Don’t confuse deportations with job creation

South Africa has recently made significant moves against illegal immigration. The focus now must shift towards addressing the pressing issue of job creation. The 33.6% unemployment rate, evident between April and June, isn't merely a number - it represents the plight of 8.5 million South Africans who are unemployed, lacking income, and struggling for dignity.

Nearly half of our youth face barriers to opportunities. This is significant as one of the strongest arguments supporting the crackdown on undocumented foreigners has been the claim that South Africans are losing out to illegal immigrants. Even though the unemployment figures were calculated prior to the March and March protests and the subsequent deportations, the situation is deteriorating.

The statistics reveal no evidence that these deportations have alleviated the crisis, despite more than 178,000 migrants leaving since June 30th. One must ask a young graduate who has sent out countless CVs without success. Ask a father who lost his job in April and is still awaiting a response. Ask a mother who sells vetkoek at the taxi rank because the factory has closed down.

For them, deportations have proven ineffective. Instead, they witness the R292 million spent by the Department of Home Affairs on deportations since June 30th and the R600 million redirected to policing before the anti-immigration protests. They see contracts issued, buses procured, and accommodations funded. They question: could these funds have been allocated to job creation, training, or supporting small businesses?

This does not negate the necessity of deportations. Indeed, South Africa must uphold its immigration laws, not merely "transform borders into bridges," as President Cyril Ramaphosa attempted to appease heads of state during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Durban. Employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers should face repercussions.

However, enforcement is not a job creation strategy. The question arises: does the March and March protest have confused the removal of undocumented migrants with the creation of jobs? Border control is crucial. Yet, it cannot replace job creation. The expenses associated with the March and March protests far surpass previous departmental expenditures.

Over three years, R552 million was allocated to detention and deportation, with R242.7 million specifically towards deportations. South Africans deserve more than mere footage of lines of foreign nationals boarding buses returning to their home countries. They deserve an explanation of who benefited from the contracts issued, how much was spent, and whether local companies and workers gained any advantages.

The government must also outline the subsequent steps. If an undocumented worker leaves a construction site, farm, factory, or shop, who will fill that position? Is there a trained South African ready to take it? If not, deportation might remove a person without resolving the economic issue. The idea of recouping deportation costs from nations like Malawi, Nigeria, and Ethiopia is improbable to gain cooperation.

Imposing repayment could escalate diplomatic tensions. The SADC heads of state must address immigration concerns to prevent South Africa from working in isolation and potentially sparking xenophobic backlash. At the same time, South Africa cannot advocate for African integration and enhanced regional trade while treating migration as a security issue.

The government must also cultivate conditions in which entrepreneurs can prosper, as they are the driving force behind job creation. While deportation may remove individuals, it also closes down some foreign-owned businesses, diminishing opportunities further. Only economic growth, investment, skills, and functional institutions can create jobs.