The doors of the country must be opened to as many skilled professionals and entrepreneurs as we can attract. It is a fallacy to think that there is a contradiction between equal opportunities for all South Africans irrespective of colour and the active participation of employers in the global marketplace for skilled personnel. The opposite is the case. All those who argue against opening our doors to skilled people are denying South Africans without jobs or skills all the new opportunities that will inevitably arise from a new wave of skilled immigrants. Governments in countries that are losing skilled migrants as we are need to consider whether they are doing enough to keep such skills in the country.
Confidence is one of the characteristics of success in the international economy.
We must not be frightened by competition but embrace it. South Africans are as good as anyone in the world given the opportunities to prove it. We need skilled immigrants to create more opportunities for everyone. Skills and experience acquired at a cost to governments elsewhere in the world are a most important form of foreign direct investment, even more valuable than its monetary equivalents. What SA requires now is a clearcut and unambiguous policy, supported by strongly reasoned arguments backed by all members of the cabinet.