Aderanti Adepoju

Continuity and Changing Configurations of Migration to and from the Republic of South Africa

This paper focuses on the transfixing configurations of migration dynamics in a new South Africa, while examining the context of migration and migration dynamics with an emphasis on the historical and institutional setting; the role of immigrants, including those doing the dirty and dangerous jobs, even when they are unwanted; the dynamics of replacement; and policy responses to fashion out appropriate migration regimes in the country. In the early 1970s, Lesotho, Malawi, and Mozambique were the main suppliers of labour to apartheid South Africa. This pattern later changed, and the supply of workers from Lesotho increased steadily over the years to 50 per cent of the foreign labour in South Africa. The striking disparities in economic development and living standards between South Africa and other African countries, and the remarkable transition to post-apartheid rule attracted migrants of all categories from Africa and beyond, despite the daunting problems of unemployment, crime, widespread poverty, and the spread of AIDS. It is estimated that nationals from some 100 countries now live in the Republic of South Africa (RSA). From West Africa came highly skilled professionals from Nigeria and Ghana to staff the universities and other professions, along with tradesmen from Senegal and Mali, including street vendors and small traders. These joined their counterparts from the Democratic Republic of Congo, then Zaire and Zimbabwe to swell the informal sector in contrast to the traditional immigrants from Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Malawi, and Mozambique, whose nationals were mostly unskilled farm labourers and mine workers.

Regional Organizations and Intra‐Regional Migration in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Challenges and Prospects

Africa is a region of diverse migration circuits relating to origin destination and transit for labor migrants undocumented migrants refugees and brain circulation of professionals. This article outlines major migration configurations in the region and the role of two vibrant subregional organizations--Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and South African Development Community (SADC)--in facilitating containing or curtailing intra-regional migration which takes place within diverse political economic social and ethnic contexts; the transformation of brain drain into brain circulation; and commercial migration in place of labor migration within the region. Despite overlapping membership wavering political support a poor transportation network border disputes and expulsions these subregional organizations are crucial for the regions collective integration into the global economy and to enhance economic growth and facilitate labor intraregional migration. Free movement of person without visa adoption of ECOWAS travelers checks and passports the creation of a borderless Community; and the granting of voting rights and later citizenship and residence permits by South Africa to migrant workers from SADC countries are positive developments. These organizations need to foster cooperation between labor-exporting and recipient countries implement the protocols on the right of residence and establishment; promote dialogue and cooperation in order to harmonize coordinate and integrate their migration policies as envisioned by the 1991 Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community. (authors)

13 International Migration Policies And The Fight Against Poverty: Some Final Reflections

This chapter brings together various issues that is hoped to help in the design of migration policies relevant, or beneficial, to development. If we look at international migration from the perspective of the sending countries, however, a different-more diverse-picture emerges. The majority of migration flows are found to be directed not towards the core receiving countries just referred to. Only a limited number of countries are characterised by South-North migration. By far the majority of emigration countries are found to be the subject of South-South migration. International migration is nowadays reshaping the world in a selective way, contributing to a global reallocation of development opportunities for the various countries in the world. Some countries in sub-Saharan Africa benefit from migration as a new source of financial capital, or use it as a source of negotiation power. Keywords:international migration policies; South-North migration; South-South migration; sub-Saharan Africa