African immigrants in South Africa: Job takers or job creators?

Vivence Kalitanyi

doi:10.4102/sajems.v13i4.91

Abstract

During the last decade African immigrants have been met with and exposed to severe forms of hostility towards their presence in this country. A significant number of these migrants have successfully applied their entrepreneurial flair in establishing small enterprises and employing workers, often to the envy of their local counterparts. This paper presents the findings of an empirical study conducted in 2007 on job creation by African immigrant entrepreneurs for South Africans with face-to-face interviews with 120 African immigrant entrepreneurs. These findings were triangulated 7 non-governmental organisations that interact with immigrants in Cape Town. A review of the literature on migration, entrepreneurship and immigrant entrepreneurs formed the basis for the study The findings indicate that more than 80% of African immigrant entrepreneurs interviewed employ South Africans in their businesses. Despite a generally negative national perception towards immigrants, this study has also revealed that entrepreneurial skills are transferred from immigrant entrepreneurs to their South African employees. Whilst the study was only conducted in the suburban areas of Cape Town, the researcher believes that the results represent the general trend for South Africa. Furthermore, the study only involved those migrants who come from African continent. The overall result is the acknowledgement of the contribution that non-citizens are making to the country’s growth and development. The findings suggest recommendations geared towards policy changes regarding South African immigration law, an inclusive research about the role of immigrants on job creation in South Africa, as well as the consideration of immigrant entrepreneurs when allocating financial support.

Highlights

Job creation is a formidable challenge for the South African government
The information supplied by Home Affairs, Cape Town, and immigrant-support organisations operating in Cape Town, shows that the majority of African immigrants come from Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Burundi and Angola
There are few studies that have considered the context of job creation by immigrants in South Africa as an alternative way of changing the negative perception among some South Africans, many of whom believe that immigrants are here to take the jobs that should be done by South Africans

Summary

Introduction

Job creation is a formidable challenge for the South African government. Despite its extraordinary efforts to reduce the unemployment rate, which is estimated at 23.2 per cent, according to Trading Economics (2008:2), the government and other businesses in the formal sector have not managed to create employment for all. Many South Africans have to work for small business owners, and many immigrants run their own businesses in this sector. The presence on South African soil of so many immigrants from all over the world and the implications of their presence in the job market, as well as the problem of the country’s scarce resources, raise controversial comments and debates. Timberg (2005:3) disagrees, maintaining, to the contrary, that they are creating employment for themselves and sometimes for unemployed South Africans Unsubstantiated belief held by many South Africans, is that immigrants from north of the country’s borders are taking South Africans’ jobs. Timberg (2005:3) disagrees, maintaining, to the contrary, that they are creating employment for themselves and sometimes for unemployed South Africans

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Conclusion