refugees entered Zambia
during the last three weeks of October, according to Kris Janowski,
spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
while the previous rate this year was only 100 per month. Angolan refugees
are fleeing fighting between UNITA and government forces.
. Sapa (1/11) reports that the South African Chamber of Business (Sacob)
called for an urgent meeting with Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi
to discuss immigration and work permit problems. Recently, employees of
foreign companies wishing to do business in South Africa were refused work
permits.
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