Immigration to South Africa

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South Africa experiences a relatively high influx of immigration annually. As of 2019, the number of immigrants entering the country continues to increase, the majority of whom are working residents and hold great influence over the continued presence of several sectors throughout South Africa.^{[citation needed]} The demographic background of these migrant groups is very diverse, with many of the countries of origin belonging to nations throughout sub-saharan Africa. A portion of them have qualified as refugees since the 1990s.^{[citation needed]}

According to the United Nations, there is also an additional, yet considerable, Indian, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani diaspora in South Africa, many of whom had arrived in South Africa during the 1990s seeking business opportunities and greater economic stability.^[1][2] The abolishment of the discriminatory Apartheid system, as well as subsequent migrant policy changes and social reform that took place during that period only helped to facilitate the influx.

The current immigration policy taken up by the South African government is aimed at maintaining the status quo, although the immigration rate has historically been something the South African government has attempted to decrease.^{[citation needed]} Certain immigration laws have shifted since the end of apartheid, but some provisions of the mid-to-late twentieth century are still in effect, and xenophobic attitudes remain prevalent.