Dystopia and Disengagement - Diaspora Attitudes Towards South Africa

the southern african migration programme
Dystopia anD
Disengagement:
Diaspora attituDes
towarDs south africa
migration policy series no. 63

Dystopia anD Disengagement:
Diaspora attituDes towarDs
south africa
Jonathan crush
series eDitor:
prof. Jonathan crush
southern african migration programme (samp)

2012
acknowleDgements
The author is CIGI Chair in Global Migration and Development at the Balsillie
School of International Affairs and Honorary Professor at the University of Cape
Town. He wishes to thank the following for their assistance with the survey on
which this report is based: Abel Chikanda, Mary Caesar, Wade Pendleton, Cassan-
dra Eberhardt and Ashley Hill. The research was funded by the IDRC.
© Southern African Migration Programme (SAMP) 2012

ISBN 978-1-920596-04-0
First published 2012
Production by Bronwen Dachs Müller, Cape Town
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in

any form or by any means, without prior permission from the publisher.
Printed by Megadigital, Cape Town

contents page
executive summary 1
introDuction 4
moving to canaDa 7
the kaplan view 12
conclusion 19
enDnotes 21
migration policy series 22
list of tables
table 1: annual income of canaDian population anD 9

south african immigrants in canaDa
table 2: assets in south africa by year of immigration to canaDa 11
table 3: cultural practices of south african canaDians 11
table 4: comparisons of canaDa anD south africa 12
list of figures
figure 1: cartoon commentary on the huntley case 6
figure 2: immigration to canaDa from south africa, 1980–2009 8

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MIGRATION
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igration P olicy SERIES nO
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eExecutive
XECUTIVE s
Summary
UMMARY
H
I n 2008, Southealth workers
African are one of Huntley
Brandon the categories of skilled
was given refugee profession-
status in
als most affected by globalization.
Canada by the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). The Over the past decade,
unprecedented theredecision,
has emerged basedaon substantial
Huntley’sbody claim of that
research
as a thatwhitetracks
South
patterns of international migration of
African he was the victim of racial persecution in South Africa, caused health personnel,
aassesses causes
firestorm. and consequences,
Interest in the case was andparticularly
debates policyintenseresponses
in South at global
Africa
and national scales. Within this literature, the case
itself where the decision was derided in the media and the South African of South Africa is
attracting growing interest. For almost 15 years
government lodged a formal protest with the Canadian government. Over South Africa has been
the target
140 of a ‘global
high-profile Southraiding’
Africanofacademics
skilled professionals
also filed abypetition
severalprotesting
devel-
oped countries. How to deal with the consequences
the decision with the Canadian High Commission in Pretoria. Within of the resultant out-
flow of health professionals is a core policy issue
weeks, the Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration had lodged for the national gov-
ernment.
an appeal against the IRB decision with the Federal Court of Appeal. Some
have This paper that
claimed aimsthe to to examine
decision of policy debates and
the Canadian issues concerning
Government to seek to
overturn the decision of the IRB was motivated by acountry
the migration of skilled health professionals from the desire and to
to appease
furnish new insights on the recruitment patterns
South Africa. This is highly unlikely. Rather, the Canadian government of skilled health per-
sonnel.
was The objectives
concerned about the of precedent-setting
the paper are twofold: nature of the case and that it
Q +CDFCJ=895B5I8=HC:H<9CF;5B=N5H=CB5B8D5HH9FBGC:F97FI=H
could set the stage for a flood of applications from similarly unskilled white
ment ofseeking
South Africans skilled professionals
a route into Canada. from South Africa in the health
sector.
In late 2010,The paper
Justice draws
James uponofa the
Russell detailed
Federalanalysis
Court of of recruitment
Appeal issued
advertising appearing in the
an extended judgment upholding the Canadian government’sSouth African Medical Journalappeal
for
the period 2000-2004 and a series of interviews
and sending the Huntley case back to the IRB for reconsideration. The conducted with
Supremeprivate
Court recruiting
of Canadaenterprises.
declined to hear an appeal of this judgment in
Q 5G98IDCBH<956CJ95B5@MG=G5B8588=H=CB5@=BH9FJ=9KGK=H<
mid-2012, so the case will be got back to the IRB. Huntley’s lawyers are
confident keyofstakeholders
a second success in the at South
the African health sector,
IRB, indicating that the theattention
paper
offers a series of recommendations for addressing
given to his case will make him a marked man if he is returned to South the problem of
skilled health
Africa. However, migration.
Justice Russell These providedrecommendations
a systematic and are painstaking
grounded
in both South African experience and
demolition of virtually every element of the original IRB decision an interrogation of inter-
and it
national debates and ‘good policy’ practice
seems highly unlikely that Huntley will ever be able to prove that he for regulating recruit-
quali-
ment.
fies for refugee protection status in Canada. The case may still drag on for
The more
several paperyears,
is organized
however, intoasfive sections.
Huntley wouldSection Two positions
be entitled to institute a
second round of appeals in the courts if his claim is rejectedwithin
debates about the migration of skilled health professionals this time.a
wider literature thata discusses
In constructing narrative the international
to convince mobility
IRB judge of talent.
William Davis that
Section Three reviews research on the global
he qualified for protection under the UN Refugee Convention, Huntley circulation of health pro-
fessionals, focusing in particular upon debates relating
and his lawyers attempted to show that he had been the victim of a series to the experience
of countries
of in the developing
racially-motivated personal world.assaultsSection
and that Fourthemovesstatethe hadfocus from
failed in
international to South African issues and provides
its duty to protect. None of these supposed attacks were ever reported new empirical mate-
rialthe
to drawn from
police the survey
which provedofratherrecruitment
awkward patterns
for hisand key However,
case. interviewsthis
undertaken with health sector recruiters
was explained away with the circular argument that since the operating in South Africa.
police did
Section Five addresses the questions of changing
nothing when whites were attacked, there was no point in reporting the policy interventions in
South Africa towards the outflow of skilled health
assaults. Huntley’s recounting of his experiences make interesting reading professionals and the
recruitment
but they wereofnot,foreign health
in fact, professionals
central to the Davisto work in South Africa. The
decision.
1
Dystopia anD Disengagement: Diaspora attituDes towarDs south africa
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Here we focus on what Davis called the “lifeline” of the Huntley deci-
sion: that is, the case made by Huntley’s lawyer, Russell Kaplan and his
sister Lara Kaplan, that all whites in South Africa are being systematically
targeted because of the colour of their skin. Justice Russell rejected this
argument, and the selective evidence presented by the Kaplans, in its
entirety. He designated their portrayal of the situation in South Africa the
“Kaplan view.” The core elements of the Kaplan view included assertions
that all Black South Africans hated white South Africans; that the country
was experiencing “reverse apartheid; that black South Africans have “no
regard” for the lives of white South Africans; that most violent crimes are
committed by black against white South Africans; that the police will do
nothing about the crimes committed against white South Africans; that
white South Africans are undergoing a form of racial genocide; and that
there is systematic discrimination against whites in the workplace. Justice
Russell concluded that the Kaplan view was rooted in the personal experi-
ence of violent crime by the Kaplan family itself in South Africa.
This paper argues that to attribute the Kaplan view purely to the nega-
tive personal experiences of the Kaplan family in South Africa is to take
too narrow an interpretation. The central elements of the Kaplan view are
not unique to the Kaplan family but are produced and reproduced by the
white South African diaspora in Canada more generally. The evidence for
this assertion comes from a survey of 1,485 South African immigrants in
Canada conducted by SAMP in 2010, some 80% of whom had left South
Africa after 1990.
Between 1991 and 2006, just over 19,000 South Africans moved to
Canada, a migration that shows few signs of letting up. Most South African
immigrants to Canada are white, highly skilled and educated with many
professionals in their ranks. They enter Canada as permanent residents in
the economic class. South Africans in Canada are high income earners.
For example, 26% of the survey respondents earn more than $200,000 a
year and 43% earn more than $100,000 (compared with only 6% of the
overall Canadian population.)
The survey respondents reported visiting South Africa relatively often
(only 18% had never been back since arriving in Canada) although only
20% return at least once a year. The rest make episodic visits and the vast
majority of all visits are connected with family issues and events. Most
have family in South Africa to visit. Half of the respondents (54%) have
taken out Canadian citizenship and another 30% are permanent residents.
South Africans in Canada are neither large nor frequent remitters. Forty-
two percent had never remitted funds to South Africa and only 13% do so
on a monthly basis. Patterns of asset holding in South Africa show system-
atic disinvestment over time. Allied to this pattern of disinvestment are
low levels of interest in return migration to South Africa.
2
MIGRATION
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EXECUTIVEThe survey also collected information about the attitudes and percep-
SUMMARY
tions of this group towards their country of origin. The dystopian views
H
advanced byealth the Kaplan
workersview in the
are one of Huntley case fitofcomfortably
the categories within a
skilled profession-
broader narrative about South Africa by white South
als most affected by globalization. Over the past decade, Africans in Canada.
A considerable therenumber of survey
has emerged respondents
a substantial body portrayed
of researchSouth thatAfrica
tracksas
an extremely violentofsociety
patterns in which
international whites live
migration in a constant
of health personnel, state of
fear and anxiety. Many argued that whites were targeted
assesses causes and consequences, and debates policy responses at global not because they
own
and national scales. Within this literature, the case of South Africa isbut
a disproportionate share of the wealth in a highly unequal society,
simply because
attracting growingof their colour.
interest. ForThe idea 15
almost thatyears
the white
Southpopulation
Africa has isbeen under
siege because
the target of aof‘global
their skin colour
raiding’ of extends well beyond by
skilled professionals personal
severalknowledge
devel-
of incidents of crime and violence. The theme of
oped countries. How to deal with the consequences of the resultant racial targeting was driv-
out-
en
flow of health professionals is a core policy issue for the national gov-and
home by the frequent use of terms such as “apartheid in reverse”
“reverse
ernment.discrimination.” Attacks on white farmers feature prominently in
the This
narratives
paper and
aimsare used
to to as a platform
examine for broader
policy debates and commentary
issues concerning on the
supposed brutality of Africa and all Africans. Personal
the migration of skilled health professionals from the country and to and hearsay stories
of violent
furnish newcrime wereon
insights laced
the with vituperative
recruitment accounts
patterns of the
of skilled callous
health per-and
indifferent response of the police and
sonnel. The objectives of the paper are twofold: the government.
Another recurrent complaint was how affirmative action discriminated
against whites.
ment ofThere
skilledisprofessionals
no sympathyfrom for or understanding
South Africa in the of the reasons
health
for thesesector.
policies
The norpaper
of howdrawstheyuponpersonally might
a detailed have benefited
analysis of recruitment educa-
tionally advertising
and economically from the racist policies of the
appearing in the South African Medical Journal for apartheid govern-
ment. Instead, they2000-2004
the period represent themselves,
and a seriesand whites in general,
of interviews conducted as victims.
with
In manyprivate
cases, the sense of outrage
recruiting enterprises. spills over into overtly racist diatribes
about
Q Africa and Africans.
5G98IDCBH<956CJ95B5@MG=G5B8588=H=CB5@=BH9FJ=9KGK=H<
To rationalise their departure,
key stakeholders in the South disengagement
African health andsector,
decision the never
paper to
return to South
offers Africa,
a series this post-apartheidfordiaspora
of recommendations addressingdrawstheon the same
problem of
narrativeskilled
reservoir of images as the lawyers in the Huntley
health migration. These recommendations are grounded case. It is there-
fore inadequate to conclude
in both South Africanthat the Huntley
experience and an case was simplyofa inter-
interrogation rather
egregious but exceptional miscarriage of justice. Huntley
national debates and ‘good policy’ practice for regulating recruit- is, in many ways,
emblematicment. of a more general and troubling discourse about South Africa
thatThe
circulates
paper isamongst
organized white
intoSouth Africans Section
five sections. in Canada. Two positions
debates about the migration of skilled health professionals within a
wider literature that discusses the international mobility of talent.
Section Three reviews research on the global circulation of health pro-
fessionals, focusing in particular upon debates relating to the experience
of countries in the developing world. Section Four moves the focus from
international to South African issues and provides new empirical mate-
rial drawn from the survey of recruitment patterns and key interviews
undertaken with health sector recruiters operating in South Africa.
Section Five addresses the questions of changing policy interventions in
South Africa towards the outflow of skilled health professionals and the
recruitment of foreign health professionals to work in South Africa. The
13
introDuction
I n mid-2004, South African Brandon Huntley entered Canada on a

