Immigrants are net creators of jobs in South Africa, research confirms
The situation of crowds of foreign nationals stuck at the Beitbridge and Komatipoort's Lebombo border posts this week has caused much outcry and concerns about a humanitarian disaster in the making.
Aside from reasonable and rational concerns by government about foreign nationals being allowed back into South Africa as many may be Covid-positive, many argue that they take local employment and should be stopped from entering.
John Maytham speaks to Professor Steven Friedman about the extensive research that shows the argument that they take local jobs is blatantly untrue.
In fact, Friedman confirms, research clearly finds that immigrants are net creators of jobs in South Africa.
There has been study after study, and I can produce lists of academic references to say that the net impact of immigration on jobs and on economic growth is postive.
Prof Steven Friedman, Political Studies Department - University of Johannesburg
Many immigrants who come to South Africa are self-employed, he adds.
They are more likely to employ South Africans than to be employed.
Prof Steven Friedman, Political Studies Department - University of Johannesburg
While there obviously are a significant number of migrants who are employed, he says, if one is to claim they are stealing jobs two things need to be demonstrated.
You've got to show that there were South Africans who were able to do those jobs and show that there are South Africans who are willing to do those jobs.
Prof Steven Friedman, Political Studies Department - University of Johannesburg
Migrants are often prepared to do jobs that South Africans are not willing to do.
Prof Steven Friedman, Political Studies Department - University of Johannesburg
He says the number of jobs given to migrants is greatly exaggerated and employing foreign nationals is bureaucratically challenging.
Friedman does acknowledge that there are South African employers that prefer employing Zimababeans and Malawians for example, because they do not wish to abide by labour laws and these employees do not complain, for fear of being deported.
I'm sure some of that is happening but we have never seen evidence of how much of that is happening.
Prof Steven Friedman, Political Studies Department - University of Johannesburg
But, he says, then the process is to follow the existing labour laws, rather than to go down the path of another xenophobic outburst in the country.
Listen to Prof Steven Friedman explaining the evidence in this regard below:
More from Africa

Chinese businesses and Namibian elites get rich illegally logging rosewood trees
Protected ancient rosewood trees are being chopped down in Nambia despite a moratorium on harvesting these prized hardwoods and a ban on trading raw timber.
Read More
Zimbabwe crisis: 'South Africa can intervene but solution lies with Zimbabweans'
It is probably expecting too much from the ANC government to censure Zanu-PF, a sister liberation movement, says Tapiwa Chagonda.
Read More
Africa free trade agreement: 'Moving people across borders is the real magic'
The Continent is uniting. Ray White interviews Adrian Saville of the Centre for African Management and Markets at Gibs.
Read More
Beitbridge border: People with fake Covid-19 results banned from SA for 5 years
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says at least 50 fake Covid-19 tests were found at the Beitbridge Border Post with Zimbabwe.
Read More
Journalist's eyewitness account from Beitbridge border, 'people feel ambushed'
NewsDay Zimbabwe journalist Rex Mphisa says people have stood in queues for more than three days at the border.
Read More
Mozambique and Zimbabwe – still reeling from Idai - brace for Cyclone Chalane
The countries have not yet recovered from last year’s Cyclone Idai, the world’s second-deadliest ever, says Idrisse Bhai.
Read More
Black Friday taking consumers from bricks to bytes
With the Festive season upon us, it is worth unpacking some of the data to better understand exactly how consumers reacted this year.
Read More
Local is lekker at the V&A Waterfront’s new food destination, Makers Landing
Makers Landing tells the story of us – the story and flavour of South Africa.
Read More
Nigerian airline to launch new Lagos-Joburg route before Christmas
The inaugural Air Peace flight is scheduled for 17 December. 'Nigerians love to go home for Christmas; it will be packed.'
Read More
Adolf Hitler wins Namibian election
"Will we have Adolf Hitler as President of Namibia?" asks Jean-Jacques Cornish, presenter of The Africa Report.
Read MoreMore from Business

