As reports of xenophobia make headlines in South Africa this week, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said the country is at risk of becoming a pariah in Africa and globally.

South Africa’s opposition party released its “opportunity migration policy”, on Wednesday, which it said is premised on advocating for opportunity instead of fear.

DA head of policy Gwen Ngwenya said migration has often been an inflammatory subject in South Africa where issues are couched in the language of fear. She suggests that migration can, instead, offer opportunities for South Africa.

“South Africa has struggled with incidences of xenophobic sentiment and related prejudice, violence, and crime for many years. The cost of xenophobia is high; it puts lives in danger, its stunts economic potential by deterring investment, tourism and cross-border trade, and also risks making South Africa a pariah in Africa and in the global arena,” she stressed.

It is critical that legitimate fears and concerns are constructively engaged with, she said, while adding that the task for government is to harness the potential of migration, while taking seriously the anxieties of those who feel left behind.

The DA’s policy outlines what it, as a party, will do to promote efficiency and transparency in its immigration system, including the legal movement of foreign nationals in South Africa.

Ngwenya explained that the policy is anchored by three pillars: the opportunity created by freer movement of people; opportunity created by economic participation of migrants; and opportunity to address harmful myths.

She explained that the DA migration policy offers practical interventions such as implementation of an advanced migration registry system to properly document all migrants that enter or leave the country; as well as a points-based skilled migration system, as opposed to a skills-demand system, as the points-based system has proven to be more successful in attracting aspiring skilled migrants.

The DA’s policy also explores the economic cost vs benefit of an e-verification system that would enable employers to check the work eligibility status of potential employees.

The policy also focuses on blacklisting officials who are found guilty of migration corruption and fraud from working for any State agency or government department, as well as laying criminal charges against them.

The policy seeks to introduce a trader’s permit or visa for all other African countries and it supports the roll-out of an African passport.

The DA will be taking additional steps over the next few months to ensure that proposals contained in its migration policy become part of the wider national debate on immigration reform.

The full policy will be available on the party’s website in the coming weeks.