temporary residence permit in order to work as an amusement park
attendant, having worked in Cape Town as a bartender, cleaner, parking
lot attendant and lawn sprinkler salesman.1 He returned to South Africa
at the end of 2004 when his permit expired. In June 2005, he came to
Canada for a second time and worked for another 18 months with the
same company. After the expiry of this work permit at the end of 2007, he
remained in Canada illegally. He married (and later divorced) a Canadian
and unsuccessfully tried to enlist in the Canadian armed forces. Finally, in
June 2008, more than a year after his work permit had expired, Huntley
lodged an application for political asylum in Canada with the Immigration
and Refugee Board (IRB). In August 2008, he appeared before IRB judge,
retired lawyer William Davis, along with his South African-born Toronto
lawyer Russell Kaplan. Kaplan’s sister, Lara, appeared as a corroborating
witness for Huntley.
Huntley, a former resident of the Cape Town suburb of Mowbray,
claimed to have been physically attacked a number of times since 1991.
He claimed all these attacks were racially motivated, because his attack-
ers used derogatory racist epithets including “settler”, “Boer” and “white
fuck.” Huntley had not reported any of the incidents to the police, arguing
that the police were incompetent and racist and would do nothing when
a white person was attacked. The state’s supposed “failure to protect”
meant that he had a legitimate claim to refugee status in Canada. William
Davis concluded that “the evidence of the claimant and the witness and
the documentary evidence shows a picture of indifference and inability
or unwillingness of the government and the security forces to protect
White South Africans from persecution by African South Africans.”2
Huntley was “a victim because of his race (white South African) rather
than a victim of criminality” and his fear of persecution was real. Davis
concluded, in a statement that was widely derided, that Huntley “would
stand out like a ‘sore thumb’ due to his colour in any part of the country.”3
Davis’s extraordinary decision to grant Huntley refugee status in Canada
unleashed a firestorm of media attention, political protest and commentary
in the blogosphere.4
The Huntley decision was widely condemned and ridiculed in both
Canada and South Africa (see Figure 1). In September 2009, 142 South
African academics, including several university vice-chancellors and
deputy vice-chancellors, petitioned the Canadian High Commissioner in
South Africa.5 The petition criticised the “outrageously distorted represen-
tation” of contemporary South Africa and suggested “the sad truth is that
this case demonstrates not the perilous condition of white South Africans,
4
MIGRATION
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but the
EXECUTIVE kinds of things some people are still willing to believe about Africa
SUMMARY
and Africans, based on assumptions that continue to circulate in the white
H
worlds theyealth share.” The South
workers are one African
of the government
categories of initially accused the
skilled profession-
Canadian government of racism until it was informed
als most affected by globalization. Over the past decade, that the IRB is an
independentthere bodyhas andemerged
that theaFederal Government
substantial body of researchis not accountable
that tracksfor
IRB decisions about of
patterns refugee protection.
international The South
migration Africans
of health then lodged
personnel,
an official complaint about the IRB decision
assesses causes and consequences, and debates policy responses at through diplomatic channels.
global
and national scales. Within this literature, the case of South AfricaJason
Within weeks of the decision, Canadian Immigration Minister is
Kenney
attracting applied
growing to the Federal
interest. ForCourt
almostof15Appeal
years Southfor a review
Africa of hasthe deci-
been
sion. Southof African
the target a ‘globalForeign
raiding’Affairs
of skilledMinister Nkosazana
professionals Dlamini-Zuma
by several devel-
claimed that the Canadian government’s decision
oped countries. How to deal with the consequences of the resultant to appeal the IRB deci-out-
sion
flow “bears
of health testimony
professionalsto theis strong bilateral
a core policy issuepolitical
for therelations
nationalbetweengov-
our two countries.”6 Conservative commentators sympathetic to Huntley
ernment.
sawThisthis paper
rather aimsas evidence
to to examineof Canada policybowing
debates to political
and issues correctness
concerning and
appeasement
the migrationofofthe South
skilled African
health government.
professionals fromHowever,
the country It seems
and to highly
unlikely
furnish new thatinsights
the Canadianon the government’s
recruitment patterns action had anything
of skilled to do
health with
per-
South African pressure as the Harper
sonnel. The objectives of the paper are twofold: government has consistently shown
littleQ interest in courting South Africa on any issue at all. What seems
+CDFCJ=895B5I8=HC:H<9CF;5B=N5H=CB5B8D5HH9FBGC:F97FI=H
more likelymentis of that the government
skilled professionalsviewed from Souththe IRB Africadecision
in theashealth
a danger-
ous precedent that needed to be contested. If
sector. The paper draws upon a detailed analysis of recruitmentallowed to stand, it would
potentiallyadvertising appearing in the South African Medical Journalclaims
have opened the door to an unwanted flood of refugee for
from white the South
periodAfricans
2000-2004 likeandHuntley.
a series of interviews conducted with
On 24 November
private recruiting 2010, Justice James Russell of the Federal Court of
enterprises.
Appeal issued a 130-page judgment on the Huntley appeal, noting that
he had key no evidence
stakeholders to support
in the South the proposition
African health that sector,
the government
the paper of
Canada offers
was influenced
a series of in any way by the for
recommendations South Africanthe
addressing government
problem ofin
initiatingskilled
a judicial review of the IRB decision. 7 Justice Russell referred the
health migration. These recommendations are grounded
Huntleyincase both back to the
South IRB for
African reconsideration
experience and anon the grounds of
interrogation that “the
inter-
Decisionnational
cites and relies and
debates upon documentation
‘good policy’ practice for for
factsregulating
and information
recruit-
that have very
ment. little to do with the basis of (his) claim and very little to
do with the kind of white South African that
The paper is organized into five sections. Section Two positions (he) claims to be.” 8 In the
opinion
debates of Justice
about theRussell,
migration thereof were
skilledalso numerous
health errors inwithin
professionals the IRB a deci-
sion that individually or collectively rendered
wider literature that discusses the international mobility of talent. it unreasonable. 9 Huntley’s
lawyer
Sectionthen Three applied
reviews to the Supreme
research on theCourt of Canada
global circulation for of
leave to appeal
health pro-
the decision
fessionals, of theinFederal
focusing particular Court.uponIndebates
April 2012,relatingthe to Supreme
the experience Court
announced
of countriesthat in theit would
developing not hear world.Huntley’s
Sectionappeal.Four moves Huntley the is nowfrom
focus due
to appear before the IRB again where his lawyer
international to South African issues and provides new empirical mate- is expected to argue that
Huntley
rial drawn willfrom
come thetosurvey
harm if ofhe has to return
recruitment to South
patterns and Africa “because of
key interviews
fear of beingwith
undertaken attacked
healthbysectorblack recruiters
South Africans,
operating andinbecause
South Africa.he is now a
well-known white South African.” 10 Should his refugee claim be rejected
this
South time, he will
Africa then the
towards be entitled
outflow to of institute
skilled healthanother round of appeals
professionals and thein
the courts. of foreign health professionals to work in South Africa. The
recruitment 11
15
Figure 1: Cartoon Commentary on the Huntley Case
© 2012 Jeremy Nell (All Rights Reserved). © 2012 Zapiro (All Rights Reserved).
Printed/Used with permission from http://jerm.co.za Printed/Used with permission from www.zapiro.com
For some, the Huntley case confirms the “dysfunctional nature” of the
refugee protection system in Canada.12 Four years after first lodging what
most legal commentators would probably see as a “manifestly unfounded”
refugee claim and nine years after he first came to Canada on a temporary
work permit, Huntley remains in the country. There seems little prospect
of a speedy deportation, the kind of protracted outcome which partially
explains, though hardly justifies, the single-minded determination of
the Canadian government to impose draconian restrictions on would-be
refugee claimants entering Canada.13 Ironically, the South African refugee
protection system (modelled to some degree on the Canadian and similar
examples) has the opposite problem: that is, a widespread failure to protect
the rights of asylum seekers who are deported to other countries in their
tens of thousands every year with a minimum of due process.14
Another important aspect of the case concerns the nature of the argu-
ment advanced in support of Huntley’s claim to be a “white refugee.”
While the hearing took place in camera, there is sufficient documentation
in the public domain (especially in the form of the IRB judge’s justification
for his decision to grant refugee status and the court documents from the
subsequent Federal Court appeal) to permit a fairly detailed reconstruction
of the legal strategy adopted by Huntley’s lawyer Russell Kaplan and the
arguments advanced in support of the claim. Here, we must distinguish
between the actual details and merits of Huntley’s claim for refugee status
(which are detailed in Justice Russell’s judgment and are therefore not
discussed any further here) and the general narrative about South Africa
constructed by Russell and Lara Kaplan, which Justice Russell at differ-
ent times labelled “the Kaplan view”, “the Kaplan family view” and the
“Kaplan family point of view.”
6
MIGRATION
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EXECUTIVEThis report first examines the key elements of the “Kaplan view,” which
SUMMARY
Davis of the IRB had described as the “lifeline” of the Huntley case. 15
H
Justice Russell ealthsawworkers
the Kaplan are one viewof as
theemanating
categoriesfrom the personal
of skilled expe-
profession-
riences and als emotional involvement of Russell and
most affected by globalization. Over the past decade, Lara Kaplan including
“the fate of his therebrother (in South
has emerged Africa) andbody
a substantial the close-knit,
of researchmutually-sup-
that tracks
portive nature of theofKaplan
patterns family.”16
international Less charitably,
migration of health hepersonnel,
noted that Lara
Kaplan’s testimony
assesses causes and was “little moreand
consequences, than a personal
debates policyview propagated
responses from
at global
within a prosperous and successful white South
and national scales. Within this literature, the case of South Africa is African family that, since
the end of apartheid,
attracting finds the
growing interest. For ‘good
almostlife’15
they lived
years before
South 1994 has
Africa not been
as good
as it was.” 17 However, the Kaplan view cannot be adequately understood if
the target of a ‘global raiding’ of skilled professionals by several devel-
itoped
is viewed purely
countries. through
How to dealthewithlens the
of the Kaplan family’s
consequences of theown experiences.
resultant out-
Rather, it is necessary
flow of health professionalsto situate
is a corethe policy
Kaplanissue
viewforwithin the context
the national gov- of
the broader post-apartheid emigration movement of white South Africans
ernment.
to Canada.
This paper The keytoargument
aims to examine here is that
policy the Kaplan
debates and issuesrepresentation
concerningof
South Africa asofdystopia
the migration is completely
skilled health consistent
professionals fromwith a broaderand
the country narrative
to
about
furnishthe new country
insights thatoncirculates within the
the recruitment post-apartheid
patterns of skilled South
healthAfrican
per-
diaspora
sonnel. The in Canada
objectives andofbeyond.
the paper The areevidence
twofold:for this assertion is to be
found in a recent survey of the attitudes of ex-South Africans in Canada
conducted ment by of
SAMP . professionals from South Africa in the health
skilled
sector. The paper draws upon a detailed analysis of recruitment
moving to cadvertising
anaDa appearing in the South African Medical Journal for
the period 2000-2004 and a series of interviews conducted with
One private
and
one to key
of the major
after
the stakeholders
end
continuities
recruiting
the of
other. Beforein1990,
apartheid
in South Africa-Canada relations before
enterprises.
is the flow of human resources from
Canada was health
one (albeit
the South African sector,comparatively
the paper
minor) offers
international
a series of refuge for opponentsfor
recommendations of addressing
the apartheid regime and
the problem of
white liberals who were deeply pessimistic about
skilled health migration. These recommendations are grounded the country’s future. The
end of apartheid
in both South accelerated
Africanthe flow of South
experience and anAfricans to Canada,
interrogation and
of inter-
fundamentally
national changed
debatesthe andprofile
‘good of the immigrants
policy’ practice for(Figure
regulating2). Between
recruit-
1991 and 2006,
ment. just over 19,000 South Africans moved to Canada, bring-
ing Thethe paper
total number
is organized into five sections. Section Two positions 1,400
to 40,000. Since then, between 1,200 and
South
debatesAfricans
about the have immigrated
migration to Canada
of skilled healtheach year, raising
professionals the aoverall
within
total nearer to 50,000. This steady movement
wider literature that discusses the international mobility of talent. shows few signs of letting
