The Politics of Exclusion in South Africa: A Dilemma for Permanent Immigrants

Despite the fact that South Africa prides itself as a rainbow nation, identity politics remains a vice in the country. The paper examines how permanent immigrants in South Africa have been systematically excluded from fully participating in the country’s socio-political economy by being denied citizenship by birth for their children, politically scapegoated, institutionally discriminated and culturally side-lined. It argues that the South African government lacks both the capacity and the will to integrate permanent immigrants into the country. The exclusion of permanent immigrants debunks the notion that the country belongs to all who live in it. The paper recommends that the South African government should address inequality and unemployment in the country to curb the negative stereotypes that natives have towards immigrants. Awareness campaigns using a bottom-up approach should be held to educate citizens on the rights of permanent immigrants to foster integration and social cohesion. Efficiency in the processing of visas is imperative to counter institutional discrimination and social stigmatization.