IISES International Academic Conference, Lisbon

FRUSTRATING THE FRUSTRATED: ANALYSIS OF THE PLIGHTS OF AFRICAN MIGRANTS SEEKERS IN UMHLATHUZE AREA OF KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

TOYIN COTTIES ADETIBA

Abstract:

We are now sitting at homes, our rents are not being paid, we don’t have food, children are no longer going to schools and women, especially pregnant are at high risk of hunger, stress, and trauma. This was the confession of an African migrant in uMhlathuze area of Kwazulu-Natal Province, South Africa. South Africa has become a port of destination for migrants post-1994. As an emerging economy in Africa and its position as an advocate of peace, stability and enhancing democracy within the South African Development Community (SADC) and Africa as a whole. Many African migrants has therefore explored its relatively stable economy to better their lot. This paper is a product of the community engagement prgroamme facilitated by the author in 2023. The author identifies that the migrants who could be refugees and asylum seekers to a large extent are passing through some sort of untold hardship for certain reasons. Hence their frustration over the policies of the South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs. Using qualitative research method and push and pull theory, this paper discovered that most migrants in South Africa, particularly the asylum seekers and the refugees are in South Africa not because they wanted to but the situation at home has forced them to be in the Rainbow Nation notwithstanding the level of their frustrations. The author discusses the implications of frustrating the migrants who themselves are frustrated because of the condition back home. The paper concludes that the beauty of needs/interdependency productive relationships between the migrants and the South Africans in uMhlathuze area of Kwazulu-Natal Province, South Africa will go a long way to foster inclusivity and local economic development.

Keywords: Africa, Inclusivity, Home Affairs, Community, Destination