1. Migrating for Work Research Consortium 1
Paradigms, Policy, and Practices:
examining the current context of migration to
South Africa with a special focus on lower
skilled labour migrants.
Zaheera Jinnah, PhD
African Centre for Migration & Society,
University of the Witwatersrand
30 July 2014
African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS), University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, Wits 2050, South Africa
T: +27 11 717 4033 F: +27 11 717 4039 | www.miworc.org.za

2. Migrating for Work Research Consortium 2
3 main points
• Shift the paradigm on international migration
away from fears of securitisation, and toward
migration as a potential for development and
growth;
• Develop better informed and more coherent
migration policy options;
• Examine practices of irregular entry and/or
work and the implications of these.

3. Migrating for Work Research Consortium 3
Paradigm Shift

4. Migrating for Work Research Consortium 4
Securitisation
“Home Affairs plays a decisive role as the backbone
of the developmental state and is central to
enabling security and service delivery”.
“ideally, municipalities should know who lives and
works and runs businesses in their area as well their
status.
ANC’s Peace and Stability discussion document 2012, pp1-
6

5. Migrating for Work Research Consortium 5
Paradigm
“Another urgent immigration challenge is the need to
recognise and efficiently regularise the flow of
economic migrants, particularly from our
neighbouring countries of SADC” Pandor July 2013.
“We value the contribution of fellow Africans from
across the continent living in South Africa and that is
why we have continued to support the AU and SADC
initiatives to free human movement, but this cannot
happen haphazardly... or to the exclusion of security,”
Gigaba July 2014.

6. Migrating for Work Research Consortium 6

7. Migrating for Work Research Consortium 7
Policy

8. Migrating for Work Research Consortium 8

9. Migrating for Work Research Consortium 9
Possible policy options
• SADC:
Revised Draft Regional Indicative Strategic
Development Plan(RISDP) 2015-2020 and
Priorities for the Employment and Labour
Sector(ELS) which contain a blueprint for SADC
LM policy framework.

10. Migrating for Work Research Consortium 10
Looking beyond
borders

11. Migrating for Work Research Consortium 11