A Tale of Two Continents: Comparing Migration Experiences in South Africa & Germany

This research paper compares the migration regimes of South Africa and Germany, analyzing how each country manages the influx of refugees and economic migrants. It argues that while Germany has developed a sophisticated, integration-focused infrastructure to offset an ageing population, South Africa struggles with a securitized approach and socio-economic pressures that fuel xenophobia. The author suggests that South Africa can learn from Germany's inter-departmental coordination, private sector involvement, and proactive integration strategies to avoid the creation of 'parallel societies'.

• Germany's migration policy is centered on the rapid integration of eligible migrants to support its economy against an ageing population. This includes compulsory 600 hours of German language training, 800 hours of political education, and labor market assistance through the National Labour Agency to help migrants prepare CVs and secure employment.
• South Africa's migration approach is characterized by a 'securitisation' tendency, where immigration departments are often housed within security ministries. This results in a protectionist framework that prioritizes national security and movement control over the facilitation of migration, contributing to the failure of SADC to implement a coherent regional free movement policy.
• There is a significant disparity in how the two countries handle asylum processing. Germany utilizes a system of reception centres with strict timelines, often deciding on asylum status for high-risk countries like Syria and Iraq within three to four weeks. In contrast, South African migrants often remain on asylum-seeker visas for years, and over 90% of applications are rejected due to false claims.
• The lack of proactive integration in South Africa has led to the emergence of 'parallel societies' in major cities, where migrants from West Africa, Asia, and the Horn of Africa live separately from local communities. The author warns that this alienation, similar to challenges seen in Germany's Neukölln district, could lead to the radicalization of second- and third-generation migrants.
• Germany effectively leverages the private sector and civil society to support migration goals. The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), representing 1,489 businesses, provides technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to young migrants to foster economic self-sufficiency, a model the author suggests South Africa could adapt.
• South Africa is attempting to move toward a more coordinated border management system through the establishment of a Border Management Agency (BMA). This agency aims to bring the Department of Home Affairs, Department of Defence, South African Police Service, South African Revenue Service, and Department of Agriculture under a single authority to streamline law enforcement and trade facilitation.

APA

LANGALANGA, A. (2019). A Tale of Two Continents: Comparing Migration Experiences in South Africa & Germany. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Occasional-Paper-296-Langalanga.pdf

Chicago

LANGALANGA, AZWIMPHELELI. A Tale of Two Continents: Comparing Migration Experiences in South Africa & Germany. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2019. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Occasional-Paper-296-Langalanga.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=LANGALANGA |first1=AZWIMPHELELI |title=A Tale of Two Continents: Comparing Migration Experiences in South Africa & Germany |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2019 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Occasional-Paper-296-Langalanga.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{langalanga2019tale, author = {LANGALANGA, AZWIMPHELELI}, title = {{A Tale of Two Continents: Comparing Migration Experiences in South Africa \& Germany}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2019}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Occasional-Paper-296-Langalanga.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }