South Africa leads the drive towards continental regional economic integration, development and democratisation, but is hampered by its own challenges of unemployment and spiralling crime rates. South Africa's foreign minister put the problem of illegal immigrants in the context of the economic and social malaise facing her country and the entire continent. At times of an economic downturn, there will always be friction when fighting for jobs and scarce resources. Dlamini-Zuma strongly believes that immigration problems would ease if a regional, or better still continental, strategy for development is adopted. Dlamini-Zuma noted that South Africa is a microcosm of the world.
Legal immigrants are in the majority.
Professionals, doctors, teachers and academics. Nobody hears anything about these people. They lead perfectly normal lives in South Africa and contribute to the country's economic and social well-being. But they don't make news. Illegal immigrants on the other hand are much talked about in the media.