• Beginning and evolution of SADC migration to South Africa

While in Africa most migration over the last 150 years has been from rural to urban areas, cross-border migration has also been significant. The development of the economies of the colonies and apartheid in South Africa strengthened labour markets within the region in various economic sectors. Moreover, colonization, through creating new borders, divided many communities and separated families and clans, which had the effect of increasing cross-border movement. Until 1963, free movement was allowed between South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. In the case of Namibia, during its administration and annexation by South Africa between the end of World War II and independence in 1990, the apartheid regime also allowed free movement for white people. Currently, intra-regional migration encompasses temporary migration, including workers and seasonal migrants, permanent migration, forced migration and refugee or asylum-seekers. Refugees/Asylum-seekers have arrived from Angola, Mozambique and more recently from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, as well as countries that do not belong to SADC. Circular migration within these flows is especially notable, as many migrants who travel alone have two homes, one in the country of origin and another in the country of destination. Migrants thus make several trips a month or a year.

Migration is increasingly marked by movements linked to border-trading and related businesses and street vending, and less by formal employment. Many women are involved in these informal businesses, crossing borders for small periods of time or even daily. The study published by SAIIA and UN-INSTRAW focuses on cross-border migration to and from Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland, although it refers to other countries when there are notable trends, particularly related to the relatively unexplored subject of gender.

• Number of SADC migrants residing in South Africa

Although the proportion of foreign-born persons is higher than that of South Africa in Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, South Africa accounts for the largest number of foreign-born persons, not including irregular migrants (who would increase the official figure to 1,106,000 foreign-born).

• Feminization of SADC migration to South Africa

The 2001 South Africa Census indicates that 37.4% of migrants born in a country belonging to SADC are women and 33.8% of migrants born in another country in Africa (excluding SADC) are women. The proportion of women migrants born in countries in Europe is 49.3%, 42.1% from Asia and 50.2% from other countries. Men account for over 85% of the total number of migrants, with the exception of those from Zimbabwe (56%) and Lesotho (83%). Most of these migrants are married or cohabiting (72%). Migrant women are however more likely to be divorced, separated or have been abandoned. Similarly, migrant women are also more likely to be widowed than men. As men are the majority of migrants, this means that women are the recipients of remittances to a greater extent than men, though this does not mean that they have decision-making power over the utilization of remittances On the contrary, men, who usually are the formal heads of households, are those who choose how to spend remittances. Not much is known about irregular migration of women, but it is estimated men also dominate these flows, and that irregular migration represents a greater risk for women. In fact, several cases of sexual abuse have been reported by women traveling without permits.

• Labour Insertion

In South Africa, mines are the biggest employers of migrants from SADC. In general, migrants have the lowest paid jobs, but there are differences in their employability by nationality. Mines employ 87% of migrants from Botswana, 68% from Lesotho, 62% from Swaziland, but only 31% from Mozambique and 3% from Zimbabwe. Migrants from Zimbabwe have a different profile from the rest, given that 40% are professionals (including teachers and health workers), or are working in the informal sector (20%). Lesotho is notable for its high percentage of people engaged in domestic service (9%). Manual labour occupies 18% of migrants from Mozambique, 14% from Swaziland, 9% from Lesotho, 7% from Zimbabwe and only 1% from Botswana. Some women also find work an manual labourers, but not in the same proportion as men. Domestic work is an important sector for Basotho women (44%) but not so for Zimbabwe women (6%). 14% of Basotho women and 47% of Zimbabwe women are working in the informal economy. These two areas generally provide low incomes and little chance to organize as a sector, which has a negative impact on integration in the country of destination and the ability to send remittances. In the mining sector, some women migrate with their husbands or partners and provide services to male mine workers. In the case of Lesotho, the increase in unemployment among Basotho men in South African mines has forced women to migrate to the capital of Lesotho to work in textile companies or migrate to South Africa. In the agricultural sector, South Africa provides special permits and has a formal system of recruitment for migrant workers. Women are more concentrated in tasks such as harvesting, packing and pruning, and by consequence their work is more seasonal and poorly paid. Domestic service employs mostly South African women (who often migrate internally), but also generates some mployment opportunities for foreign women. Another important source of employment for migrant men is the construction industry, which pays even less than domestic service. The informal economy provides an important source of income, especially for women originating from Zimbabwe. Finally, skilled migration to South Africa from other SADC countries tends to compensate for the brain drain from South Africa to the United States and Europe.

• Sending and utilization of remittances

In households that receive remittances, the bulk is utilized to cover basic needs and services, with differences depending on the country. Most remittances are spent on education in Zimbabwe (57%) and Mozambique (57%), while a significant portion is also spent on medicine in Zimbabwe (40%), Swaziland (39%) and Mozambique (31 %). Investment of remittances in productive activities is scarce, but does exist in Swaziland (mainly in agriculture), and in Mozambique (building materials). The 69% of Basotho recipient households reported having contracted loans, which also occurs in other countries, in proportions ranging from 42% to 49%. These loans are used to purchase food, which means that these households are highly dependent on external sources of income. In general, there is no evidence of the emergence of new economic activity generated by the receipt of remittances. Remittances protect human development because they allow families to pay for education, health, electricity, water and other services, when they are not provided by the State.

For detailed results of the investigation “Gender, Remittances and Development: Preliminary Findings From Selected SADC Countries,” see the complete report at our Publication Section.