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South Africans are generally hostile to illegal immigrants and strongly support government measures to curb illegal immigration. According to a joint national survey of public opinion on security issues conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in October 1996, almost two-thirds of respondents (65%) strongly disapprove of illegal immigration. In addition, 80% of respondents are in favour of the government trying to curb a further influx of illegal immigrants by strengthening border patrols, 65% support enforced repatriation and 73% are in favour of penalising employers who hire illegal immigrants. In the HSRC/ISS study, personal interviews were conducted nationwide with 2?200 South African residents of 18 years and older. All nine provinces were included in the survey, and much care was taken to include both rural and urban areas, as well as people from all socio-economic backgrounds. Anti-illegal immigrant sentiments increase as educational qualifications increase. While 59% of respondents with no schooling disapproved of the influx of illegal immigrants, 81% of people with qualifications higher than Grade 12 held a similar view. It could be argued that people who are better educated seem to be more conscious of the perceived threat that illegal immigrants hold for the country. The negative perception of illegal immigration cuts across all racial groups, although it was higher for whites (93%) and coloureds (76%), and lower for blacks (56%) and Asians (65%) An analysis of the survey results according to political party support contradicts traditional stereotypes regarding xenophobia (a deep dislike of foreigners). Unlike what was expected, ANC supporters have indicated a stronger opposition to illegal immigrants (60%) than supporters of the IFP (52%) and the PAC (56%). Inkatha is generally seen as more restrictive in its approach towards illegal aliens and its leader, Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi, in his capacity as Home Affairs Minister, has repeatedly called for stronger control measures. The ANC, on the other hand, is generally seen to be more liberal in this regard. As far as the other main political parties were concerned, the FF was most opposed to illegal immigration with 94%, followed by the CP (87%), the NP (82%), and the DP (78%).
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