up. Russell and Lara Kaplan were born and raised
Section Three reviews research on the global circulation of health pro- in South Africa and
immigrated legally to Canada as adults, though at
fessionals, focusing in particular upon debates relating to the experiencedifferent times. Brandon
Huntley
of countries did innot.theHe was one of
developing a small
world. number
Section Fourofmoves
Souththe Africans (less
focus from
than 2,000 in 2010) who migrate temporarily
international to South African issues and provides new empirical mate-to Canada for work under
the
rial country’s
drawn from rapidly-growing
the survey of Temporary
recruitmentForeignpatterns Worker
and key Program. 18
interviews
17
Figure 2: Immigration to Canada from South Africa, 1980-2009
3 500
3 000
2 500
2 000
1 500
1 000
500
0
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Most South African immigrants to Canada are highly skilled and
educated with a disproportionate number of professionals in their ranks.
They enter Canada as permanent residents in the economic class, filling
skills gaps in the Canadian labour market. The post-apartheid migration
of professionals and other skilled workers from South Africa to the United
Kingdom, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada is com-
monly viewed as a “brain drain” with negative impacts for South Africa.19
In 2009, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dr Abraham
Nkomo, complained publicly that South African doctors migrate “at a very
high cost” to South Africa causing “a huge loss” of investment in education
and training.20 Repeated efforts by the South African government to get
Canada to place a moratorium on the hiring (or poaching, in its words) of
South African skills have met with little success.21
A more detailed economic and social profile of the South African
diaspora in Canada emerges in an online survey conducted in 2010 by
SAMP.22 The survey was completed by 1,485 respondents. Of these, 83%
had emigrated to Canada after 1990. The survey provided an opportunity
for respondents to elaborate in writing on issues such as why they left
South Africa, why they came to Canada, what links they maintained with
South Africa and whether they would ever return to South Africa. A total
of 638 respondents chose to share their views on these issues, some at
considerable length.
The majority (59%) of the respondents immigrated to Canada under
8
MIGRATION
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erieS N 63
o. 45
the economic
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY class of entry. Another 11% entered under the family spon-
sorship class, 4% to study and 4% in the provincial nominee class. None
H
had been admitted as asylum
ealth workers are oneseekers or categories
of the refugees. Only 6% ofprofession-
of skilled those com-
pleting the als survey were temporary workers (Huntley’s
most affected by globalization. Over the past decade, means of entry).
The respondents there arehasaemerged
highly educated
a substantialgroup: 56%ofhad
body obtained
research thatatracks
tertiary
education qualification in South Africa
patterns of international and another
migration of health21% a technical or
personnel,
vocational
assesses causes diploma or certificate. Some
and consequences, 28% also
and debates had aresponses
policy professional quali-
at global
fication. Forty-three percent had continued their
and national scales. Within this literature, the case of South Africa iseducation outside South
Africa.
attracting South Africans
growing in Canada
interest. For almost are high income
15 years South earners
Africacompared
has been to
the overall Canadian population (Table 1). For example,
the target of a ‘global raiding’ of skilled professionals by several devel- 26% of South
African
oped countries. How to deal with the consequences of the resultant more
respondents who immigrated to Canada after 1990 earn out-
than
flow of $200,000 a year (compared
health professionals is a corewithpolicy
only 1%issue of for
thethe
overall population.)
national gov-
Or again, 43% earn more than $100,000 compared with 6% of the overall
ernment.
population.
This paper Ataims
the other end of the
to to examine spectrum,
policy debatesonly and 14%
issuesearn less than
concerning
$25,000
the migrationa year,ofcompared with 44%
skilled health of the local
professionals from population.
the country and to
furnish new insights on the recruitment patterns of skilled health per-
sonnel.
Table 1: Annual Theofobjectives
Income of the paper
Canadian Population and are twofold:
South African Immigrants in Canada
Canadian population South Africans in Canada
Less than $25,000 ment of skilled professionals 44.1 from South Africa in14.4 the health
$26,000 – $50,000 sector. The paper draws 29.2upon a detailed analysis of19.6 recruitment
$51,000 – $75,000 advertising appearing 15.2 in the South African Medical 12.4Journal for
$76,000 – $100,000 the period 2000-2004 and 5.7 a series of interviews conducted 10.8 with
$101,000 – $200,000private recruiting enterprises. 4.7 16.6
More than $200,000Q 5G98IDCBH<956CJ95B5@MG=G5B8588=H=CB5@=BH9FJ=9KGK=H<
1.0 26.2
keySAMP
Source: Statistics Canada, stakeholders
Survey in the South African health sector, the paper
offers a series of recommendations for addressing the problem of
A greatskilled
dealhealth migration. These
of international recommendations
attention is currently focusedare grounded
on the
role andinpotential
both South Africandiasporas
of African experience and anofinterrogation
as agents developmentofininter- their
national debates and ‘good policy’ practice
countries of origin. This phenomenon – known as diaspora engagement –
23 for regulating recruit-
rests upon ment.
close personal, professional and economic linkages with “home”
andThe takespaper is organized
a variety of formsinto five sections.
including Section
remittances, Two positions
investment, knowledge
debates about the migration of skilled health professionals
and technology transfer, educational exchanges, philanthropy, charitable within a
wider literature
donations that discusses
and return migration. theAn international mobilitythen,
obvious question, of talent.
is whether
SectionAfricans
South Three reviews
in Canadaresearchare on an the globaldiaspora
engaged circulation withofattitudes
health pro- and
fessionals,commensurate
activities focusing in particular
with that upon debates
status. relatingthe
Certainly, to survey
the experience
respond-
of countries
ents reportedinvisiting
the developing
South Africa world. Section often
relatively Four moves
(only 18%the focus from
had never
international
been back since to South
arrivingAfrican
in Canada) issues and provides
although onlynew 20% empirical
return at mate-
least
rial drawn
once a year.from
The therestsurvey of recruitment
make episodic patterns
visits and the vast andmajority
key interviews
of all visits
undertaken
are connected withwithhealth sector
family issues recruiters operating
and events. Most in South
have Africa.
family in South
SectiontoFive
Africa visitaddresses
(79% have thebrothers
questions andofsisters,
changing 76%policy
have interventions
parents and 52% in
Southgrandparents
have Africa towards the outflow of skilled health professionals and the
there).
recruitment of foreign health
On most measures, however, professionals to work
there is a clear in South
pattern Africa. The
of disengagement
19
from South Africa.24 Half of the respondents (54%) have taken out Cana-
dian citizenship and another 30% are permanent residents (all of whom
are recent immigrants eligible for citizenship after a period of continuous
residence in Canada). South Africans in Canada are neither large nor
frequent remitters. Forty-two percent had never remitted funds to South
Africa and only 13% do so on a monthly basis. Half have never remit-
ted goods since arriving in Canada. Funds and goods are remitted almost
exclusively to family members for their immediate use. There is no collec-
tive remitting and no broader pattern of remitting, for example to support
community projects.
In the year prior to the survey, less than 3% of the respondents had
bought a house or property in South Africa, exported or imported goods
from either country, or invested in a business in South Africa. Looking
ahead, 86% thought it unlikely that they would invest in the country.
Only 25% said it was likely that they would make a charitable donation
that would benefit South Africa and 14% that they would send money for
a development project in South Africa. Less than 1% belonged to a dias-
pora association in Canada and less than one in ten belonged to a South
African alumni association, a South African ethnic or cultural association,
a professional association in Canada or an NGO or faith organization in
Canada with links to South Africa.
Patterns of asset holding in South Africa show a systematic trend of dis-
investment over time. Only a minority of those who immigrated between
1990 and 2010 still hold assets in South Africa (in total, 28% have a bank
account, 16% have investments, 11% have savings, 10% own a house, 6%
own land and only 1% own a business in South Africa) (Table 2). If these
assets are cross-tabulated with the year of entry to Canada, in every case
almost 40% or more of the asset holders had immigrated in the previous
five years. By contrast, less than 10% of those still holding these assets
arrived in Canada between 1990 and 1994.
Allied to this pattern of disinvestment are low levels of interest in
return migration to South Africa. Only 14% said they had given a great
deal of thought to returning to live in South Africa. Even fewer (6%) said
it was likely they would return to live and work in South African within
two years. Slightly more (11%) said it was likely within the next five years.
These findings are a sobering contrast with an earlier SAMP survey of
health professionals in South Africa itself, which found that 47% had given
a great deal of thought to leaving the country.25
10
MIGRATION
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ETable 2: Assets S
XECUTIVE in UMMARY
South Africa by Year of Immigration to Canada
H
Assets Year of Immigration
ealth workers are one of
1990–1994 the categories
1995–1999 of skilled profession-
2000–2004 2005–2010
% holding
als
asset most affected
% of by
asset globalization.
% of asset Over
% ofthe past
asset decade,
% of asset
there has emerged
holders a substantial
holders body of research that
holders tracks
holders
Bank account patterns
28.1 of international
6.3 migration of health
12.1 31.6 personnel,
50.0
Business assesses causes
1.5 and consequences, and debates policy responses at
3.7 7.4 37.0 global
51.9
House and national10.0 scales. Within 6.1 this literature,
11.1 the case31.1
of South Africa
51.7 is
Investments attracting15.7
growing interest. 9.5 For almost 14.115 years South
37.4 Africa has39.0
been
Land the target 6.1
of a ‘global raiding’
4.5 of skilled
15.4professionals
31.8by several devel-
48.3
Savings oped countries. 11.4 How to 4.8 deal with the11.6 consequences of the resultant
34.0 49.6 out-
Source: SAMPflow of health professionals is a core policy issue for the national gov-
Survey
ernment.
This paper aims to to examine policy debates and issues concerning
South Africans who have emigrated to Canada since the end of apart-
the migration of skilled health professionals from the country and to
heid therefore progressively disengage economically from their country of
furnish new insights on the recruitment patterns of skilled health per-
origin, confining their interactions to a narrowing circle of friends and rela-
sonnel. The objectives of the paper are twofold:
tives who still live there. At the same time, the survey suggests that they
remain quite engaged psychologically and culturally with South Africa.
ment of skilled professionals from South Africa in the health
The first marker of this is their sense of personal identity. Despite the fact
that over half are now Canadian citizens, 88% agreed/strongly agreed with
advertising appearing in the South African Medical Journal for
the statement “being from South Africa is an important part of how I view
myself” and 82% agreed/strongly agreed with the statement “I feel strong
private recruiting enterprises.
ties with people from South Africa.” This sense of a South African identity
is expressed in and reinforced by various cultural practices including eating
key stakeholders in the South African health sector, the paper
foods from South Africa (92%), listening to South African music (83%),
wanting their children to know about South African culture (82%), read-
skilled health migration. These recommendations are grounded
ing newspapers from South Africa (77%) and so on (Table 3). On every
in both South African experience and an interrogation of inter-
measure, more than 50% of respondents responded in the affirmative.
national debates and ‘good policy’ practice for regulating recruit-
ment.
Table 3: CulturalThe paper is
Practices of organized
South African into five sections. Section Two positions
Canadians
Activity debates about the migration of skilled health professionals within%aYes
wider
Eat traditional literature
foods from Souththat
Africadiscusses the international mobility of talent. 92
Section Three reviews
Listen to music from South Africa research on the global circulation of health83pro-
fessionals, focusing in particular
Want your children to know about the culture of South upon debates relating to the experience
Africa 82
of countries in the developing world. Section
Read an online or print newspaper from South Africa in the past year
Four moves the focus77
from
Consulted a website relating to South Africa in the past year 76
Joined a social networking group that is associated with South Africa in the past year 61
Find that most of your best friends are from South Africa 60
Want your children to learn a South African language 56
Closely followed political events in South Africa in the past year 53
Source: SAMP Survey
111
Identification as South African and engagement in practices and activi-

