South Africa rejects Ethiopian migrants’ multimillion-dollar offer
From SAVIOUS KWINIKA in Johannesburg
THOUSANDS of Ethiopian refugees living in South Africa are dangling
an offer of R100 million (US$6,94 million) to the host country’s
government in exchange for permanent residence permits.
The offer has hit a snag with South Africa reluctant to accept this
capital injection that the Ethiopians believe would help boost the
economy and create jobs.
The Ethiopians have made the offer through the South African Development
Foundation (SADEF), an organisation that solicits funds from individuals
and donor organizations and works in partnership with community-based
organizations to provide financial and technical support to communities
still disadvantaged by decades of apartheid policies.
Ethiopians have since last March been contacting various government
institutions such as the Investment Centre, Departments of Home Affairs,
Trade and Industry as well as Small Business Development with the offer.
They have also contacted Deputy President, David Mabuza, and the
Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu.
Glory Dlamini, Mthembu's personal assistant, confirmed receipt of the
proposal last month but confirmed it was rejected forthwith.
“To me, agreeing to the Ethiopians' proposal to give government R100
million in exchange for permanent residence permit is like selling the
country," Dlamini argued to CAJ News Africa.
“I received the paper from Ethiopians sometime in December. Minister
Mthembu has not yet seen it but I will definitely give it to him soon.
Frankly speaking, their proposal for residence permits in exchange for
R100 million is exactly what the Guptas were doing here.”
CAJ News Africa can reveal that 5 000 Ethiopians, some who operate small
and medium enterprises, are pledging to ready to contribute R20 000 each
over a period of six months, as capital to start the SADEF industrial
programme.
“We are not talking about all Ethiopians but a specific group under the
leadership of Africa Diaspora Forum in Johannesburg,” said a
spokesperson.
They believe the SADEF programme would grow the R100 million into a
funding steam of R63,5 billion within 20 years and thus create about 5
million jobs and massive inclusivity.
“There is an extensive business plan with black people as main
beneficiaries," the Ethiopian official said.
Most Ethiopians in South Africa are refugee permit holders.
Luke Zunga, an economist at the African Diaspora Forum said if accepted,
the proposal would ensure migrants contribute billions of Rand to the
economy through job creation while individual members would increase
their investments into the country.
“Permanent residence permits are not citizenship and the Ethiopians are
thus not seeking citizenship but a situation which solves both the
unemployment in South African and the root cause of refugees and
migrants from Ethiopia," Zunga told CAJ News Africa.
- CAJ News
https://southerntimesafrica.com/site/ne ... llar-offer