Global Migration, Emperors Palace, Johannesburg
19 February 2009
Introduction
Programme Director, allow me in welcoming delegates to this important
symposium on global migration, to begin by sharing with you the wise words of a
great South African visionary - Pixley ka Isaka Seme - who maintained that:
'There isâ¦among allâ¦a general desire for progress, and for co-operation,
because co-operation will facilitate and secure that progress. This spirit is
due no doubt to the great triumphâ¦which teachesâ¦[peoples] everywhere that in
this world they have a common duty to perform towards one anotherâ¦Co-operation
is the watchword which opens the everlasting door, which leads into progress
andâ¦success. The greatest success shall come whenâ¦[we] shall have learned to
co-operate, not only withâ¦kith and kin but with all peoples and with all
life'
Seme's statement may have been uttered almost a century ago, however, his
injunction is especially relevant in today's global world. Given the
transnational nature of migration and its implications for national and human
security; this phenomenon cannot be addressed in the traditional manner, as
simply the preserve of sovereign states.
As such, our ability as a country to maximise the opportunities associated
with migration, whilst minimising its negative consequences, is largely
dependent on the extent to which we co-operate at national, regional,
continental and international levels in formulating a comprehensive policy
response as government to this phenomenon. In this way we will ensure - in
Seme's words - that the 'everlasting door, which leads into progress and
success' is indeed opened for all.
Indeed, as a democratic nation, with regional, continental and international
responsibilities, we recognise the need to facilitate the free movement of
peoples and goods across states, as reflected in our commitments set out in the
SADC Protocol.
However, there are those criminal elements, who may seek to exploit these
noble objectives in pursuit of their respective nefarious agendas. These
agendas range from international terrorism to human trafficking and smuggling
across borders. It is therefore imperative that we co-operate with others in
frustrating these elements and prevent them from realising their goals.
It is in recognition of the necessity for this co-operation that, today at
this Symposium, we have sought to bring together a wide-range of policy-makers,
subject-matter experts, non-governmental organisations and security and
intelligence practitioners - from within and beyond our borders. In so doing,
we aim to learn from one another and share experiences in coming to grips with
the causes of migration and its consequences, in relation to national
security.
Scope and scale of migration
Whilst migration is certainly not new a phenomenon - where it has
contributed to the evolution of states and societies throughout history - the
process of globalisation has vastly altered the magnitude of its scale and
scope where all countries - irrespective of whether they are a country of
origin, transit and destination or a combination of all three - are affected in
one way or another.
This is reflected by the fact that the numbers of people living outside
their country of birth - whether voluntarily or forced by conditions outside of
their control; whether regular or irregular - are now higher than ever before.
According to the United Nations, the figures have doubled since 1980, where in
2005 there were almost 200 million international migrants of one type or
another, representing 3% of the world's population or 1 in 35 people. A third
of these migrants move from one developing country to another, where for
example movement between African countries, is far greater than movement
outside of the Continent.
This increase in international migration is closely related to the
globalisation of trade, finance and production as well as ongoing processes of
political and economic integration. It is also driven by the scramble for
specialised skills, alongside the tapping of larger pools of mobile unskilled
or semi-skilled labour in services, agriculture, construction and domestic
work.
It is determined by global inequalities and demographic gradients that
manifest in unemployment and underemployment, where national economies in
developing countries have been unable to absorb the growing numbers of entrants
into the labour market, resulting in the migration of particularly young men
and women in search of work. It also flows from crises in human security caused
by protracted armed conflict, political instability, economic decline and
deterioration of the environment. On the other hand, internal migration is
strongly associated with movements within countries from rural to urban areas
in search of a better life.
This upward trend is set to continue, where more and more people are
expected to move where better conditions and opportunities are perceived to
exist, in order to overcome the constraints and insecurities they face.
The management of migration flows
The management of global migration flows is therefore a key challenge facing
states in a globalised international environment. It has often been argued that
migration flows can interact with other factors to exacerbate conditions that
foment violent conflict, by providing an opportunity for networks of organised
crime, and by providing conduits for international terrorism.
As such our resolve to organise this symposium has been informed by the
realisation that the phenomenon of global migration is real, inevitable and
inescapable. It is a phenomenon that cannot be halted. This symposium for us,
therefore, is not a gathering on how to halt migration. It is rather an
initiative aimed at seeking best ways to manage the relationship between
migration and national security.
Migration in South Africa
The need for this was brought home to us with the appalling events of May
2008, during which both foreign and South African nationals lost their lives.
Whilst the root causes of these unacceptable attacks are varied, they serve as
a tragic reminder of the relationship between xenophobia and spatial and
resource conflict in urban localities. They demonstrate that when not well
managed, migration has the potential to degenerate into domestic instability.
