Survival Strategies of Africa Migrants in The Former Transkei

A case study of Cameroonians, Ghanaians and Nigerians in Mthatha

Outline

BackgroundStudy Area and MethodologyReviewDiscussionsConclusions and Recommendations

Background

As Immigrants continue to enter South Africa, some earlier and recent immigrants already in the country begin to migrated into rural areas to secure their survival.

Since 2000, large influxes of immigrants from big cities to Mthatha

Even though the province is among the least attractive destination for foreigners.

Since the early 90s, the informal economy has risen significantly

The majority of its entrepreneurs are foreigners.

Background(cont.)

Nkwa (2007) notes that immigrants come to Mthatha in search for employment, better wages and to escape from persecution and violence from their previous places of residence.

Yet African migrants in Mthatha face many challenges and hence a need to survive.

The focus of this paper is to investigate their survival strategies in Mthatha.

Categories of foreign Migrants

1. Earlier foreign migrants

Those who arrived in Mthatha between 1990 and the year

2005.

Already established in their socio-economic endeavours

Have legal Documentation and a rented place of their own

to stay.

Earlier foreign migrants (cont.)

Run their own small scale businesses and/or

working in an established organisation

Can speak the local language fluently

Have established complex social networks with the

locals.

Categories of foreign Migrants (cont.)

2. Recent foreign migrants

Entered Mthatha after the year 2005.

Do not have a place of their own to stay

Unemployed or self-employed and actively looking

for employment

Struggling to regularise their documentation

Recent foreign migrants (cont.)

Can barely speak the local language

Loose social networks with the locals

Strong attachments with earlier foreign migrants

Immigrants’ Experiences in Mthatha

Not different from others elsewhere in South AfricaForeign migrants face similar adversitiesExperience deplorable treatment from state agencies,

organisations, communitiesSuffer from acute discrimination and xenophobic

tendenciesSimilar reports of discrimination, harassments and

violence against foreigner nationals like elsewhere in South Africa

Some examples

Notable Examples of News Paper Reports

“foreign mum and baby gunned down’, ‘foreign shops looted’, ‘foreign national killed’, ‘…believes foreigners are

bad for South Africa’, ‘foreign man stabbed to death’ “xenophobic” violence that has been stalking Gauteng has spread to the

Eastern Cape and the Free State Patel (2013). Attacks against foreign nationals in KwaZakhele & New Brighton in Port

Elizabeth, left several shops looted and burnt Due to the level of xenophobic violence, police had to relocate some of the

foreign nationals to temporary shelters (Human Rights Watch of 21 Jan 2014).

Hence a need for Foreign migrants to devise strategies for survival in Mthatha.

Study Area

Mthatha in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Mthatha was the capital town of the former Transkei The main town of the King Sabata Danlindyebo Local Municipality (KSD) Population of about 120,000 with 55% younger than 20 years The town is along the N2 road, 250 Km from East London and about

177 Km to Kokstad.Reasons for the choice of Mthatha 1. The District Municipality is the poorest in the Eastern Cape2. High percentage number of people living in poverty3. About 11.8% of its households without any form of income 4. Unemployment rate a high of 65.5%,

Study Area (cont.)

5. Literacy rate of only 42% .

6. Experiencing high in flocks of African migrants.

7. Not much research has been conducted to find

out the survival strategies of African immigrants in

smaller towns around the country.

Study Area (cont.)

The study immigrants form a minority group which

generally faces prejudice and discrimination in their

communities.

The choice of Mthatha, a much smaller town in a typical

rural region in the province will add to the limited

empirical referents on immigrants’ survival strategies in

non-cosmopolitan cities

Study Methodology

Both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies Techniques include: Questionnaires, Observations, Focus group

discussions and in-depth interviews But a more qualitative approach was adopted 150 opened-ended questionnaires were administered Snowball sampling was used to facilitate the identification of

respondents Focus group discussion, in-depth interviews and observations were

conducted (places of work, homes and their social gatherings). Data analyzed using excel Findings presented in tables, charts and diagrams

Literature ReviewAbundance of literature on immigrants’ survival strategies

in South Africa (e.g. Petkou, 2005; 2010). Not much has been done in rural areas of South AfricaMuch of what has been done is focus on urban immigrants

as crime perpetrators, immigrants as entrepreneurs and better than those from SADC countries, and/or immigrants as drug dealers and in prostitution.

