Are organisations and companies really hiring foreign nationals over South Africans for non-scarce skills?

by Nomonde Simelane

Recently, the portfolio committee proceedings saw Ashley Sauls exposing Central University of Technology (CUT) for potentially favouring foreign nationals over citizens. This has given rise to a bigger conversation regarding how this has factored into the high unemployment rates South Africa boasts.

Politically, South Africa is experiencing tensions sprouting from various issues, as the newly elected Government of National Unity (GNU) attempts to navigate their reign in the best and most efficient way possible. As expected, each party has their own ideas regarding the best ways to govern the country, which often leads to conflict and disagreements, which we have seen with the recent VAT hike saga.

Immigration, both legal and illegal have remained a major talking point when it comes to some of the issues that are currently plaguing the country, where citizens, particularly those who fall in the lower and middle-class, have voiced frustration and disdain over the growing and overwhelming presence pf documented and undocumented foreign nationals in South Africa.

The recent portfolio committee on higher education and training have appeared to pile on to the already existing tensions, as it revealed that the CUT’s procedures when it comes to hiring staff has been favouring foreign nationals over South African citizens.

This has prompted somewhat of a nationwide expose, as users have taken to social media to expose other institutions that they believe are opting to hire foreign nationals over citizens. These users express immense frustration regarding this, and have called on the leaders to find solutions for this issue, as they believe that the high rates of unemployment are likely related to these practices.

Also see: Mzansi suspects foul play after three missing constables found dead