The Economic Cost of Xenophobia
Hatred of immigrants, sometimes translating into violence, is not only harmful to the immigrants themselves but is damaging the South African economy, reports the South African Human Rights Commission.
Immigrants workers and traders not only help the economy by providing skilled labour, but also spend money on goods and services. Traditional prejudices about immigrants from the rest of Africa contribute to an incorrect perception that they are contributing to crime and abusing social services.
Read more: “Xenophobia has an economic cost”, IRINNews.org, 31 July 2006.
Reference: “Report of the Open Hearings on Xenophobia and problems related to it”, SAHRC, 15 June 2006.