ties consistent with that self-identity does not, however, translate into
a positive set of ideas and images about the country. Asked to compare
Canada and South Africa on a variety of social, economic and political
indices, respondents consistently gave Canada higher scores (Table 4). On
three key indicators that resonate with the Huntley case (personal and
family safety; racial, ethnic and cultural tolerance; and prospects for job
advancement), over three-quarters of the respondents rated Canada more
strongly. Other indicators on which a large majority rated Canada higher
included upkeep of public amenities, income and medical services and
treatment. On only one indicator, social life, was South Africa rated higher.
Russell Kaplan has said that Brandon Huntley’s claim for refugee status
in Canada was a test case for “informing the world what a sickly place
South Africa is for many white South Africans.” In Kaplan’s view, the case
“contributed towards placing the plight of many white South Africans in
South Africa on the world stage.”26 In other words, Kaplan’s objective was
not simply to obtain refugee status for his client but to open the door for
further claims by white South Africans by presenting the situation in South
Africa in a certain light. The next section examines how the “Kaplan view”
constructs South Africa and whether this view has any resonance amongst
the South African diaspora in Canada.
Table 4: Comparisons of Canada and South Africa

Better in
Better in No difference
South Africa No opinion %
Canada % %
%
Personal and family safety 98 0 1 1
Upkeep of public amenities 92 2 2 4
Racial, ethnic and cultural tolerance 84 3 9 4
Prospects for job advancement 77 8 10 5
Level of income 69 12 11 7
Medical services and treatment 69 22 7 2
Level of taxation 31 28 26 15
Social life 33 47 17 3
Source: SAMP Survey
the kaplan view
I n his judgment, Justice Russell spoke of the “excesses” of Lara’s testimony

