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19 February 2009

Introduction

Programme Director, allow me in welcoming delegates to this important symposium on global migration, to begin by sharing with you the wise words of a great South African visionary - Pixley ka Isaka Seme - who maintained that:

'There is…among all…a general desire for progress, and for co-operation, because co-operation will facilitate and secure that progress. This spirit is due no doubt to the great triumph…which teaches…[peoples] everywhere that in this world they have a common duty to perform towards one another…Co-operation is the watchword which opens the everlasting door, which leads into progress and…success. The greatest success shall come when…[we] shall have learned to co-operate, not only with…kith and kin but with all peoples and with all life'

Seme's statement may have been uttered almost a century ago, however, his injunction is especially relevant in today's global world. Given the transnational nature of migration and its implications for national and human security; this phenomenon cannot be addressed in the traditional manner, as simply the preserve of sovereign states.

As such, our ability as a country to maximise the opportunities associated with migration, whilst minimising its negative consequences, is largely dependent on the extent to which we co-operate at national, regional, continental and international levels in formulating a comprehensive policy response as government to this phenomenon. In this way we will ensure - in Seme's words - that the 'everlasting door, which leads into progress and success' is indeed opened for all.

Indeed, as a democratic nation, with regional, continental and international responsibilities, we recognise the need to facilitate the free movement of peoples and goods across states, as reflected in our commitments set out in the SADC Protocol.

However, there are those criminal elements, who may seek to exploit these noble objectives in pursuit of their respective nefarious agendas. These agendas range from international terrorism to human trafficking and smuggling across borders. It is therefore imperative that we co-operate with others in frustrating these elements and prevent them from realising their goals.

It is in recognition of the necessity for this co-operation that, today at this Symposium, we have sought to bring together a wide-range of policy-makers, subject-matter experts, non-governmental organisations and security and intelligence practitioners - from within and beyond our borders. In so doing, we aim to learn from one another and share experiences in coming to grips with the causes of migration and its consequences, in relation to national security.

Scope and scale of migration

Whilst migration is certainly not new a phenomenon - where it has contributed to the evolution of states and societies throughout history - the process of globalisation has vastly altered the magnitude of its scale and scope where all countries - irrespective of whether they are a country of origin, transit and destination or a combination of all three - are affected in one way or another.

This is reflected by the fact that the numbers of people living outside their country of birth - whether voluntarily or forced by conditions outside of their control; whether regular or irregular - are now higher than ever before. According to the United Nations, the figures have doubled since 1980, where in 2005 there were almost 200 million international migrants of one type or another, representing 3% of the world's population or 1 in 35 people. A third of these migrants move from one developing country to another, where for example movement between African countries, is far greater than movement outside of the Continent.

This increase in international migration is closely related to the globalisation of trade, finance and production as well as ongoing processes of political and economic integration. It is also driven by the scramble for specialised skills, alongside the tapping of larger pools of mobile unskilled or semi-skilled labour in services, agriculture, construction and domestic work.

It is determined by global inequalities and demographic gradients that manifest in unemployment and underemployment, where national economies in developing countries have been unable to absorb the growing numbers of entrants into the labour market, resulting in the migration of particularly young men and women in search of work. It also flows from crises in human security caused by protracted armed conflict, political instability, economic decline and deterioration of the environment. On the other hand, internal migration is strongly associated with movements within countries from rural to urban areas in search of a better life.

This upward trend is set to continue, where more and more people are expected to move where better conditions and opportunities are perceived to exist, in order to overcome the constraints and insecurities they face.

The management of migration flows

The management of global migration flows is therefore a key challenge facing states in a globalised international environment. It has often been argued that migration flows can interact with other factors to exacerbate conditions that foment violent conflict, by providing an opportunity for networks of organised crime, and by providing conduits for international terrorism.

As such our resolve to organise this symposium has been informed by the realisation that the phenomenon of global migration is real, inevitable and inescapable. It is a phenomenon that cannot be halted. This symposium for us, therefore, is not a gathering on how to halt migration. It is rather an initiative aimed at seeking best ways to manage the relationship between migration and national security.

Migration in South Africa

The need for this was brought home to us with the appalling events of May 2008, during which both foreign and South African nationals lost their lives. Whilst the root causes of these unacceptable attacks are varied, they serve as a tragic reminder of the relationship between xenophobia and spatial and resource conflict in urban localities. They demonstrate that when not well managed, migration has the potential to degenerate into domestic instability. In the urban areas, migration flows often lead to the development of slums and mega cities which sometimes leads to diminishing capacity of state to provide basic
services, including security. This is more so in a country such as ours, which is characterised by the confluence of two streams of migration: internal and external into urban spaces.

