Africa needs better ‘manage migration’

Naledi Pandor’s comments came in the wake of a wave of xenophobic attacks. Talking to migrant representatives, she also said that African leaders should not be allowed to worsen conditions in their countries and expect others to deal with the resulting migration. Twelve people were killed earlier this month when mobs attacked foreign-owned businesses, mainly in Johannesburg. Ten of the victims were South African and two were Zimbabweans. President Cyril Ramaphosa told the BBC that he felt ashamed by the recent violence. “We are very concerned and of course as a nation, we [are] ashamed because this goes against the ethos of what South Africa stands for,” he said. Xenophobia Attacks: LASG gives N20,000 each to 2nd batch of 315 returnees from South Africa Nigerian bags six life sentences, 129 years imprisonment for human trafficking in South Africa But in looking for solutions according to BBC report, Ms Pandor suggested this was not just a South African issue. “We need to talk about the role that sending countries and transit countries play in assisting receiving countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and many others and in helping them manage the issue of migration far more effectively,” she told members of the African Diaspora Forum in Pretoria. South Africa has become a magnet for migrants from other parts of Africa as it has one of the continent’s biggest and most developed economies. But there is also high unemployment in the country and some people feel foreigners are taking their jobs.