South Africa case study

What is the peak age for internal migration

25–29, with a secondary one 60–64

Gauteng internal migration stats

45% of people living in the province of Gauteng were not born there

What is the education rate for internal migrants

Migrants entering Gauteng usually only have a high school diploma; migrants leaving Gauteng have the most post-high school qualifications than any other province's emigrants

Employment rate for internal migrants

Employed migrants mainly emigrate from Western Cape; unemployed migrants mainly emigrate from Limpopo or Eastern Cape

Which province has the least migrants

Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have the smallest proportion of migrant households

What is the strongest push factor for internal migration

Unemployment

Female migrant stats for international migration into SA and the impact of this

Nearly half of immigrants are young females, increasing vulnerability to exploitation

What is the primary migrant city in the whole of Africa

Johannesburg

Where are most of SA's immigrants from

75% are from another country in Africa

How many people have been deported in a year

2017: 15,000 illegal migrants were deported

Which countries do most people emigrate to

UK, Australia, USA

How has immigration increased year on year

Increased by 8.9 million between 2011 and 2016

Overall pattern summary of migration

Most internal migrants move from poorer rural provinces (e.g. Eastern Cape, Limpopo) to economic hubs such as Gauteng; international migrants are mainly from neighbouring SADC countries due to proximity and economic opportunity

What was migration like in the 1970s

3 million Black South Africans were forced into cheap migrant labour for mines and other white-owned industry

Where were most workers from during the colonial periods

Labour migration from neighbouring states (Mozambique, Lesotho) for mining

What was migration like for black South Africans before 1994

Apartheid limited migration, causing oscillating migration (rural to urban, then back to rural)

What did the government do to white people during apartheid

Gave economic incentives

What happened to white workers between 1960 and 1980

Skilled and semi-skilled white workers from neighbouring countries were given citizenship

When did internal migration to Johannesburg increase

In the 1990s after the release of Nelson Mandela

What happened in 1994

South Africa gained democracy

What was the result of 1994 independence gain

Allowed more diverse immigrants (low-skilled, refugees, skilled professionals, asylum seekers)

How has emigration changed since the 1990s

White South Africans have emigrated due to concerns over employment and crime

How has the number of female migrants increased

Female migrants increased fourfold in the last 15 years

Remittances in Zimbabwe in one year

Zimbabwe remittance inflows contributed to 16% of GDP in 2016

SA visas

South Africa offers 10-year multiple-entry visas to Africans for travel, business, or academics

What is the top supplier of SA immigrants outside of Africa

The UK – 3% of SA migrants are British

Brain drain

Highly skilled migrants leave for the UK, Australia, USA

Stat for stepping stone migrants

11% of migrants entering South Africa intend to move on

Which countries make up most deportations and why

Mozambique, Lesotho, Zimbabwe make up 88% due to refused visa applications

What is the SADC

Southern African Development Community – a regional organisation of 16 countries

Are a lot of SA immigrants from the SADC

Yes, 79%, mainly from Lesotho and Zimbabwe

Economic impact of immigration

Cheap labour supply in construction, agriculture, and mining

Social impact of immigration incl years

Xenophobia and violent riots (2008, 2015, 2019)

Political impact of immigration

Migrants are scapegoated in elections and blamed for crime and unemployment

How much remittances did SA send in one year

2019: over $1 billion

What type of workers do SA struggle to attract

Highly skilled workers

Who are most visas given to

Relatives

Asylum seekers in SA

South Africa receives the highest number of asylum seekers in Africa

Is SA hospitable to foreigners

South Africa has experienced significant xenophobia, making it less hospitable

What are SA citizens' view on crime

70% believe crime is rising due to immigrants

Migrants and police - stat

Over 70% of immigrants have been stopped by police once

May 2008

In May 2008, 62 people were killed in xenophobic riots

2017 white paper

Government aimed to attract skilled migrants and improve national security, social cohesion, and economic growth

Has the refugee system tightened recently

2020 Refugee Amendment Act restricted access to asylum and reduced rights

How is the SA policy going to change in the future

Likely reform of work visa system to attract skilled professionals

How does environment affect migration

Drought in countries like Zimbabwe increases migration into South Africa

Two way link between SA and migrants

South Africa relies on migrant labour, while neighbouring countries rely on remittances

Economic development - evaluation

Migrants provide cheap labour but may suppress wages for local workers

Social equality - evaluation

Migrants face discrimination and limited access to services, increasing inequality

Political equality - evaluation

Xenophobic riots threaten political stability

Economic interdependence

South Africa relies on migrant labour; neighbouring countries rely on remittances (e.g. Zimbabwe 16% of GDP)

Political interdependence

South Africa works with SADC to manage migration; visa policies and deportations affect neighbouring countries

Economic impacts of migration

Supports development via cheap labour but brain drain reduces high-skill growth and wages may be suppressed

Political impacts of migration

Contributes to instability through riots and scapegoating in elections

Social impacts of migration

Leads to discrimination, limited services, and marginalisation of migrants