The role of border municipalities in integrated socio-economic - - PDF document

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The role of border municipalities in integrated socio-economic development: A borderless approach to understanding of migrant communities around border municipalities across South Africa.

Author: Thanyani Alpheus Maremba, Statistics South Africa Email address: thanyanimar@statssa.gov.za

Abstract

In today’ s increasingly interconnected world, international migration has become a reality that touches nearly all corners of the globe, often making distinctions between countries of origin, transit and destination obsolete. The number of international migrants worldwide has continued to grow rapidly over the past fifteen years reaching 244 million in 2015, up from 222 million in 2010 and 173 million in 2000, UN DESA (2016). If international trends are reflected in South Africa, migration patterns will become increasingly complex, involving diverse social groups and a combination of permanent and temporary migrants. There will be more youthful and women migrants, and a growing number of migrants moving from regions severely affected by climate change. The challenge to countries such as South Africa is on how to optimise the benefits and minimise the risks that come with migration. Apart from the significant number of migrants who live in metropolitan areas there are larger proportions

• f those who are found in border municipalities. The study seeks to show how

focusing on the migrant population around border communities will assist in planning for border municipalities and making them destination of choice and subsequently contribute to economic growth. Keywords: Socio-economic development, international migration, neo-classical migration theory

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Introduction

Migration is an important phenomenon that affects various countries worldwide

• ne way or another, whether as the recipients or as the senders of migrants.

There are well documented benefits in socio-economic development among countries receiving immigrants associated with migration. Migration is not an exogenous variable, but an integral part of wider social and development processes, the development impacts of migration are also fundamentally heterogeneous, de Haas H (2010). Migration is also an important factor in the erosion of traditional boundaries between languages, cultures, ethnic group, and nation-states. Even those who do not migrate are affected by movements of people in or out of their communities, and by the resulting changes. Migration is not a single act of crossing a border, but rather a lifelong process that affects all aspects of the lives of those involved. The majority of immigrant population in South Africa are in metropolitan municipalities and mining municipalities, however, the high proportion of immigrants from countries sharing part of their borders with South Africa are found in border municipalities. The study mainly looks at the homogeneity among border municipalities’ population and heterogeneity between population in border municipalities and non-border municipalities.

Literature review

In trying to understand the migration reasons in municipalities, the neo-classical theory of migration is considered. According to this theory, migration is driven by geographic differences in labour supply versus demand, and the resulting differentials in wages between labour-rich versus capital-rich countries Kurekova L (2011). Cross-border migration, particularly for employment purposes within the SADC region was prevalent long before the 1990s. In fact, international labour migration within the Southern African region for wages dates back at least 150 years Williams V (2002).

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The relatively unrestricted movement of labour across the region and the continent can contribute significantly to more inclusive economic growth. Migrants have played an important role in South Africa’ s economic development and regional integration since the late 19th century and it is likely that this trend will continue, Williams V (2002). In August 1992, following the start of the process of transition in South Africa, what was formerly the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC) was transformed into the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and one of the objectives was the achievement of development and economic growth and the alleviation of poverty to enhance the standard and quality of life of the people of Southern Africa (Williams, 2002). Migration as a global phenomenon is fundamentally about individuals, whether skilled or unskilled, searching for better opportunities. On the other hand, the availability of migrants as a source of cheap and easily exploitable labour, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, construction and the services industry (hotels, restaurants, domestic employment etc) mitigates against attempts in many parts of the world, including Southern Africa, to regularise the status of migrant workers and to protect their rights (Williams, 2002).

Methodology

The target population of the study are immigrants from Southern Africa countries that share borders with South Africa. Immigrant population of neighbouring countries are people born outside South Africa, i.e, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia as well children born to parents from those countries. Data for immigrants were further enriched by including children born to the immigrants in South Africa. The criterion for inclusion was those respondents in the Community Survey 2016 data who indicated that they are children, sons or daughters of the head of household.

