Factors underlying the decision to move and choice of destination

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The migratory flow of Africans to South Africa form the north of Africa was restraineduntil the early 1990's. Before this period the political ideology of apartheiddiscriminated against African immigrants, while favouring the migration of people ofEuropean descent.Although numerous studies have drawn attention to the implications of the influx ofAfrican immigrants to South Africa and their socio-economic adaptation, not muchresearch has been done on reasons for international migration as provided by themigrant. The demographic and economic implications of African migration not onlydominate most of the work in this field, but it even seems to be the only concern ofresearchers investigating international immigration of Africans.The study focuses on factors underlying the decision of African immigrants tomigrate to South Africa and who choose Cape Town as their place of destination.Data from in-depth interviews are analysed to determine the motivations formigration to Cape Town. Attention is being paid to the circumstances in the migrants'home countries that motivated their decision to emigrate, the role of social networksin providing information regarding the choice of destination and migration routes, theobstacles they encountered, their adaptation in Cape Town and their perceptions ofCape Town as a place of permanent residence.From the literature review on reasons for migration, is emerges that there are twodominant theoretical approaches (i.e. macro and micro theories) for explaining whyinternational migration begins. The macro theories focus on migration stream,identifying the conditions under which large-scale movements take place anddescribing the demographic, economic and social characteristics of the migrants inaggregate terms. Micro theories focus on the socio-psychological factors thatdifferentiate migrants from non-migrants, together with theories of motivation,decision-making, satisfaction and identification. Although each theory ultimatelyseeks to explain the same phenomenon, they employ different concepts,assumptions and frames of reference. The various explanations offered are notnecessarily contradictory in nature but are, in fact, a reflection of how social realities could be studied and understood from various angles. This study employs aneclectic approach by using insights from both macro and micro levels of analysis.The study also considers the appropriateness of a qualitative research design inresearching specific aspects of migration and employs a qualitative case studymethod. This method allows for a deeper reflection on the part of the individual onfactors responsible for their decision to move. Semi-structured in-depth interviewshave been conducted with four African immigrants in the central business district ofCape Town.The study found that in certain instances the immigrants migrate for differentreasons, but under similar circumstances. It emerged from the case material that thesame issues sometimes hold different significance for each migrant. One aspectshared by all four immigrants, is that it seems that circumstances in their countries oforigin forced them to move and that they did have much of a choice - their lives werethreatened. Their relatively high level of training and access to funding most probablyassisted them in their move. Those people in not such a favourable position are leftbehind. The study also found that exchange and free flow of information and socialnetworks directs destination of movement, rather than determine whether migrationtakes place. However, the information immigrants receive is not always correct andtends not to focus on the negative aspects of immigration.Once in Cape Town the immigrants felt isolated, experienced prejudice, and sufferedhostility and discrimination at the hands of South Africans. It appears that manySouth Africans do not distinguish between asylum seekers, refugees and economicmigrants. The common denominator of their foreignness appears to be all that isnecessary for many to harbour negative attitudes. Xenophobia not only manifestsitself in negative attitudes, but also increasingly in victimisation against theimmigrants. Because of these factors and the problems they experience in findingjobs where they can apply their skills, the immigrants indicated that they do notintend staying permanently in South Africa.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University