to the IRB and observed that she was not the most objective witness to
call to bolster Huntley’s claim for refugee protection.27 In his view, Russell
Kaplan was also not the most objective counsel that Huntley could have
chosen to represent him.28 Justice Russell’s conclusion was based primarily
12
MIGRATION
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on the
EXECUTIVE Kaplans’ highly emotional account at the IRB hearing in which they
SUMMARY
both wept while Lara recounted the details of the torture of their brother,
H
Robert, by three
ealth black
workers assailants
are oneinofhistheSouth African
categories home in
of skilled 1997. The
profession-
Kaplan family clearly had a “heavy emotional investment
als most affected by globalization. Over the past decade, in the outcome
of this case”there
and “wanted
has emerged to assert their viewbody
a substantial of ‘reverse apartheid’
of research before
that tracks
the world.” patterns
Justice Russell was carefulmigration
of international not to criticise thempersonnel,
of health for this, reserv-
ing his negative
assesses causes andremarks for Williamand
consequences, Davis, whopolicy
debates had taken a veryatdifferent
responses global
view of the testimony. As Davis had noted: “(Lara
and national scales. Within this literature, the case of South Kaplan) brought
Africatoisthe
hearing
attracting from her own
growing personal
interest. For experience,
almost 15 yearsa vivid
SouthandAfrica
detailed
has account
been
of what is taking place in South Africa today vis-à-vis the
the target of a ‘global raiding’ of skilled professionals by several devel- African South
Africans and the white South Africans and the indifference
oped countries. How to deal with the consequences of the resultant out- of the mainly
African police professionals
flow of health force to protect is a them. Whiteissue
core policy Southfor Africans,
the national she gov-
alleges,
are no
ernment. longer welcome in South Africa.” 29
Justice
This paperRussell
aimsconcluded
to to examinethat Davis
policywas “captivated”
debates and issues byconcerning
the Kaplans’
interpretation
the migration of of skilled
what whathealthwas happeningfrom
professionals in South Africa and
the country to whites.
to
He summarised
furnish new insightsthe key elements
on the of the patterns
recruitment Kaplan view of South
of skilled health Africa
per- as
follows:
reasons
ment ofand regard
skilled all whites from
professionals as equally
Southresponsible
Africa in the for health
apartheid,
believing that they “should be eradicated and stomped
sector. The paper draws upon a detailed analysis of recruitment on like an
ant” (in Lara Kaplan’s words);
advertising appearing in the South African Medical Journal for
which
privateisrecruiting
in 200 percent of all the minds of white South Africans”
enterprises.
(in Kaplan’s words);
key stakeholders in the South African health sector, the paper
towards them;of recommendations for addressing the problem of
offers a series
Africans and South
in both South AfricanAfrican societyand
experience is “brutal”;
an interrogation of inter-
Africans
ment. against white South Africans;
The paper is organized into five sections. Section Two positions
debateswhite
aboutSouth Africans;of skilled health professionals within a
the migration
Sectioncahoots” with black
Three reviews criminals;
research on the global circulation of health pro-
deserve
of countries what
in the is happening
developing to them
world. SectionforFour
historical
movesreasons
the focusandfromit is
“payback time for the blacks”;
undertakenSouth Africans
with healthissector
“somerecruiters
kind of genocide”;
operating andin South Africa.
adopted
South Africa and promoted
towards the outflow policies aimed
of skilled at replacing
health professionalswhite andSouth
the
Africans
recruitment with black
of foreign healthSouth Africans in
professionals topositions of power
work in South and influ-
Africa. The
ence.30
131
Lara Kaplan’s statements to the Huntley hearing included the following on

“reverse apartheid” in the police force:
(The police) never do anything. What police? There is no
law and order there, there is no proper police force. It’s free
reign in South Africa, kill who you want and get away with
murder…. They are so poorly paid they get backhands, it’s full
of fraudulence and corruption and there is no proper police
force like there was prior to 1994. They could not handle it
even if they wanted to and to be honest I don’t think they
want to. They don’t care, if you are white South African and
you report a case it’s like, you know, sorry, I’m busy. I’m on my
teabreak. That’s the perception… They – everybody includ-
ing the police force – seems to believe that if you are a white
South African and you are attacked it’s because you deserve
it. It’s coming to you, it’s due to you, it’s long overdue.31
Russell Kaplan deposited a selection of lurid South African newspaper arti-
cles detailing an array of violent crimes, attacks against white farmers in
rural areas and affirmative action that had supposedly “stripped the coun-
try of 75 percent of its skilled population and is responsible for the depriva-
tion of the constitutional and social rights of the white population.” Justice
Russell examined these and concluded that Davis had relied on material
that was “strong on opinion but not on facts” and that, far from supporting
the case, actually contradicted the allegations of criminality based on racial
discrimination against white South Africans.32 Russell criticised Davis for
ignoring the IRB’s own National Discrimination Package’s List of Docu-
ments on South Africa that provided an alternative perspective on crime
and violence in South Africa and for not reviewing “more authoritative,
objective and less emotionally partial sources.”
Justice Russell appears to have thought that the Kaplan view was a
direct reflection of the Kaplan family’s personal experiences in South
Africa. The question here, though, is whether the Kaplan’s construction
of South Africa as a racial dystopia is not part of a broader discourse that
circulates within the white South African diaspora abroad. Certainly,
Kaplan’s representation of South Africa as a dystopia is echoed and rein-
forced by groups such as “We are White Refugees” that assiduously follow
and comment on the Huntley case, organised an online petition against
the Canadian government’s decision to appeal the IRB decision, continu-
ously add to the reservoir of negative imagery about post-apartheid South
Africa, and hearken back to the “good old days.”33 But to what extent is
the Kaplan view echoed more broadly within the South African diaspora
in Canada? The argument here is that the dystopian views advanced by
Russell and Lara Kaplan sit comfortably within a broader narrative about
14
MIGRATION
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SouthSAfrica
EXECUTIVE UMMARY by white South Africans in Canada. The evidence is to be
found in the responses of respondents to the SAMP diaspora survey.
H
A considerable numberare
ealth workers ofone
survey respondents
of the categoriesportrayed
of skilled South Africa
profession-
as an extremely als most affected by globalization. Over the past decade, of
violent society in which whites live in a constant state
fear and anxiety:
there has emerged a substantial body of research that tracks
I waspatterns
personally of international
attacked andmigration assaulted ofeight
healthtimespersonnel,
in one
assesses causes and consequences, and debates
year. My eldest daughter was robbed and held at gunpoint policy responses at global
and national
three times in one year. My house was robbed twice in one is
scales. Within this literature, the case of South Africa
attracting
year,growing
whilst I interest.
was in the Forhouse
almost 15 years South
(Respondent Africa has been
No. 26).
oped countries.
Crime wasHow to factor
a big deal with in my thedecision
consequencesto move of theawayresultant
from out-
flow ofSouth
health professionals is a core policy issue
Africa. Myself and four other family members had been for the national gov-
ernment.
carjacked over the years. My immediate family and relatives
This
had paper
beenaims to to of
victims examine
robberypolicy and ordebates
burglaryand ofissues
some concerning
sort.
the migration
It was just of skilled
a matter health
of timeprofessionals from thewas
before someone country
murderedand to
furnish(Respondent
new insightsNo. on 107).
the recruitment patterns of skilled health per-
Q I +CDFCJ=895B5I8=HC:H<9CF;5B=N5H=CB5B8D5HH9FBGC:F97FI=H
realised that sleeping with a gun under my pillow was not
normal
ment of practice.
skilled The statistics from
professionals at theSouth
time Africa
were that onehealth
in the out
ofsector.
three The
women would be raped, and if you were
paper draws upon a detailed analysis of recruitment raped, you
would contract
advertising HIV/AIDS.
appearing in the That equals
South a death
African sentence
Medical for for
Journal
methe(Respondent
period 2000-2004 No. 345). and a series of interviews conducted with
private recruiting enterprises.
Q I 5G98IDCBH<956CJ95B5@MG=G5B8588=H=CB5@=BH9FJ=9KGK=H<
worked in a Security Armed Response Control Room, and
wekey would receive the
stakeholders distress
in the South calls from homes
African healththat we moni-
sector, the paper
tor. Theathings
offers series Iofheard as we would dispatch
recommendations armed the
for addressing guards to of
problem
tryskilled
and help, was unimaginable. There is no
health migration. These recommendations are grounded media out there,
Canada
in bothincluded,
South African that show the true
experience and occurrences
an interrogationthat takeof inter-
place in South
national debatesAfrica. I promised
and ‘good policy’myself
practice I would not have
for regulating recruit-
children
ment. in South Africa and took my entire family (mom,
Thedad,
paperbrother, sister-in-law,
is organized into fivewife) to Canada.
sections. Section ITwo have never
positions
debatesreturned,
about the normigration
will I everof(Respondent
skilled healthNo. 319).
professionals within a
wider literature
Many that discusses
of the respondents arguedthe that
international
whites were mobility
targetedof talent.
not because
they own a disproportionate share of the wealth in a highly unequalpro-
Section Three reviews research on the global circulation of health soci-
fessionals,
ety, focusing
but simply because in particular upon debates
of their colour: “No onerelating
feels safeto the experience
in South Africa
of countries
anymore, in the developing
especially the whitesworld. as they Section Four moves
are targeted and the focus from
attacked on a
international to South African issues and provides
daily basis” (Respondent No. 473). South Africa, in the view of another, isnew empirical mate-
rial drawn
riven from the
by “crime, survey ofunfair
corruption, recruitment patternskilling
discrimination, and key of interviews
white farmers
and crime targeted towards whites” (Respondent No. 114). Africa.
undertaken with health sector recruiters operating in South Canada was
aSection
countryFive addresses
which offeredthe “a questions
safe life and of changing policyfor
opportunities interventions
White people” in
South Africa towards
(Respondent No. 77). the outflow of skilled health professionals and the
recruitment
The theme of offoreign
racialhealth
targetingprofessionals
was driventohome workby in the
South Africa.use
frequent The of
terms such as “apartheid in reverse.” The idea that the white population
151
is under siege because of their skin colour extends well beyond personal
knowledge of incidents of crime and violence. Here there are clear echoes
of Lara Kaplan’s claim that the violent attack on her brother is evidence of
a genocide against whites of which the world is unaware:
After Nelson Mandela was elected president the situation
instead of being resolved was flipped around in South Africa,
and everyone who was white was now being racially discrimi-
nated against. This involved jobs, education, and all other
aspects of life (Respondent No. 419).
The only links I maintain with Africa are with my family

members. I would return only if the political regime were to
change to one that is ‘white-friendly’ and doesn’t actively
want to get rid of me. I view the current political climate in
SA as genocide in the making, and believe the levels of so-
called ‘crime’ are encouraged as a way to rid the country of
white people (Respondent No. 217).
I think a lot of people are totally unaware of what is really

happening in SA. I have to say that SA is one of the most
beautiful countries in the world, however corruption, crime,
affirmative action and reverse apartheid makes it very dif-
ficult to live there. There is very little or no future for white
South Africans. The crime is not petty crime, it’s barbaric,
senseless (Respondent No. 353).
Attacks on white farmers feature prominently in the narrative and are used
as a platform for broader commentary on Africa and Africans:
The infamous Boer killings started, and what that means is
basically if you are a white farmer you will be slaughtered
for your land because the black majority feels that it’s theirs
to begin with, even with their lack of education and history
sense (Respondent No. 419).
I emigrated because the Government took my farm and gave

it to the Black people who now are not effectively and eco-
nomically managing it. I emigrated because we had several
farm attacks and murdering of farmers in our region without
any help of anyone. The media does not inform Canada about
the “quiet WAR” going on in Africa right at this moment
(Respondent No. 222).
Every day we read about white people who get killed in their
homes and are living in fear for their lives. Jobs are being
16
MIGRATION
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o. 45
EXECUTIVE Staken away