Literature Review (cont.)

Previous and recent literature focus on urban immigrants with similar patterns of survival

In Johannesburg for example, studies show that because of discrimination and xenophobia, immigrants used various strategies to adapt themselves to the prevailing situation.

Strategies include: bogus documentation, adopting the social culture, forming social organisations, engaging into marriages of convenience, learning the local language, opening up small scale businesses and others engaging in activities beyond the margins of the law.

Literature Review (cont.)

Studies elsewhere have shown that, discriminated

immigrants with the ambitions of improving their lifestyles,

developed an economic consciousness, which act as a

motivating factor for profit making (MacGaffey and

Bazenguissa-Ganga 2000).

acquiring legal documentation is crucial for immigrants’

survival in South Africa hence, many immigrants who

entered the country

Literature Review (cont.)

with visitors visa apply for Asylum Seeker permits which give them the

right to stay and look for employment (Mluleki, (2003).

Others conspired with corrupt officials to secure legal documentation

(Yawlui, 2009).

Studies have identified the formation of social organisations as survival

strategy (Muzondidya, 2008; Mluleki, 2003; McDonald et al, 2002; Ojong,

2007).

Learning the local languages (Yawlui, 2009; Mluleki, 2003; Nkwa, 2008;

Ojong, 2007)

Adopting the South Africa dressing and hair styles (Nkwa, 2008).

Literature Review (cont.)

Little empirical referent exist which discusses the survival strategies of foreign migrants in rural South Africa.

This study form an addition to that gapYet to know if African immigrants in Mthatha

pursue similar strategies like urban immigrants in South Africa

If not, then it creates new grounds for comparative study

Studies indicate the absence of original and up-to-date empirical data on migration patterns in the Eastern Cape Province

Literature Review (cont.)

But, two broad patterns of migration can be observe in the province.

1. Movement of people from one part of the province to others2. Movement of people from the Eastern Cape to other provinces

(Makiwane and Chimere-Dan, 2010). Golooba-Mutebi & Tollman (2004) observe similarly that, many

refugees have consciously refrained from going to live or work in urban areas where living costs are high.

They have opted to live in rural areas because of the opportunities for livelihood diversification and the wider scope for securing support when in difficulties.

Literature Review (cont.)

Studies have also shown that the pattern of internal migration in the province is a pressing development challenge: “large volumes of people move to other parts of the country and other parts of the province in ways that on balance do not encourage broad-based development of the province” (Makiwane and Chimere-Dan, 2010: 101) .

International migration into the province has not been a major policy challenge

White emigration and brain drain have been observed as some of the potential undesirable outcomes since 1994: But there is a possible reverse migration

Amongst these reverse migrants are foreign migrants who would take advantage of the prevailing gaps caused by out migration and brain drain in the province.

Literature Review (cont.)

Wundow (2011) study in Mthatha reported similar findings with studies conducted in urban South Africa.

Namely, acquiring legal documentation, organising marriages of convenience, learning the local languages and adopting the social culture

For Golooba-Mutebi & Tollman (2004) , Mozambican refugees in rural South Africa have managed to move on from initial short-term survival strategies to achieve long-term livelihoods.

1. For one reason or another depend on their own ingenuity2. Take advantage of freedom of movement in the country to search

for places of permanent settlement.3. Relatively stabled previous immigrants paved the way for new

comers and played an important role in looking for paid employment at their own places of work.

Literature Review (cont.)

