IFP to Host Forum on Emigration and Loss of Skills

28 May 2007


"The Inkatha Freedom Party will be hosting a seminar on the emigration of one million South Africans and the critical skills shortage in South Africa, this coming Thursday," said the IFP's Chief Whip, Mr Koos van der Merwe MP.

"Having taken notice of the shocking article in the Rapport, 24 September 2006, of the emigration of around one million South Africans, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP proposed to hold a Forum to address the matter," said Mr van der Merwe.

Dr Buthelezi reacted as follows in his electronic newsletter of 1 February 2007: one knows that many ... have left because of their fears about crime and the reckless implementation of affirmative action. My party proposes to hold a widely representative Forum to look at why so many have left with their skills; and what can be done to keep them and to encourage those who have left, to come back.

Mr van der Merwe continued: "The IFP's Forum will take place on 31 May 2007 in Pretoria. The South African Institute for Race Relations will then present their worrying findings on the large-scale emigration of South Africans since 1995. Various prominent South Africans will participate, amongst others Dr Frederick Van Zyl-Slabbert, Professor Laurence Schlemmer and other important opinion-makers.

"The Inkatha Freedom Party is assisted in arranging the Forum by Solidarity with whom the IFP signed an Accord on 2 March 2004 on how to manage Affirmative Action," concluded Mr van der Merwe. Members of the media are invited to attend.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mr Koos van der Merwe: 082 444 4944
Liezl van der Merwe: 083 611 7470