TO NEW ZEALAND
B. REASONS UNDERLYING EMIGRATION
The three main reasons the eight respondents proposed for migration were:
• Crime
• Dissatisfaction in the workplace and with high rates of unemployment
• Personal (and family) growth and development
Lacking personal freedom and security were sentiments echoed over and over again throughout the personal interviews. Even though only three respondents were directly affected by crime, all had experienced crime- induced trauma vicariously through other family members; friends or
neighbours. Each respondent agreed that reading local newspapers filled with criminal reports have become soul destroying and consumes them with fear.
Shamani Chetty said, "You can't live a peaceful life under these
circumstances." New Zealand has provided an alternative to this intense fear, and while it may seem that family, friends and country are being sacrificed, all respondents agreed that they are being "forced" into migration due to the instability in South Africa (Personal interview in South Africa).
In a profile on drugs and crime in South Africa released on the 7 November 2002, the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP), said
"crime did not affect people uniformly, and the risk of being a crime victim was influenced by gender, ethnicity, age, income and place of residence. Thus, for example, while blacks/Africans are at a higher risk for individual violent
crimes, non blacks/Africans are at a higher risk for property related household crimes "(Living in Fear. Daily News, Thursday, November 7 2002, 1).
All the respondents who \lllere intervie\llled resided in middle class or upper middle class resident areas. Shamani Chetty lives alone with her daughter and was the victim of property related household crimes twice, and car theft crime once. She stressed that as a single mother, she cannot endure this situation to any further extent. She has worked exceedingly hard to pay for good-quality education for her daughter and for assets that \lllere just stolen from her. The significant issue raised by all respondents is that there is no reprisal for criminals in South Africa any longer. Consequently reliance and assurance on the South African Police and government is forlorn.
Shamani, like Ms Maharaj, Suren, Saloshni, Mrs Gunpath, Marlene and Doctor Chetty are discontent with their employment conditions. Most respondents felt that they work long hours and are not adequately
compensated for it. Some have no chance of upward mobility in the workplace due to affirmative action policies. Others expressed their disgruntlement with the deterioration in the work environment.
Ms Maharaj has been employed as an educator for the past t\IIIenty years, and said that working for the Education Department has become problematical.
Pupil ratios have increased from 35 to 50 per class. In addition government employed teachers are educating English speaking pupils in the same class with second language English speakers and the quality of education being provided to both learners is reduced. Teaching dual category learners, she said is not an easy task for teachers, as well. In addition to these trying teaching conditions, the Education Department is embarking on an Equality Redress Programme where teachers are going to be retrenched.
The increase in the numbers of pupils per class means that fewer teachers will be required. Job certainty in South Africa is becoming obsolete.
Akin to struggles in the workplace, unemployment is a key concern. Mrs Gunpath's concern was primarily for her children. All four children have post matriculation qualifications and cannot gain secular employment. South African Indian families for the first time are allowing their children to work abroad. The two respondents with teenagers said that "in their day" (referring to about t\venty years ago) their parents would never grant them permission to work overseas. Today parents are left with no alternative but to support their children's search for employment outside the country. The outcome is that South African Indian nuclear families are being globally fragmented.
Daily advertisements in newspapers request people under the age of twenty- seven to apply for specialised or menial jobs in the United States of America, United Kingdom, Alaska and New Zealand, among other countries. These countries are aware of the high unemployment rates in South Africa and is (in my opinion) capitalising on South Africa's - increasing brain and skills drain.
There is no substitute for skill and experience when it comes to generating economic growth and stability in any country. A country like South Africa, may have abundant natural resources, plentiful willing labour and a 'lNe1l developed commercial and industrial infrastructure, but if it has unclear employment equity policies and affirmative action policies enforced, marginalized sectors of the population will seek employment elsewhere. According to the latest South African brain drain statistics" in the first half of this year (2002) alone 7 400 graduates and professional left the country for perceived greener
pastures abroad, and this figure is on the conservative side because many emigrants do not even bother to complete airport departure fonns " (Skills going down the brain drain. Daily News, Thursday, October 172002, 18),
This extrapolates to a massive loss for the country, and for individual families.
Previously South African Indian parents relied on their offspring for support (financial and emotional) during old age.
With children being dispersed all over the globe, the parents endure more stress and financial pressure than in the past.
"Skilled people also help create jobs for those who are less competent than themselves. Every professional who leaves these shores means more workers in the unemployment queue. It is a chronic problem, which the Government, unions and private sector will collectively have to address and reverse if they hope to help President Thabo Mbeki deliver on his dream of an African Renaissance. And it's not just about salaries. Skilled people, because of their higher lifestyle expectations, need to be assured of a safe and secure future. If the Government cannot reasonably assure them that these are the long term prospects for South Africa, then people who can afford to relocate themselves will continue to do so, and the country will continue to suffer"
(Skills going down the brain drain. Daily News, Thursday, October 117 2002, 18).
The last reason mentioned for migration to New Zealand was based on
personal (and family) growth and development. Marlene, Suren, Saloshni, Mrs Gunapth, Sunitha and Ms Maharaj articulated that migration has become an option for improvement of children's lives and education. They believed that it is unjust for children to be restricted by the education system, crime and violence (especially against children) and unstable political climate in South Africa. If New Zealand can offer more security, sound education and "peace of mind" then the option ought to be explored (Personal interview in South Africa).