4. Survival was ensured by the combined efforts of the Gazankulu government, churches, charitable organizations, local villagers and, in some cases, the refugees’ own efforts. 5. But time, and as resources dwindled, immigrants start to practice subsistence agriculture and animal husbandry6. Others work in the commercial farming sector either as seasonal or permanent labourers7. Others in formal and informal non-agricultural activities8. mining and construction, petty trading, commuter taxi owners, domestic services and traditional medicine.9. Others acquired citizenship through marriages with South Africans10. Others Bribe civil servants or paying South Africans to claim them as relatives.

Findings and Discussion of Results

Ages of respondents: 15 and 54 years oldBut, the majority between 30 and 39 years old (63%)Males (65%) Females (35%) Christians (80%) Muslims (16%) Atheists (4%) 72% speak English and only 2% could not speak the English

language.Up to 92% can speak some amount of IsiXhosa and IsiZulu All the study immigrants have had formal education (Table 1

below)

Table 1: Educational Status of Foreign Migrants

Level of Education N %

Secondary school

Certificate.

11 7%

Diploma 24 26%

Higher national diploma 19 13%

Bachelor’s degree 94 53%

Postgrad (Masters)

Degree

02 1%

Total 150 100

Findings and Discussion of Results (cont.)

Others have upgraded their educational status30% have obtained higher diplomas20% honours degrees 5% masters degrees: (“the only way to get a job is to get their

certificate”). 45% were teachersRest were employed or self-employed as (Street vendors, Tailors,

beauty salons, Electricians, motor-Mechanics, Computer technicians, restaurant owners, bar services).

Findings and Discussion of Results (cont.)

4% of the study immigrants claimed that they are unemployed.60% were single and 40% were married with children.56% were married to South Africa and 44% married to same

nationality with their wives. Earlier Foreign migrants in the study constitute 45%Recent foreign migrants were 55% of the total.

Findings and Discussion of Results (cont.) Majority came from Major cities as shown in Table 2 below. Table 2: Previous Residence in South Africa

Previous Residence N %

Johannesburg 43 29

Cape Town 32 21

Durban 28 19

Pretoria 10 7

Pietermaritzburg 5 3

Port Elizabeth 7 5

East Landon 3 2

Form Home Country 22 14

Total 150 100

Livelihood Strategies of Foreign Migrants

Obtaining Legal Documentation Engaging in Small family gardensSmall business endeavours (internet café, small shops,

restaurants, beauty salons, etc.)Learning the local languagesAdapting to the social lifestyle (dressing and hair styles,

walking etc.)

Livelihood Strategies of Foreign Migrants (cont.)

Organising Social get together (organisations)Social Interactions with South AfricansCreating a Strong Social NetworkGrowing a large familyOrganising Part-time work (teaching)

Conclusions

Survival strategies of foreign migrants in Mthatha are to some extend similar to those of urban migrants elsewhere in the country.

Studies elsewhere have identified the strong educational background of African Immigrants in the country

Small business endeavours, adapting to the lifestyle, creating social organisations and strong social networks are similar survival practices of urban migrants elsewhere.

Conclusions (cont.)

Other practices observed in this study appears to be more livelihood strategies than just survival strategies. These include:

1. Obtaining legal documentation2. Engaging in small family farms/gardens3. Learning the local language4. Increasing the family size

Recommendations

Equal accessibility to education especially to children of foreign migrants in the country

Educate the community and officials dealing with foreign immigrants to respect and uphold the the constitutional provision which carters for the rights of all who live in South Africa including that of immigrants

Open up more opportunities and facilities for foreign migrants to boost up the local economy

Support business endeavours of foreign migrants to curb down high unemployment in the region

Encourage the revisiting of immigration policies in the country

Recommendations (cont.)

Create structures that monitor and sanction defaulters of human rights especially with foreign migrants

Encourage foreign migrants to live and consider South Africa as a home. In this way, local development will improve

Continue the fight against discrimination and xenophobia in the country.

Accommodate and assimilate immigrants especially in areas of employment and education.

See the presence of foreign migrants as an opportunity rather than a problem.

Thank YouDr. CL PetkouDepartment of Sociology and Population Development Studies, WSU Mthatha