Residents Leaving South Africa

Many of South Africa’s residents are picking up and leaving according to Newsweek. This jump in emigrants is due to the countries drastic climb in violent crime, despite it being Africa’s most developed and progressive country. There were 50 deaths per capita which is makes it one of the highest in the world and there has also been a climb it the amount of rapes. Surrounding South Africa are many hostile countries. This constant violence is entering South Africa’s countryside. Most of the time it is the white farmers that the violence is being directed at and the violence is mostly race related. The attacks on white farmers if it continues will lead to an economic collapse of South Africa’s commercial food. Along with violence in the cities there is also political corruption. The front runner for the countries next presidential election in April is Jacob Zuma. He is facing numerous charges of corruption and is also accused of autocratic behavior. Zuma will have to focus on the crime rate in order to get his citizens to return to their country. If he does focus on getting the countries former citizens to return it will help take the focus off of his past discretion.

South Africa’s greatest problem is affirmative action which was set into place after the Apartheid ended in1994. It has lead to whites having hard times getting jobs. Most of the time is it the whites who are better suited for the job because they have had the opportunity at a high education. The citizens who are not able to find competitive jobs are leaving the country and going to Australia, Canada, and the US. Many of the students that are graduating from colleges in South Africa are leaving due to the lack of jobs. Another reason why these students are leaving is also the high crime rate. Medical students are leaving the country to practice medicine in others. This departure of medical professionals is leaving South Africa with many spaces available. Affirmative action does not have to be gotten rid of entirely. It just has to be rewritten so it makes it more of an equal playing ground. Once it is more likely that majorities will be able to find jobs just as much as minorities then South Africa’s citizens will come back.

If South Africa does not change the problems that it has the country will collapse. There will also not be as many tourists as there have been in the past. With South Africa hosting the 2010 Mens World Cup these problems need to be fixed for them to have a successful turnout. That could mean continuing problems for the country.

Here is the link to the article: http://www.newsweek.com/id/184783