Survey Highlights Migrants' Needs and Vulnerabilities in South Africa
A new IOM survey on the needs and vulnerabilities of undocumented
migrants in South Africa's northernmost Limpopo province calls for
urgent humanitarian assistance for particularly vulnerable groups,
such as unaccompanied minors, women and victims of sexual and
gender-based violence and other crimes.
This survey, based on field assessments conducted by IOM between
February and March 2009 in and around the northern town of Musina,
finds that economic desperation and lack of options at home are
forcing tens of thousands of people to engage into perilous
journeys through treacherous border areas, to jump or crawl under
border fences or wade across the Limpopo River using unscrupulous
intermediaries who regularly abuse them.
It underlines that many migrants, especially unaccompanied
minors and women, face brutalities and gender-based violence at the
hands of their smugglers who act with impunity and with little or
no fear of prosecution from the authorities.
As part of the survey, IOM interviewed 214 unaccompanied minors, 75
per cent of whom were boys. The research suggests that one of the
major motivating factors for children to migrate is family
reunification or family breakdown. Eighteen percent said they
experienced violence or robbery along their journey and showed
signs of deep psychological trauma from the horrendous experiences
they went through during the migration process.
The report details the story of migrants who sustained injuries
from crawling under razor wire fences to enter South Africa and of
women who experienced multiple sexual assaults. In most cases,
victims said they were not aware of existing health facilities or
that they simply wanted to continue their journey to Johannesburg
without interruption.
The survey finds that 84 per cent of the 1,128 respondents cited
economic reasons or lack of employment opportunities as reasons for
leaving their homes, while 6 per cent said they had left their
homes out of fear of political, religious or ethnic
persecution.
Many respondents said they regularly travelled back and forth
between Zimbabwe and South Africa, particularly cross-border
traders and farm-workers.
According to the survey, migrants continue to have difficulties
in finding meaningful and well-paid employment in South Africa. In
total, 55 per cent of respondents said they had some form of income
and the majority were earning less than R 1,000 (USD 130) per
month.
Remittances continue to be a major driving force behind
migrants' decision to travel to South Africa, with a majority of
respondents saying four or more people depended on the money they
sent back home. Overwhelmingly, remittances are used to buy
food.
Of all the respondents, farm workers reported the highest
earning and remittance levels, with 94 per cent in possession of a
work permit. However, many continued to travel clandestinely to and
from the country; with 45 per cent entering South Africa through
the same border post.
"There is little social perspective for people entering South
Africa as undocumented migrants," says IOM's Yukiko Kumashiro.
“Many are literally living from hand to mouth, often
depending on help from well-wishers and NGOs to sustain their
livelihoods."
Musina, which is located some 11 kilometres from the Zimbabwean
border, has experienced an influx of mostly Zimbabwean migrants and
asylum seekers who transit the Limpopo province to travel to cities
such as Johannesburg.
The survey recommends setting up counselling and support
services for migrants who have experienced violence and trauma
during the migration process, especially for women and
unaccompanied minors. Such services should be extended beyond
the town of Musina to Makhado and to private farms where
significant numbers of migrants are employed.
Similarly, family tracing and/or reunification of unaccompanied
minors within South Africa and Zimbabwe should be
strengthened.
IOM is providing humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwean migrants
in the Limpopo Province, with a focus on vulnerable undocumented
migrants, informal cross-border traders, unaccompanied minors,
victims of human trafficking, of sexual and gender-based violence
and migrant workers on commercial farms and mines.
This includes providing food and non-food assistance, legal
counselling and family tracing and reunification services. IOM also
carries out awareness-raising activities on safe migration and
supports migrants' shelters.
This survey was funded by the US State Department's Bureau for
Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM).
It is available online at:
For further information, please contact:
Nde Ndifonka
IOM Pretoria
Tel: +27 71 689 9966
E-mail:
"mailto:nndifonka@iom.int">nndifonka@iom.int