Economy in 2021: 'Expect a better year for South African assets'
An economist expects China growth at 9.5%, US money-printing, rising metal prices and trade- and current-account surpluses in SA.
Read More
Retirement funds in SA are changing – new laws come into effect on 1 March 2021
Bruce Whitfield asks personal finance advisor Warren Ingram to explain in detail the new laws affecting provident funds.
Read More
Germany Covid-19 death rate now higher than US - considers 'mega lockdown'
Germany has squandered its early success in restricting Covid-19, laments Deutsche Welle Correspondent Chelsey Dulaney.
Read More
Wine industry runs out of storage due to ban - R1.5b's worth could be lost
A new harvest is imminent and there's no more space for unsold wine. We have the highest stock level ever - Vinpro's Rico Basson
Read More
Don't fall for promises of high returns from latest investment scam, warns FSCA
A new scam is surfacing on Facebook and WhatsApp groups. The masterminds are even using the FSP number of a legitimate company.
Read More
'Thank you Mr President for not shutting us down, but we need more support!'
Loadshedding is another blow to the struggling restaurant industry. We need more relief says Grace Harding (Restaurant Collective)
Read More
Pick n Pay announces retirement of CEO credited with retailer's turnaround
Richard Brasher will be replaced by Netherlands-born Pieter Boone in April. A retail expert evaluates Brasher's performance.
Read More
Negotiations underway to bring back UIF Ters payments amid impact of second wave
Business and labour are pressing South Africa's government to introduce a new round of UIF Ters relief to mitigate the impact of the Level 3 lockdown.
Read More
Elon Musk threatens South Africa’s SKA telescope
Astronomers in South Africa are extremely unhappy about Elon Musk’s plans, says Jan Vermeulen of MyBroadband.co.za.
Read More
Prioritise drivers for vaccination against Covid-19 - National Taxi Alliance
It's a fact - minibus taxis are essential for the functioning of the economy. Lester Kiewit interviews Alpheus Mlalazi (NTA).
Read MoreMore from Local

Eastern Cape cops attacked after confiscating over 300 litres of illegal brew
Police officials in the small Eastern Cape town of Joubertina came under attack after seizing hundreds of litres of illegal brew.
Read More
Contract nurses facing exploitation while agencies get rich, says union Denosa
Nurses union Denosa says many nurses contracted for the Covid-19 response are being unfairly treated in terms of labour laws.
Read More
Groote Schuur anaesthesiologist explains how medical oxygen is made
Dr. Ross Hofmeyr, an anaesthesiologist at Groote Schuur Hospital, explains how medical oxygen is made.
Read More
'I was frightened' - Raphael Rowe describes being locked up at Brandvlei Prison
Journalist and ex-prisoner Raphael Rowe spent a week behind bars at the Brandvlei Prison for the new season of the docu-series, Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons.
Read More
DJ Fresh and Euphonik step down from 947 and other public gigs amid rape case
DJ Fresh and DJ Euphonik have been pulled off air on music station 947 after reaching an agreement with management at Primedia Broadcasting.
Read More
Naptosa questions need for school management teams to return on 25 January
With the reopening of schools postponed to 15 February 2021, teachers union Naptosa doesn't see the need for SMTs to come back so soon.
Read More
Govt again 'letting poor down, badly, callously, obscenely' says John Maytham
John Maytham vents about temporarily disabled people having to stand in long queues and getting water cannons fired at them.
Read More
[VIDEOS] Police spray Sassa grant queue in Bellville with water cannons
Journalist Saawmiet Moos in Belville describes people queuing for Sassa social grants sprayed with police water cannons.
Read More
'Eskom has again been grossly caught with their pants around their ankles'
Energy analyst Ted Blom says Eskom doesn't report the additional shedding of VLS clients totaling an over 4000-megawatt shortfall.
Read More
Can you get a new South African passport right now?
W Cape Home Affairs' Sam Plaatjies says no, but the department has the discretion to renew passports on a case-by-case basis.
Read More