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9th SACP Congress April 1995

From Nkosikhulule Nyembezi
1 May 1995

Resolution on migration

The issue of migration has emerged as on of the problems in South Africa and the attitude that was adopted by the apartheid government was totally unacceptable to the progresive forces in the country. The presence of immigrants have created tensions in the workers and in other parts of the country the communities have chased the immigrants away because they say they are taking away the jobs which are already scarce.

The congress noted that there is a continuing relatively large-scale clandestine migration of people into South Africa from neighbouring countries as well as from elsewhere in the continent and that unscupulous bosses have taken advantage of this influx of vulnerable people to undercut wages and conditions of South African workers.

It was also noted that there is a growing hostility bodering on xenophobia towards 'illegal immigrants' and that this diverts attention from the real source of unemployment, poverty, homelessness and crime in South africa which does not result from 'illegal immigrants' but is caused by the nature and effect of capitalism in South Africa.

It was also recognised that there is an abnormal movement of persons in the Southern African region that is udesirable from the point of view of the individuals and the countries from which migrants are coming as well as for our own country but it was recognised equally that this movement is a consequence of the uneven development of capitalism in Southern Africa, crises in neigbouring countries, worsened by the continuing effect of massive armed agression and destabilisation policies directed by the previous South African regime against countries giving support to the liberation struggle of the South african people.

The congrss took a resloution to use its influence to ensure that on this issue must be based on a recognition of casual factors and South Africa's historical role in the creation of factors giving rise to clandestine migration to South Africa and that any policy must include concrete proposals for the cooperation in addressing the causes of migration.

The policy must also distinguish between different categories of 'illegal immigrants' and must allow those who are in fact permanent residents or have family in this country the opportunity to regulirise thier position as residents of South Africa. It must also be sensitive to the impact on neighbouring countries of any measures taken and avoid any action, including mass depotation, which might worsen crises in the neighbouring countries.

Any polict that is adopted must not deprive suspected 'illegal aliens' of the rights guarantted under the constitution, including the right to legal advice and to contact family members.

We can discuss the situation and other issues that influenced the debate and the resolution.

Nkoskhulule