In the urban areas, migration flows often lead to the development of slums and
mega cities which sometimes leads to diminishing capacity of state to provide
basic
services, including security. This is more so in a country such as ours, which
is characterised by the confluence of two streams of migration: internal and
external into urban spaces.
Urban migration now has become a permanent feature of South Africa's spatial
development, as evidenced in population movements towards metropolitan areas
such as Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Cape Town and eThekwini. As such, the overall
trend towards urbanisation and emergence of mega cities - which are not unique
to South Africa - calls for new strategies to address the sustainability of
urban space economies and the allocation of resources. This is a pressing
priority, since the United Nations has estimated that by 2030 the proportion of
Africa's urbanised population will reach far beyond 50%. We are therefore
privileged that Dr Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka, Head of Habitat, has agreed to
address us on 'Global Migration and the Megacity'.
In respect of the nature of the external migration streams into South
Africa, whilst there are differing views and estimates on the precise numbers
since the end of the 90s - where a number of studies done contest spurious
notions of a so-called deluge - we too have seen a growth in the volume and
diversity of migrants crossing our borders, which is in line with global
trends.
There has been an increase in temporary skilled migrants, including in the
highly skilled categories from the continent and internationally; the hiring of
retrenched mine workers from our region on contract; refugees and asylum
seekers; various temporary unregulated economic migrants working in sectors
such as service, construction, agriculture and fishing; various temporary
unregulated economic migrants; and undocumented economic migrants from the
continent, Asia and Europe.
Policy response
These figures underlie the importance of migration as a development
resource. They demonstrate how policy must extend beyond the ambit of
unilateral migration control in order to achieve regional economic development,
where the interests of sovereign states are bound up with those of their
neighbours. They highlight how migration trends must be intertwined with
addressing human security - forced displacement, labour migration, protection
of human rights - and threats to national security, especially relating to
border management and control.
Whilst irregular migration may in certain circumstances threaten state
sovereignty or security, we cannot afford to overlook other equally pressing
threats associated with it for states, societies and for migrants themselves
which a narrow security paradigm cannot address. The impact of continuing
strife and unsustainable livelihoods in some countries across the continent -
which is exacerbated by global crises such as the current economic downturn -
requires intergovernmental understanding and strategic partnerships between
government and non-government role players.
This view is supported by policy and intelligence analysts, some of whom are
here today and is echoed in the African Union's Migration Policy Framework,
which we are bound by, which urges that 'the realities of migration in Africa,
including its increasing importance and untapped potential underscore the need
for states to develop comprehensive policies on migration. Such efforts will
require enhanced dialogue on sub-regional, regional and pan-African
levels'.
The role of intelligence
Given this, what then is the role of our intelligence services. As South
Africans, we have emerged from a history where foreign nationals served the
economic interests of the white minority; where border security and control
were used to keep the so-called enemies out; and where the intelligence
services played a key role in furthering these aims, including the
destabilisation of the region.
In stark contrast, the democratic dispensation looks to our intelligence
services to advance - as encapsulated in the constitutional provision governing
the manner in which national security should be pursued -'peace and harmony' at
home, in the region, on the continent and in the wider-world. In meeting this
objective we must therefore ensure that our approach to migration is informed
by a strong balance between border security and the need to facilitate domestic
and regional integration, which is so fundamental to achieving the peace and
harmony we seek.
Our goals
As your host, our hope is that our deliberations here today, will achieve
the following:
" Firstly, that it contributes to deepening our awareness of the phenomenon
of global migration and its impact on national security. " Secondly, that it
serves to mobilise the intelligence and security services of southern Africa to
assist in developing a concerted regional policy framework to underpin our
collective responses to shared threats such as organised crime, with a specific
focus on smuggling and human trafficking.
" Thirdly, that you identify possible avenues for migration data exchange to
share experiences and better inform measures to prevent the threat of
transnational crime.
" Fourthly, and against the backdrop of the May 2008 attacks, that you forge
an ongoing dialogue amongst governments, non-governmental organisations,
academics and international agencies to strengthen the ability of intelligence
services to effectively respond to the complex challenges associated with
global migration.
Conclusion
In conclusion, let me end where I began - where I emphasised the importance
of co-operation - by referring to statement made by the then Secretary General
of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, where he argued that: 'we are only beginning
to learn how to make migration work consistently for development. Each of us
holds a piece of the migration puzzle, but none has the whole picture'.
Programme Director, it is precisely this task that our symposium must
achieve!
I thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Intelligence
19 February 2009
Source: Sapa
