Survival strategies of Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg

The study analyses Zimbabwean migrants’ strategies of survival in a largely xenophobic environment. The paper argues that exclusion of Zimbabweans in the labour market and other spheres of South Africa is largely a product of attempts by South African institutions and officials to draw boundaries se...

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Main Author: Hungwe, Chipo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Expert Publisher & Association for Social and Economic Development and Promotion of Catalactica 2016
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Online Access:http://www.jppc.ro/reviste/JCPP%20Nr.%203%202013/articole/art04.pdf
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author Hungwe, Chipo
author_facet Hungwe, Chipo
author_sort Hungwe, Chipo
collection DSpace
description The study analyses Zimbabwean migrants’ strategies of survival in a largely xenophobic environment. The paper argues that exclusion of Zimbabweans in the labour market and other spheres of South Africa is largely a product of attempts by South African institutions and officials to draw boundaries separating insiders from outsiders. This inevitably limits the opportunity structure of most Zimbabwean migrants, pushing them from the formal to informal sector and further underground. Zimbabwean migrants survive by mainly concealing their identity. They adopt South African languages, ways of dressing, bribe the police and some engage in friendships, relationships and marriages with locals. Migrants also engage in self-employment, crime and church activities. The study however reveals that migrants mainly use their ethnic and religious networks, which largely promotes bonding rather than bridging social capital. Such social capital may not really help them to be integrated into the local South African community. This study is based on qualitative research conducted among Zimbabweans in the Kempton and Tembisa areas of Johannesburg, South Africa in 2012.
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spelling ir-11408-10682022-06-27T13:49:06Z Survival strategies of Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg Hungwe, Chipo Social networks; South Africa; Survival strategies Xenophobia; Zimbabweans. The study analyses Zimbabwean migrants’ strategies of survival in a largely xenophobic environment. The paper argues that exclusion of Zimbabweans in the labour market and other spheres of South Africa is largely a product of attempts by South African institutions and officials to draw boundaries separating insiders from outsiders. This inevitably limits the opportunity structure of most Zimbabwean migrants, pushing them from the formal to informal sector and further underground. Zimbabwean migrants survive by mainly concealing their identity. They adopt South African languages, ways of dressing, bribe the police and some engage in friendships, relationships and marriages with locals. Migrants also engage in self-employment, crime and church activities. The study however reveals that migrants mainly use their ethnic and religious networks, which largely promotes bonding rather than bridging social capital. Such social capital may not really help them to be integrated into the local South African community. This study is based on qualitative research conducted among Zimbabweans in the Kempton and Tembisa areas of Johannesburg, South Africa in 2012. 2016-04-26T16:59:42Z 2016-04-26T16:59:42Z 2013 Article 1582-8344 http://www.jppc.ro/reviste/JCPP%20Nr.%203%202013/articole/art04.pdf en Journal of Community Positive Practices;Vol. 13, No. 3; p. 52-73 none Expert Publisher & Association for Social and Economic Development and Promotion of Catalactica
spellingShingle Social networks; South Africa; Survival strategies
Xenophobia; Zimbabweans.
Hungwe, Chipo
Survival strategies of Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg
title Survival strategies of Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg
title_full Survival strategies of Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg
title_fullStr Survival strategies of Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg
title_full_unstemmed Survival strategies of Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg
title_short Survival strategies of Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg
title_sort survival strategies of zimbabwean migrants in johannesburg
topic Social networks; South Africa; Survival strategies
Xenophobia; Zimbabweans.
url http://www.jppc.ro/reviste/JCPP%20Nr.%203%202013/articole/art04.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT hungwechipo survivalstrategiesofzimbabweanmigrantsinjohannesburg