Alex: SAIRR wants policy change

2008-05-15 08:15

Johannesburg - The reactive policy of arresting and deporting illegal immigrants in South Africa needs to change, the SA Institute of Race Relations said on Wednesday.

"What we want is for government to accept that this population of immigrants are a permanent feature of South Africa's demographics... and that current policy revolves around arrests and deportation which are simply pointless when dealing with a mass influx," said SAIRR deputy chief executive Frans Cronje.

"A level of legal of standing for foreign immigrants, according them certain rights and standing that allow them access to services such as banking and legal employment... is necessary."

Cronje said 3.5 million "ghosts" in the country posed a threat to the country's security and that there were many more "pros" to formalising their status then there were disadvantages.

Perfect target

"They are the perfect criminal target... when they become victims of crime and try to report it, they are arrested for being illegal at the same time," he said.

Cronje was reacting to the violent attacks, perceived to be xenophobic, which broke out in Alexandra on Sunday and continued into Tuesday night.

Police spokesperson Govindsamy Mariemuthoo on Wednesday said the situation was calm after it flared up again on Tuesday evening.

Displaced foreigners were still making their way to the Alexandra Police Station on Wednesday, seeking safety.

The attacks have drawn criticism and condemnation from all sectors of society and on Tuesday various NGOs, churches and government departments pitched in to support those displaced by the violence and to find a solution to the problem.

Cronje added that there was more going on in Alexandra than xenophobia; criminals were also taking advantage of the chaos.

- SAPA