SAMP found that in reality rather than immigrants 'stealing our jobs', migrant entrepreneurs create jobs for South Africans. Traders such as Mary Moyo not only buy and sell but they also employ South Africans to help run their businesses. In a survey, last year, SAMP interviewed 501 migrants in South Africa, the largest number so far. Other reasons include shopping and visiting family members. Few migrants want to settle permanently in South Africa, preferring to raise a family in their home country.
Migrants are motivated, educated, skilled and enterprising.
The vast majority of migrants are legal and cross the borders in a formal manner in a bus or car. Migrants find work easily in South Africa but do not earn high wages. This survey shows that most migrants are just that. Contrary to popular belief, they are generally both orderly and organised. To grant migrant workers legal equality would actually undermine the sole competitive advantage of illegal workers.