UMMARY from the white population. Thank God for the
white brain power for many years whom the black people hate
H
in SA.ealth
If it was not for
workers arethem,
one ofSAthewould have been
categories the same
of skilled as
profession-
East, als
West and North Africa (Respondent No. 166).
most affected by globalization. Over the past decade,
there
Personal and hearsay has emerged
stories of aviolent
substantial
crimebodywereoflaced
research
with that tracks
vituperative
patterns of international migration of health
accounts of the callous and indifferent response of the police and the gov- personnel,
assesses causes
ernment: andofconsequences,
“Get rid and debates policy
the criminal government,” wrote responses
one, “andat getglobal
rid of
and national scales. Within this literature, the case of South
the butchers and the police force that is absolutely useless as they work Africa is
attracting growing interest. For
mainly on bribes” (Respondent No. 499). almost 15 years South Africa has been
theAnother
target of persistent
a ‘global raiding’
theme ofwithskilled professionals
clear echoes ofbythe several devel-
Kaplan view
concerns what the respondents refer to as “reverse discrimination” out-
oped countries. How to deal with the consequences of the resultant (i.e.
flow of health
affirmative professionals
action and Black is a core policy
Economic issue for the
Empowerment national
or BEE in thegov-
South
ernment.
African lexicon). None of the over 600 respondents showed any sympathy
This paper aims tofor
with or appreciation totheexamine policy
rationale debates
behind theseandcorrective
issues concerning
policies or
of the fact that they personally might have benefittedcountry
the migration of skilled health professionals from the and to and
educationally
furnish new insights
economically from theonracist
the policies
recruitment
of thepatterns
apartheid of skilled healthInstead,
government. per-
sonnel.
they The objectives
generally represented of the paper areand
themselves, twofold:
whites in general, as victims:
The
mentgovernment couldn’t carefrom
of skilled professionals less South
about Africa
the future
in theofhealth
my
children. Thepaper
sector. The government couldn’t
draws upon care less
a detailed about of
analysis safety and
recruitment
security. As long as they achieve their political
advertising appearing in the South African Medical Journal for ambitions
which basically
the period consists and
2000-2004 of putting
a series black women conducted
of interviews then black with
men (and make your way
private recruiting enterprises. up through the different lighter
Q colour schemes and sexes until you get to white men) into any
5G98IDCBH<956CJ95B5@MG=G5B8588=H=CB5@=BH9FJ=9KGK=H<
job whether they have
key stakeholders theSouth
in the abilityAfrican
to do ithealth
or not sector,
(Respondent
the paper
No. 67).
As a family physician in South Africa I was forced by the
in both South African experience and an interrogation of inter-
ANC government to take on a black previously disadvan-
taged partner as part of affirmative action. Now you have
ment.
to ask yourself if such a partner is a family physician and
The paper is organized into five sections. Section Two positions
qualified is he or she still disadvantaged? After the so-called
debates about the migration of skilled health professionals within a
watering down (drop in standards to accommodate him/her)
mickey mouse qualification he or she left university with, I
was expected to drop my standards to help this candidate.
This would have resulted in me doing the work as a physi-
of countries in the developing world. Section Four moves the focus from
cian and guarding my own patients against my underqualified
black partner. I refused to drop standards and saw emigration
as the only option. My family members were murdered and
the spineless South African Police Service failed them. It was
and still is just a matter of time before the ongoing policy of
genocide against my white South African countrymen and
women will be completed (Respondent No. 66).
171
The white population of South Africa, argued one, has no future “because
they are now at the bottom of the list for employment opportunities”
(Respondent No. 578). Many recounted personal experiences of victimiza-
tion, for example, “When my husband lost his job in SA we realised the
future looked scary since we could not survive on my salary and he was
unlikely to find employment because of BEE” (Respondent No. 610). The
idea that Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) turns whites into victims
is especially common:
A co-worker was promoted to a Management position despite
not being able to operate a computer (I therefore had to do
all her typing and e-mails) – yet she earned almost double my
salary (Reason given: B.E.E)!! (Respondent No. 26).
I was laid off at Telkom on management level, because I’m

white. They had to ‘correct’ the numbers by having less
white managers. Crime levels reached a high of family being
murdered and raped just because they are white people. I will
never return. I am too afraid I will get a letter again spelling
out that I lose my job because I’m white. We can send billions
of dollars to Africa and the Black people will waste it with
corruption like they have been doing for ages – don’t you read
the news over there? (Respondent No. 57).
This final verbatim quotation draws attention to a recurrent motif that
Canada and the West does not know or care about what is happening to
whites in South Africa:
As a white person I was always very liberal when living in
SA and had the highest hopes that everyone, especially the
blacks, would have a better life after Mandela’s release and
the end of apartheid. However the ANC hopelessly failed
its own people in my opinion, and the rise of characters like
Malema, who will surely be the next president, will lead SA
to the same fate as Zimbabwe. But oh to be politically correct
in Canada is more important than anything else, so let the
people be murdered in the hundreds of thousands without
any Canadian press coverage, and continue to live in poverty
and zero hope for the future and rather sing the praises of the
great hero Mandela to make us feel good about ourselves here
in North America. Never acknowledge the realities for fear of
uttering what could be interpreted as racist.
In many cases, the sense of outrage about Canadian attitudes spills over
into overtly racist diatribes about Africa and Africans. The unreconstruct-
ed apartheid-era racist content of these narratives is not analysed further
18
MIGRATION
M POLICY
erieS N 63
o. 45
here because
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY there is no evidence from the Huntley case that Huntley, or
the Kaplans, are motivated by racism. If anything, the Kaplan view seems
H
to find the ealth supposedworkers “genocidal
are one of war”
theagainst
categories whites quite profession-
of skilled understand-
able given the history of the country and the “natural”
als most affected by globalization. Over the past decade, human desire for
revenge. there has emerged a substantial body of research that tracks
patterns of international migration of health personnel,
conclusion
assesses causes and consequences, and debates policy responses at global
and national scales. Within this literature, the case of South Africa is
T
he merits
attracting
shortly
of
of Brandon
growing
be
the
interest.
re-assessed
Federal
Huntley’s
by
For almost
the
Court
claim 15for
Immigration
that the
refugee
years
and
original
South
Refugee
the finding
status
judgment
Africa in Canada
Board
was
has beenwill
following
unreason-
oped countries. How to deal with the consequences of the resultant out-
able
flow and strewnprofessionals
of health with errors and procedural
is a core policy irregularities.
issue for the national Media attention
gov-
will no
ernment. doubt escalate as the hearing draws closer and a new judgment
is announced.
This paper aims As thisto topaper has argued,
examine the dystopian
policy debates and issues picture of South
concerning
Africa painted by lawyer Russell Kaplan and witness
the migration of skilled health professionals from the country and to Lara Kaplan at the
original
furnish newIRB hearing
insights isonnot thepeculiar to these
recruitment two individuals
patterns of skilled healthbut circulates
per-
more broadly within the South
sonnel. The objectives of the paper are twofold:African diaspora in Canada, in virtually
every
Q detail.
+CDFCJ=895B5I8=HC:H<9CF;5B=N5H=CB5B8D5HH9FBGC:F97FI=H
To what
mentextent is thisprofessionals
of skilled narrative offrom South Africa
South as dystopia
Africa in the thehealthstuff of
everydaysector.
interaction and conversation between South
The paper draws upon a detailed analysis of recruitment African Canadians?
To whatadvertising
extent and appearing
through what channels
in the is this narrative
South African Medicalfed, sustained
Journal for
and amplified
the period by new information,
2000-2004 and astories
seriesand anecdotes conducted
of interviews from Southwith Afri-
ca? Is this narrative
private particular
recruiting to South Africans in Canada or does it have
enterprises.
looser spatial boundaries and broader connectivities? The first two ques-
tions cankey only be addressed through
stakeholders in the South further
Africanresearch.
healthHowever,
sector, the somepapercom-
ments on the third
offers question
a series are in order. Infor
of recommendations September
addressing 2009,
the the “We Are
problem of
White Refugees” website launched an online petition
skilled health migration. These recommendations are grounded to the UNHCR and
various governments
in both SouthonAfrican behalf of Huntley. In
experience and all,anthe group gathered
interrogation 1,026
of inter-
signatures. The petitioners
national debates and were drawn
‘good frompractice
policy’ a wide variety of countries
for regulating but
recruit-
the list was
ment. dominated by white South Africans in South Africa (53% of
the The
signatories) followed by the United States (11%),
paper is organized into five sections. Section Two positions Australia and New
Zealand (9%), the
debates about Europe (7%), the
migration Unitedhealth
of skilled Kingdom (6%) and within
professionals Canadaa(5%).
Many of those signing the petition also left comments
wider literature that discusses the international mobility of talent. that directly echo
aspects of the Kaplan view about the situation
Section Three reviews research on the global circulation of health and fate of whites in South
pro-
Africa. In other words, the Kaplan view is certainly
fessionals, focusing in particular upon debates relating to the experience not constrained by
Canada’s
of countries national
in theboundaries.
developingThe narrative
world. SectionofFourSouth Africa
moves theas focus
dystopiafromis
likely
international to South African issues and provides new empirical mate-in
to originate and be reinforced by sections of the white population
South Africa
rial drawn fromitself
theand is anofexample
survey of what
recruitment Steyn and
patterns and key Foster call “white
interviews
talk” and “resistant
undertaken with health whiteness.” 34
sector recruiters operating in South Africa.
There is no question
Section Five addresses the questions that post-apartheid Southpolicy
of changing Africainterventions
has experienced in
unprecedented levels of violent crime. But,
South Africa towards the outflow of skilled health professionals as Justice Russell observed,
and theit
is quite another
recruitment thing health
of foreign to suggest that all crime
professionals to work against
in Southwhites is racially
Africa. The
motivated and part of a broader campaign of genocide. None of the
191
respondents in the SAMP survey made any reference to the disproportion-

