Minister Nkadimeng's addressed at the International Migration Workshop
Minister Nkadimeng has addressed the International Migration Workshop held at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg. During this address, the Minister highlighted insights provided by the 2022 Census data, which shed light on the impact of international and internal migration on South Africa’s demographic makeup. Minister Nkadimeng emphasized the heightened population growth and migration trends within metropolitan areas. This shift places immense pressure on municipal capacities, especially in the context of rapid population expansion, particularly evident in unplanned informal settlements and areas experiencing a surge in backyard dwellings.
The Minister further indicated that remote rural municipalities with low population densities confront a unique set of challenges related to infrastructure development, chiefly due to the exorbitant costs associated with establishing bulk infrastructure. The Minister stressed the complexity of these issues and their interconnection, emphasizing that managing migration is not the exclusive responsibility of a single level of government. Rather, it necessitates a collective effort involving national, provincial, and local governments.
Each of these administrative levels plays a distinct yet interrelated role in shaping policies, enforcing regulations, and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and by-laws. Minister Nkadimeng highlighted the imperative of synergy, remarking, “We are confronted with a multifaceted challenge, but through collaborative efforts, we possess the dynamism to address it.” In this spirit of cooperation, the Minister called upon municipal leaders and traditional leaders to institute measures that facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the populations residing within the areas they serve.