Urban migration now has become a permanent feature of South Africa's spatial development, as evidenced in population movements towards metropolitan areas such as Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Cape Town and eThekwini. As such, the overall trend towards urbanisation and emergence of mega cities - which are not unique to South Africa - calls for new strategies to address the sustainability of urban space economies and the allocation of resources. This is a pressing priority, since the United Nations has estimated that by 2030 the proportion of Africa's urbanised population will reach far beyond 50%. We are therefore privileged that Dr Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka, Head of Habitat, has agreed to address us on 'Global Migration and the Megacity'.

In respect of the nature of the external migration streams into South Africa, whilst there are differing views and estimates on the precise numbers since the end of the 90s - where a number of studies done contest spurious notions of a so-called deluge - we too have seen a growth in the volume and diversity of migrants crossing our borders, which is in line with global trends.

There has been an increase in temporary skilled migrants, including in the highly skilled categories from the continent and internationally; the hiring of retrenched mine workers from our region on contract; refugees and asylum seekers; various temporary unregulated economic migrants working in sectors such as service, construction, agriculture and fishing; various temporary unregulated economic migrants; and undocumented economic migrants from the continent, Asia and Europe.

Policy response

These figures underlie the importance of migration as a development resource. They demonstrate how policy must extend beyond the ambit of unilateral migration control in order to achieve regional economic development, where the interests of sovereign states are bound up with those of their neighbours. They highlight how migration trends must be intertwined with addressing human security - forced displacement, labour migration, protection of human rights - and threats to national security, especially relating to border management and control.

Whilst irregular migration may in certain circumstances threaten state sovereignty or security, we cannot afford to overlook other equally pressing threats associated with it for states, societies and for migrants themselves which a narrow security paradigm cannot address. The impact of continuing strife and unsustainable livelihoods in some countries across the continent - which is exacerbated by global crises such as the current economic downturn - requires intergovernmental understanding and strategic partnerships between government and non-government role players.

This view is supported by policy and intelligence analysts, some of whom are here today and is echoed in the African Union's Migration Policy Framework, which we are bound by, which urges that 'the realities of migration in Africa, including its increasing importance and untapped potential underscore the need for states to develop comprehensive policies on migration. Such efforts will require enhanced dialogue on sub-regional, regional and pan-African levels'.

The role of intelligence

Given this, what then is the role of our intelligence services. As South Africans, we have emerged from a history where foreign nationals served the economic interests of the white minority; where border security and control were used to keep the so-called enemies out; and where the intelligence services played a key role in furthering these aims, including the destabilisation of the region.

In stark contrast, the democratic dispensation looks to our intelligence services to advance - as encapsulated in the constitutional provision governing the manner in which national security should be pursued -'peace and harmony' at home, in the region, on the continent and in the wider-world. In meeting this objective we must therefore ensure that our approach to migration is informed by a strong balance between border security and the need to facilitate domestic and regional integration, which is so fundamental to achieving the peace and harmony we seek.

Our goals

As your host, our hope is that our deliberations here today, will achieve the following:

" Firstly, that it contributes to deepening our awareness of the phenomenon of global migration and its impact on national security. " Secondly, that it serves to mobilise the intelligence and security services of southern Africa to assist in developing a concerted regional policy framework to underpin our collective responses to shared threats such as organised crime, with a specific focus on smuggling and human trafficking.

" Thirdly, that you identify possible avenues for migration data exchange to share experiences and better inform measures to prevent the threat of transnational crime.

" Fourthly, and against the backdrop of the May 2008 attacks, that you forge an ongoing dialogue amongst governments, non-governmental organisations, academics and international agencies to strengthen the ability of intelligence services to effectively respond to the complex challenges associated with global migration.

Conclusion

In conclusion, let me end where I began - where I emphasised the importance of co-operation - by referring to statement made by the then Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, where he argued that: 'we are only beginning to learn how to make migration work consistently for development. Each of us holds a piece of the migration puzzle, but none has the whole picture'. Programme Director, it is precisely this task that our symposium must achieve!

I thank you.

Issued by: Ministry of Intelligence
19 February 2009
Source: Sapa