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ABSTRACT
Migration is reputed to have development prospects for the sending and host countries as well as migrants. Therefore, an effective migration governance system must be put in place to achieve this triple-win developmental aspiration. This paper, however, argues that when they migrate, migrants have their own subjective well-being in mind, and not some common national development objectives. The other developmental outcomes depend on this self-interestedness of migrants. As such, the institutional provisions for migration governance must be put in place to achieve migrant well-being, as a precondition for positive macro-developmental prospects for both the receiving and sending countries. The paper explored this objective in South Africa. The Migration Governance Framework (MiGoF) and the subjective well-being framework proposed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) were used to assess the assumptions of this objective. Reviewing literature of surveys conducted with immigrants in three cities (Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg), it was found that while South Africa has one of the most mature and developed migration governance infrastructure, it has not been sufficiently translated into realising migrant well-being. Despite all the attractive pull factors and opportunities, most immigrants in South Africa live in socio-economic misery and political uncertainty.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1. http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/313607/stats-sa-over-6-million-people-are-jobless-in-south-africa (accessed 20.09.19)
2. databank.worldbank.org/reports.aspx?source = 2&series = SI.POV.GINI&country = (accessed 16.09.19)
3. See https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/07/africa/south-africa-elections-inequality-intl/index.html (accessed 16.09.19)
4. wir2018.wid.world/part-2.html(accessed 16.09.19)
5. Which is currently being replaced by the 2017 White Paper on International Migration for South Africa.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Nyamadzawo Sibanda
Nyamadzawo Sibanda is a PhD student in the African Centre for Migration and Society, at the University of the Witswatersrand, South Africa. He is also a development evaluation practitioner, having completed an advanced Master in Development Evaluation and Management from the Institute of Development Policy, the University of Antwerp in Belgium. In addition, he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Honours and Masters degree in Policy and Development Studies from the University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. He is passionate about socio-economic development, which includes engaging with subjects of social security, international migration, local development, poverty, and inequality.
Anne Stanton
Dr Anne Stanton is a lecturer in the Department of Policy and Development Studies, at the University of KwaZulu Natal. She has expertise in areas of democratic local governance. As such, she has lectured in modules ranging from public policy analysis, local governance, and decentralization. She has supervised a number of postgraduate (PhD, Masters, Honours) projects in areas of local governance, decentralization, public-private partnerships and local democratic institutions. In addition, she consults with the provincial government in the Province of KwaZulu Natal, on matters of local government finance and public service.