ate impact of violent crime on the country’s black population.35 In the
Kaplan view, only whites are victims. A 2010 survey of a representative
national sample of South Africans painted a very different picture.36 The
survey found that other racial groups were significantly more vulnerable
to theft and physical attacks than whites: 11% of whites had experienced
a physical attack on them or their family members in the previous year,
compared to 18% of Black Africans and Indians and 17% of Coloureds. Or
again, while 29% of whites reported a theft from their home in the previous
year, the equivalent figure for other racial groups was 45% for Indians and
Coloureds and 37% of Black Africans. Fear of crime was also more intense
amongst other groups: for example, 11% of whites said they lived in con-
stant fear of crime in their own homes compared with 19% of Coloureds,
20% of Black Africans and 54% of Indians. However, when asked which
was the most important problem facing the country, 22% of whites said
crime and security (a concern of only 5% of Black Africans). In contrast,
41% of Black Africans said that unemployment was the major problem
compared with only 11% of whites. Given the Kaplan view that affirmative
action and BEE are denying employment opportunities to whites this, too,
is an important corrective finding.
The final issue concerns the pervasiveness of the Kaplan view of racial
genocide within the white South African diaspora in Canada. On the one
hand, it might be objected, asking people their reasons for leaving South
Africa will inevitably draw responses that focus on the threat to life and
security. On the other, there was no compulsion and no additional probing
involved in collecting the narratives. They were voluntarily offered and
there were few contrary views. While some narratives were more extreme
than others, they were all of a type and have resonance in the Kaplan view
articulated at the Huntley hearing. We certainly cannot conclude that the
view is held and internalised by all South Africans in Canada. For example,
a small proportion of the respondents (around 20%) do engage in some
of the activities more typical of an engaged diaspora and see a role for
themselves in the development of South Africa. However, the dominant
diaspora view of South Africa from Canada is that it is, at best, a racial
dystopia and, more accurately, a site of systematic racial destruction of the
white population.
20
MIGRATION
M POLICY
erieS N 63
o. 45
eEnDnotes
XECUTIVE SUMMARY
H
1 Federal Court ofealth Appeal, File are
workers No one
IMM-4423-09, Minister
of the categories of Citizenship
of skilled profession-and
Immigration v Brandonals mostCarl Huntley,
affected 24 NovemberOver
by globalization. 2010,thePara.
past216.
decade,
2 IRB Ruling: Brandon Carl Huntley RPD File/No. Dossier
there has emerged a substantial body of research SPR: MA8-04910
that tracksat
www.cbc.ca/news/pdf/huntley-decision.pdf (accessed 26 September
patterns of international migration of health personnel, 2012).
3 Ibid. assesses causes and consequences, and debates policy responses at global
4 A Google search inscales.
and national 2009 Within
found that thisthe case hadthe
literature, been
casethe subjectAfrica
of South of 113,000
is
press attracting
stories andgrowing
articles;interest.
see Federal Court of Appeal, File No
For almost 15 years South Africa has beenIMM-4423-09,
Minister of Citizenship
the target andraiding’
of a ‘global Immigration v Brandon
of skilled CarlbyHuntley,
professionals Affidavit
several devel-
from Stephanie Gude,How
oped countries. 2 November
to deal with 2009,thePara. 3.
consequences of the resultant out-
5 “Brandon
flow of health professionals is a core policy 13
Huntley: An Open Letter to Canada, September
issue 2009” atgov-
for the national http://
www.scribd.com/doc/20519947/FF-04-b-142-SA-Academics-Open-Letter-to-
ernment.
Canada-Re-Brandon-Huntley.
This paper aims to to examine policy debates and issues concerning
6 “Dlamini-Zuma
the migration Welcomes
of skilled Canada’s Decision from
health professionals On the Huntley”
countryImmigration
and to
Watchfurnish
Canada 21 October 2009 at http://www.immigrationwatchcanada.
new insights on the recruitment patterns of skilled health per-
org/2009/10/21/dlamini-zuma-welcomes-canadas-decision-on-huntley/
7 Federal Court of Appeal, File No IMM-4423-09, Minister of Citizenship and
Immigration vment Brandon Carl professionals
of skilled Huntley, 24 November
from South2010, Africa Para. 254.health
in the
8 Federal Courtsector.
of Appeal, File No IMM-4423-09, Minister
The paper draws upon a detailed analysis of recruitmentof Citizenship and
Immigration vadvertising
Brandon Carl Huntley,
appearing 24 November
in the South African 2010,Medical
Para. 220.
Journal for
9 Ibid., Para. 231. On the idiosyncratic nature of IRB decision-making,
the period 2000-2004 and a series of interviews conducted with see S.
Rehaag, “Troubling Patterns in Canadian
private recruiting enterprises. Refugee Adjudication” Ottawa Law
Review 39(2) (2007-8): 335-65.
10 N. Barbeau, “Huntley Takes Another
key stakeholders Route African
in the South to Stay in Canada”
health Thethe
sector, Star 6 July
paper
2012. offers a series of recommendations for addressing the problem of
11 J. Gould, C. skilled
Sheppard andmigration.
health J. Wheeldon, These “Arecommendations
Refugee from Justice? Disparate
are grounded
Treatment in in theboth
Federal
South African experience and an interrogation of454-86.
Court of Canada” Law & Policy 32(4) (2010): inter-
12 S. Gallagher, national
“Canada’s Dysfunctional
debates and ‘goodRefugee Protection
policy’ practice System: Canadian
for regulating recruit-
Asylum Policyment. from a Comparative Perspective” Public Policy Sources No. 78,
Fraser Institute,
The paper Vancouver, 2003.
is organized into five sections. Section Two positions
13 A. Kaushal and C. Dauvergne,
debates about the migration “The Growing
of skilled Culture
health of Exclusion:
professionals Trends
within a in
Canadian Refugee Exclusions” International Journal of Refugee
wider literature that discusses the international mobility of talent. Law 23(1) (2011):
54-92.Section Three reviews research on the global circulation of health pro-
14 R. Amit, “Protection
fessionals, focusing andinPragmatism:
particular upon Addressing Administrative
debates relating Failures in
to the experience
SouthofAfrica’s Refugee Status Determination Decisions”
countries in the developing world. Section Four moves the focus Research Report for
from
Forced Migration Studies
international to South Programme, Wits and
African issues University,
providesJohannesburg,
new empirical2010. mate-
15 Ibid., rial
Para. 173.
drawn from the survey of recruitment patterns and key interviews
16 Ibid., undertaken
Para. 229. with health sector recruiters operating in South Africa.
17 Ibid., Section
Para. 207.
Five addresses the questions of changing policy interventions in
18 D. Nakache and P. towards
South Africa Kinoshita,the“The Canadian
outflow of skilledTemporary Foreign Worker
health professionals and Pro-
the
gram:recruitment
Do Short-Term Economic Needs Prevail over Human Rights
of foreign health professionals to work in South Africa. The Concerns?”
Study No. 5, Institute for Research on Public Policy, Montreal, 2011.
211
19 R. Joudrey and K. Robson, “Practising Medicine in Two Countries: South Afri-

can Physicians in Canada” Sociology of Health & Illness 32(4) (2010): 528-44;
J. Crush and W. Pendleton, “Brain Flight: The Exodus of Health Professionals
from South Africa” International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care 6(3)
(2011): 3-18.
20 “Africa says Canada is stealing MDs” Prince George Citizen 19 August 2009.
21 H. Grant, “From the Transvaal to the Prairies: The Migration of South African
Physicians to Canada” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 32(4) (2006): 681-95.
22 J. Crush, W. Pendleton, A. Chikanda, C. Eberhardt, M. Caesar and A. Hill,
“Diasporas on the Web: New Networks, New Methodologies” In C. Vargas-
Silva, ed., Handbook of Research Methods in Migration (Cheltenham: Edward
Elgar, 2012).
23 S. Plaza and D. Ratha, eds., Diaspora for Development in Africa (Washington DC:
World Bank, 2011).
24 J. Crush, A. Chikanda and W. Pendleton, “The Disengagement of the South
African Medical Diaspora in Canada” Journal of Southern African Studies, 38(4)
(2012): 927-49.
25 Crush and Pendleton, “Brain Flight.”
26 Russell Kaplan, “Huntley Accomplished ‘African White Refugee’ Objectives” at
http://why-we-are-white-refugees.blogspot.ca/2010/12/huntley-accomplished-
african-white_5407.html.
27 Federal Court of Appeal, File No IMM-4423-09, Minister of Citizenship and
Immigration v Brandon Carl Huntley, 24 November 2010, Para 177.
28 Ibid., Para. 180.
32 Ibid., Para. 210-229.
33 See http://why-we-are-white-refugees.blogspot.ch/ and http://www.thepeti-
tionsite.com/1/minister-of-citizenship-immigration-canada/
34 M. Steyn and D. Foster, “Repertoires for Talking White: Resistant Whiteness in
Post-Apartheid South Africa” Ethnic and Racial Studies 31(1) (2008): 25-51.
35 G. Silber and N. Geffen, “Race, Class and Violent Crime in South Africa: Dis-
pelling the ‘Huntley’ Thesis” SA Crime Quarterly 30(2009): 35-43.
36 Z. Ismail, “Is Crime Dividing the Rainbow Nation? Fear of Crime in South
Africa” Afrobarometer Briefing Paper No. 96, Cape Town, 2009.
migration policy series