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Proportions of immigrants from the neighbouring countries where calculated for each municipality in South Africa using Community Survey 2016 data. Municipalities were further ranked by proportions from the largest to the lowest. Only top ten municipalities were selected for each country resulting to sixty

• municipalities. Out of sixty municipalities only forty-six municipalities were

unique which implies that some municipalities appeared to be top ten in more than one country. Municipalities with higher proportions of immigrants were classified into border, non-border and metro. Border municipalities are those that share part of their boundary with neighbouring countries or they are separated by non-residential area (for example, Kruger National Park). Non-border municipalities are those municipalities that do not share any part of their boundary with the neighbouring countries and they are not metropolitan

• municipalities. The purpose the separation is to enable a more focussed study
• f the immigrant population within the border municipalities. The neo-classical

theory of migration was tested based on the reasons of movements as reported in the South African Community Survey 2016 as well as looking at the proportion of skilled migrants within the border municipalities.

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Results and Discussion Results National distribution of immigrants

Figure 1: Distribution of migrant’ s concentration across South African municipalities

Figure 1 shows the municipalities that are among the top 10 destinations of immigrants (based on proportions on immigrants from each country) from neighbouring countries of which some of them share part of their boundaries with those South African municipalities. Other known characteristics of the population in border municipality are that some of these bordering municipalities are already integrated culturally, for example, some residences in these areas already possess dual citizenships.

Figure 2: Migrant population from neighbouring countries by border, metro and non-border

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Number of children born to immigrants in South Africa seems to be higher in border municipalities as compared to the rest of the municipalities; metro and non-metro (see Figure 2). In the population literature on linkages with the environment (e.g. Green, Richard and Goldstein 1992; UNFPA 1991) most attention focuses on population and if the processes which influence population size and growth are explicitly taken into account at all, it is fertility which is considered. Migration is

• ne of the major contributors to population growth.

Figure 3: Population Pyramid for of immigrants from neighbouring countries

Figure 3 shows the population structure for migrants residing in border municipalities from the neighbouring countries has a large number of children below five years and the youth between 25 and 30. Majority of migrants 9.0% moved to South Africa for job opportunities and a small percentage of those moving for business opportunities, while 3.6% moved to live with or be closer to spouse, (see Figure 4). Among the reasons to move there are those who moved looking for better lives with the reasons including,

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settlement, health, education and better municipal services. Regardless of level

• f educational attainment children born to unskilled migrants and live in with

them are educated in South Africa and become contributors to skilled work- force. Educational attainment is one of the variables directly related to employment in skilled jobs. The study shows that there are very few adults (less than 2%) who have attained higher education qualifications and other vocational education. On the other hand the majority of migrants (16.7%) have primary school and 10.8% have secondary education. It is not surprising that the 3.4% of migrants children are attending pre-school and this result to sustainability of services related to kindergarten service providers.

Figure 4: Reasons for moving

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Figure 5: Population structure of South Africa

Migration is a natural process instead of stopping the process the policies should either manage or seek to benefit from the process. Theoretical approach is neo-classical with the view that immigration is the decision of one individual based on the personal risk aversion.

Figure 6: Born outside South Africa

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The target population of the study are immigrants from Southern Africa countries that share borders with South Africa. These countries are Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Proportions of immigrants from the above mentioned countries where calculated for each municipality in South Africa using community survey 2016 data. Municipalities where further ranked by proportions from the largest to the lowest. Only top ten municipalities were selected for each country resulting to sixty municipalities. Out of sixty municipalities only forty-six municipalities were unique which implies that they appeared to be top ten in more than one country.

Figure 7: Distribution of migrant population from neighbouring countries

Number of children born to immigrants in South Africa seems to be higher in border municipalities as compared to the rest of the municipalities metro and non-metro. It is necessary to compare the birth rates of the immigrants in the border areas with the South African born in the same municipalities.

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Distribution of migrant population by province

Migrants’ population in Limpopo province mainly come from Zimbabwe and Mozambique two of the countries sharing part of their borders with the province. Musina municipality receive many of its immigrants from the neighbouring country Zimbabwe. Musina municipality also has the highest proportion of immigrants across South African municipalities. Greater Giyani and Ba- Phalaborwa is the destination for those coming from Mozambique (see Figure 5).

Figure 5: Migrant proportions in Limpopo municipalities

There seem to be significantly small proportions of immigrants in the traditional areas that were part of the former homelands. Those municipalities include Makhado, Thulamela, Blouberg, and Sekhukhune. One of the reasons could be that most immigrants are job seekers and their destinations are mining and predominantly farming municipalities such as Lephalale, Molemole and Bela- Bela. Similar migration trends are also evident in Mpumalanga province which on the

• ther hand it is fed by bordering countries Swaziland and Mozambique. The

most interesting pattern is the map that seems like the extention of the map of

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• Swaziland. There could many factors associated with the pattern observed.

