/ 20 November 1997

IMF takes heat off Zim

THURSDAY, 11.00AM:

The emigration tide seems to have turned, according to latest Central Statistical Service fgures. Immigration and emigration figures released on Wednesday show that less people are leaving, and more people are entering the country.

The figures show a 24% decline in the number of self-declared emigrants from South Africa during July 1997 compared to July 1996. July’s emigrants are heading for the UK (27%), New Zealand (16%), the USA (12%), Australia (11%), Namibia (7%) and Canada (5%).

Meanwhile, the service found an increase of 10% in the number of self-declared immigrants entering South Africa in the same comparison. Of the 412 immigrants this July, most were from the UK (14%), while others were from India (8%), Germany (5%), Taiwan (4%), Lesotho (3%) and Zimbabwe (3%).