1. Covert Operations: Clandestine Migration, Temporary Work and Immigration
Policy in South Africa (1997) ISBN 1-874864-51-9
22
MIGRATION
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2. Riding theSUMMARY
EXECUTIVE Tiger: Lesotho Miners and Permanent Residence in South Africa
(1997) ISBN 1-874864-52-7
H
ealth workers
3. International Migration, are oneEntrepreneurs
Immigrant of the categoriesandofSouth
skilledAfrica’s
profession-
Small
Enterprise Economy als most
(1997)affected
ISBNby globalization. Over the past decade,
1-874864-62-4
4. Silenced by Nation there has emerged
Building: Africana substantial
Immigrantsbody andofLanguage
research Policy
that tracks
in the
patterns of international
New South Africa (1998) ISBN 1-874864-64-0 migration of health personnel,
5. Left Out in the Cold? Housing and Immigration in the New South Africa
(1998) ISBN 1-874864-68-3
attracting growing interest. For almost 15 years South Africa has been
6. TradingthePlaces: Cross-Border
target of Traders
a ‘global raiding’ and theprofessionals
of skilled South African Informal
by several Sector
devel-
(1998) ISBN 1-874864-71-3
7. Challenging
flow of Xenophobia: Myth and
health professionals is aRealities
core policy about Cross-Border
issue Migration
for the national gov- in
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ernment. (1998) ISBN 1-874864-70-5
8. Sons of This paper aims
Mozambique: to to examine
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Miners anddebates and issues concerning
Post-Apartheid South Africa
(1998)theISBN
migration of skilled health professionals from the country and to
1-874864-78-0
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(1998) ISBN 1-874864-82-9. of the paper are twofold:
10. Namibians on South Africa: Attitudes Towards Cross-Border Migration and
Immigration Policy (1998) ISBN 1-874864-84-5.
11. Building Skills: Cross-Border
advertising appearingMigrants
in theandSouththeAfrican
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Medical Construction
Journal for
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private International
recruiting enterprises.Students at South African Universities
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key
13. The Lives and Times stakeholders
of African in the South African
Immigrants health sector,South
in Post-Apartheid the paper
Africa
offers a
(1999) ISBN 1-874864-91-8 series of recommendations for addressing the problem of
14. Still Waiting skilled
for thehealth migration.
Barbarians: SouthThese recommendations
African are grounded
Attitudes to Immigrants and
in both South African
Immigration (1999) ISBN 1-874864-91-8 experience and an interrogation of inter-
15. Underminingment. Labour: Migrancy and Sub-contracting in the South African Gold
Mining Industry
The paper (1999) ISBN 1-874864-91-8
is organized into five sections. Section Two positions
16. Borderline
debates Farming:
about the Foreign
migrationMigrants in South
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professionals withinAgricul-
a
ture (2000) ISBN 1-874864-97-7
Section
17. Writing Three reviews
Xenophobia: Immigrationresearch
andonthethe global
Press circulation of health
in Post-Apartheid pro-
South Africa
(2000)fessionals, focusing in particular upon debates relating to the experience
ISBN 1-919798-01-3
18. LosingofOur
countries
Minds:inSkills
the developing
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19. Botswana: Migration Perspectives and Prospects (2000) ISBN 1-919798-04-8
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addresses Migrants and Immigration
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Post-Apartheid in
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of foreign Conflict in
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workLesotho-South
in South Africa. African
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Border Zone (2001) ISBN 1-919798-16-1
231
22. Immigration, Xenophobia and Human Rights in South Africa (2001) ISBN
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23. Gender and the Brain Drain from South Africa (2001) ISBN 1-919798-35-8
24. Spaces of Vulnerability: Migration and HIV/AIDS in South Africa (2002) ISBN
1-919798-38-2
25. Zimbabweans Who Move: Perspectives on International Migration in Zimba-
bwe (2002) ISBN 1-919798-40-4
26. The Border Within: The Future of the Lesotho-South African International
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27. Mobile Namibia: Migration Trends and Attitudes (2002) ISBN 1-919798-44-7
28. Changing Attitudes to Immigration and Refugee Policy in Botswana (2003)
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30. Regionalizing Xenophobia? Citizen Attitudes to Immigration and Refugee Policy
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32. Swaziland Moves: Perceptions and Patterns of Modern Migration (2004) ISBN
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33. HIV/AIDS and Children’s Migration in Southern Africa (2004) ISBN 1-919798-
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34. Medical Leave: The Exodus of Health Professionals from Zimbabwe (2005)
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42. States of Vulnerability: The Future Brain Drain of Talent to South Africa (2006)
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43. Migration S
EXECUTIVE and Development in Mozambique: Poverty, Inequality and Survival
UMMARY
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ealth workers
44. Migration, Remittances are one of theincategories
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45. Medical Recruiting:thereThe has emerged
Case of aSouthsubstantial
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46. Voices From the Margins: Migrant Women’s Experiences in Southern Africa (2007)
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attracting growing interest. For almost 15 years South Africa has been
47. The Haemorrhage
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several devel-
(2007) ISBN 978-1-920118-63-1
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49. Gender, This paperand
Migration aimsRemittances
to to examine in policy
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Africaand issues ISBN
(2008) concerning
978-1-
the migration of skilled health professionals from the country and to
920118-70-9
furnishStorm:
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The Realities recruitment
Xenophobia patterns of skilled health
in Contemporary South per-
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(2008) ISBN 978-1-920118-71-6 of the paper are twofold:
51. Migrant Remittances and Household Survival in Zimbabwe (2009) ISBN 978-1-
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52. Migration, Remittances
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53. Migration-Induced
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54. Medical Xenophobia: Zimbabwean
key stakeholders in Access
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health in sector,
South Africa (2011)
the paper
ISBN 978-1-920409-63-0
55. The Engagement of health
skilled the Zimbabwean Medicalrecommendations
migration. These Diaspora (2011)are ISBN 978-1-
grounded
920409-64-7 in both South African experience and an interrogation of inter-
56. Right to the Classroom: Educational
national debates and ‘good Barriers forpractice
policy’ Zimbabweans in Southrecruit-
for regulating Africa
(2011) ISBNment.978-1-920409-68-5
57. Patients Without
The paperBorders: Medical
is organized intoTourism and Medical
five sections. Section Migration in Southern
Two positions
Africadebates
(2012) about
ISBN the978-1-920409-74-6
migration of skilled health professionals within a
wider literature
58. The Disengagement of that discusses
the South the international
African Medical Diaspora mobility
(2012) of talent.
ISBN 978-1-
920596-00-2
fessionals,
59. The Third Wave:focusing in particular
Mixed Migration fromupon debates
Zimbabwe to relating to the(2012)
South Africa experience
ISBN
of countries
978-1-920596-01-9 in the developing world. Section Four moves the focus from
60. Linking Migration, Food Security and Development (2012) ISBN 978-1-920596-
02-6
61. Unfriendly
SectionNeighbours: Contemporary
Five addresses the questions Migration from policy
of changing Zimbabwe to Botswana
interventions in
(2012) ISBN 978-1-920596-16-3
62. Heading North: The
recruitment Zimbabwean
of foreign health Diaspora in Canada
professionals to work in (2012)
SouthISBN 978-1-
Africa. The
920596-03-3
251
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Dystopia and Disengagement - Diaspora Attitudes Towards South Africa

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the southern african migration programme

migration policy series no. 63

southern african migration programme (samp)

© Southern African Migration Programme (SAMP) 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in

Printed by Megadigital, Cape Town

the kaplan view 12

migration policy series 22

table 1: annual income of canaDian population anD 9

table 2: assets in south africa by year of immigration to canaDa 11

table 3: cultural practices of south african canaDians 11

table 4: comparisons of canaDa anD south africa 12

figure 2: immigration to canaDa from south africa, 1980–2009 8

I n mid-2004, South African Brandon Huntley entered Canada on a

Figure 1: Cartoon Commentary on the Huntley Case

Figure 2: Immigration to Canada from South Africa, 1980-2009

Identification as South African and engagement in practices and activi-

Table 4: Comparisons of Canada and South Africa

the kaplan view

I n his judgment, Justice Russell spoke of the “excesses” of Lara’s testimony

Lara Kaplan’s statements to the Huntley hearing included the following on

The only links I maintain with Africa are with my family

I think a lot of people are totally unaware of what is really

I emigrated because the Government took my farm and gave

EXECUTIVE Staken away

I was laid off at Telkom on management level, because I’m

respondents in the SAMP survey made any reference to the disproportion-

19 R. Joudrey and K. Robson, “Practising Medicine in Two Countries: South Afri-

migration policy series

southern AfricAn MigrAtion ProgrAMMe

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