This paper argues that legal boundaries should be removed when socio- economic development is addressed (see Figure 6).

Figure 6: Migrants proportions in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu/Natal municipalities

The North West province receives most of its immigrants from Botswana. The concentration of immigrants in border municipalities does not appear to be great; however, this could be due to the fact that the border municipalities in North-West are a predominantly traditional, residential areas and small scale farmers.

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Figure 7: Migrant proportions in North West and Gauteng municipalities

Gauteng province generally has a very high concentration of immigrants by its status of being the economic hub of South Africa with three metropolitan

• municipalities. Starting from Rustenburg Municipality in North-West proceeding

to Madibeng and Gauteng municipalities, the concentration of immigrants is very high due to Rustenburg being strong mining municipality (see Figure 7).

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Figure 8: Migrant proportions in Free State, Kwazulu/Natal and Western Cape municipalities

The natural trend of immigrants settling in the border municipalities is also

• bserved in Free State province municipalities that are bordering the

neighbouring country Lesotho. Other provinces such as the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal also receive immigrants from Lesotho (see Figure 8). The underling factor in migration the above municipalities could be the close proximity.

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Figure 9: Migrant proportions in Northern Cape municipalities

As we go along the borders of South Africa we also observe the immigrants concentration in Northern Cape Province municipalities. Those immigrants are coming from Namibia (see Figure 9).

Discussion

Migration is one of the factors that are related to population growth; population growth raises the demand for goods and services. As a result of increase in the demand for goods and services there will be increase in business opportunities and therefore job opportunities are created. Children born to immigrants and grow in South Africa are more likely to make South Africa their home, hence, this is a long-term contributor to population and subsequently economic growth. Majority of migrants across border municipalities were born in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland. Musina municipality has the highest proportion of migrants born in Zimbabwe and their children born either in Zimbabwe or South

• Africa. A higher percentage of children born to migrants are found in the border

municipalities which imply that the migration which is predominantly of young people will yield rapid population growth in those areas. The major reason of

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moving to South Africa reported by migrants is employment opportunities. The reasons to move closer to the spouse seem to be closely related to

• employment. Immigrants don’

t seem to be able to get housing in border municipalities, hence, they seem to go to metros for settlement and access

• ther social services.

The battle against poverty can be won or lost at the border municipalities. The municipalities at the border from each side of the two countries will surely have different strengths and from those strengths the countries can benefit from each

• ther. The study seeks to demonstrate the relationship of migration and

development as well as motivating the notation that border community is unique and identify further characteristics that make these municipalities to be unique by studying immigration into the areas and identify socio-economic development opportunities. This paper only focuses on the one side of the boundary, that is, the South African side. Ideally similar information should be obtained from each side of the border. For integrated development indicators need to be measured and monitored over-time from both sides of the border.

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Conclusions

Good demographics can go a long way in helping countries achieve strong economic growth. Over the short to medium term demographic changes tend to be gradual. This gives policy-makers the opportunity to make optimal decisions: if policy interventions are informed by current and projected demographic profiles then programmes to improve health, education and skills can be properly targeted, and the appropriate services and infrastructure provided. However, ignorance of demographic trends including migration effects can result in a serious misallocation of resources and inappropriate interventions. This makes planning for demographic changes important, especially in the face

• f growing pressure on food, energy and water supplies; greater population

mobility; additional demands for jobs and social support; and the uncertain effects of climate change. Further research may include fertility rates for woman born outside South Africa (looking at child bearing age). Employment being the main reason for moving, it is crucial to obtain data regarding the status of employment as well as the industry and occupation of the immigrants to determine the proportion of the immigrants who actually get employment as well as actual wages as compared with expected wages. It is generally believed that the immigrants especially those who can easily access the bordering municipalities particularly in farms are prepared to work for less which pushes up the supply of labour and decrease the wages for

• locals. The study argues that the policies regarding labour practices that are

inclusive of immigrants can influence the wages of South Africa citizens. The future study will incorporate data from both sides of the border. Specific development indicators such as human development indicators (HDI) will be

• calculated. It is important to view border municipalities from both sides of the

borders as community, due to the natural intergration process that is evident in the study. Even in South Africa there are no indicators such as GDP, CPI calculated for these areas. Lessons from one border community can easily be transferred to other border municipality.

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References

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