City Press reports that economic, social, political and environmental concerns may have led to nearly one million South Africans leaving the country between 2015 and 2020.
According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Desa), 914,901 SA citizens emigrated between 2015 and 2020. Compared with the period between 2010 and 2015, when 786,554 locals left the country, the latest emigration data point to increasing numbers of people departing our shores. Society leaders who spoke to City Press expressed concerns over SA losing skilled labour. Business Unity SA’s Cas Coovadia said it was abundantly clear that SA was losing skilled talent, particularly among younger professionals. “These people are global citizens and will work where the environment is most conducive. They consider not only remuneration and career opportunities, but also soft issues such as safety and security, education, culture and lifestyle,” he pointed out. Trade union federation Cosatu’s spokesperson Sizwe Pamla acknowledged the brain drain in the country and noted that emigration was no longer a phenomenon seen mostly among white South Africans, but was also affecting young coloured, Indian and African graduates and professionals. “Our efforts to rebuild our economy will not succeed unless we find ways to retain our skilled youth and professionals,” Pamla pointed out This, he said, needed to include better pay for doctors and nurses who work in rural areas and in public healthcare facilities. “It needs to include better pay for teachers and smaller classes in public schools. It needs to include capacitating the police to deal with rampant crime and corruption. It needs to include fixing Eskom so that the days of load shedding are [left in] the past,” Pamla added. He said public transport needed to be modernised, particularly the country’s railway network. Ports also needed to be modernised so that export industries could thrive.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Msindisi Fengu at City Press (subscriber access only)
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