Afternoon Drive withJoanne Joseph

Parliament's Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation says that the brain drain happening in Africa is a very serious challenge, and has called for policy which addresses the issue.

It is a very difficult phenomenon to control because people are highly skilled, they are educated, they have exerted themselves to acquire these skills, and once they are offered better benefits and other lucrative amenities, they will certainly leave the continent

— Siphosezwe Masango, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation Chairperson

Speaking to #NightTalk's Gugs Mhlungu and Sizwe Dhlomo, the Portfolio Committee Chairperson Siphosezwe Masango says that this brain drain has affected different sectors in the continent, which has led to a wide skills shortage.

The African continent has lost 25 percent of medical doctors, which is equal to 20 000 medical doctors, per year to other countries

— Siphosezwe Masango, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation Chairperson

The South African Council on International Relations (SACOIR) recently briefed the Portfolio Committee about the dire consequences of the brain drain in Africa.

As the African continent enacts long-term development plans, Masango says that these cannot be achieved as long as the continent continues to lose its human capital to other continents.

What it means is that as the African continent is talking about the African Agenda 2063, in terms of which airports must be built, dams must be constructed, etc. All of this cannot be done

— Siphosezwe Masango, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation Chairperson

Masango says that African governments could do more to encourage people to stay in the continent by targeting particular skills, and recruiting skilled personnel they require for major projects at tertiary level.

Governments could identify particular skills and make sure that they pay those skills better, and also indicate to these people that it is very patriotic to stay in your country

— Siphosezwe Masango, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation Chairperson

Listen to the conversation below: