Migrants in the informal sector: The case of Zimbabweans in

South Africa

Godfrey TawodzeraAfrican Centre for Cities (ACC), University of Cape Town

Two decades of political and economic problems have transformed Zimbabwe into a migrant-sending country

Exodus – Crush & Tevera, 2010

Emigrants to regional and international destinations

Most estimates put the number of Zimbabweans in South Africa at 1.5 – 3 million (Crush & Tevera, 2010)

Asylum applications by Zimbabweans in South AfricaYear No

2000 0

2001 4

2002 115

2003 2588

2004 5789

2005 7783

2006 18973

2007 17667

2008 111968

2009 149453

Revised estimates for Zimbabwean population in South AfricaYear Annual growth

rate (%)Estimated migrant population (Makina)

Revised estimate of black migrant population (SAMP)

2001 131 866 66 033

2002 33 175 715 87 824

2003 45 255 604 127 345

2004 47 375 935 187 197

2005 39 522 364 260 204

2006 46 763 425 379 898

2007 36 1 022 965 509 063

Data from 2010 & 2012 SAMP studies in in Cape Town & Johannesburg

Focus on general migration issues and food security rather than informality per se

So, data is only indicative rather than conclusive

Employment status prior and post-migration(SAMP, 2010)

Prior to migration (%)

After migration (%)

Wage employment 50 62

Informal sector 8 20

Unemployed 42 18

SAMP, 2012

SAMP, 2010Changing occupational profile in South Africa

2005(%) 2010(%)Manager/employer 9.5 1.0

Professional (inc lawyer, health, teaching)

37.3 14.1

Office worker 5.3 4.1Manual worker 6.6 23.8 ?Service worker 9.5 12.6Domestic worker 2.4 8.4Student 1.3 2.9Trader/hawker/vendor - 14.3Security 0.7 4.1Security - 4.1Never had a job in South Africa

- 14.1

SAMP, 2010Other sources of income

No %

Casual work 177 32.4?

Informal sector trading 58 10.6

Social grant 1 0.2

Rentals 4 0.7

Remittances 10 1.8

Borrowing 74 13.6

None 206 37.7

Other source 16 2.9

Total 546 100.0

SAMP, 2012 Migrants’ Reasons for moving to South Africa N %

Housing 2 0.3 Formal sector job 151 19.8 Informal sector job 356 46.7 Food/ hunger 222 29.1 Drought 21 2.8 Overall living conditions 420 55.1 Safety of myself/ family 75 9.8 Political exile 23 3.0 Asylum 31 4.1 Education/ schools 66 8.7 Attractions of the city: urban life/ modern life 31 4.1 Moved with family 82 10.8 Sent to live with family 7 0.9 Marriage 28 3.7 Freedom/ democracy/ peace 13 1.7 Deaths 4 0.5 Not moved 32 4.2

Main occupation of sample population N Percent

Agricultural worker (unpaid) 1 .1 Service worker 63 8.3 Domestic worker 61 8.0 Office worker 15 2.0 Foreman 2 .3 Mine worker 3 .4 Skilled manual worker 19 2.5 Unskilled manual worker' 83 10.9 Informal sector producer 12 1.6 Trader/ hawker/ vendor 179 23.5 Security personnel 21 2.8 Police/ Military 2 .3 Businessman/ woman (self-employed) 13 1.7 Employer/ Manager 3 .4 Professional worker 11 1.4 Teacher 6 .8 Truck driver 9 1.2 Scholar/ Student 25 3.3 House work (unpaid) 12 1.6 Unemployed/ J ob seeker 141 18.5 Other 2 .3 Too young 66 8.7 Advertising for sangomas/gold buyers/car washers 13 1.7 Total 762 100.0

Household food source % of households using source

% of households using source on a

daily basis Supermarket 95.6 20.8 Small shop/restaurant/take away 87.2 21.0 Informal market/street food 92.6 37.8 Grow it 0.6 0.0 Food aid 9.0 8.2 Remittances (food) 6.0 0.6 Shared meal with neighbours and/or friends

28.6 5.2

Food provided by neighbours and/or other households

23.7 4.0

Community food kitchen 6.2 0.6 Borrow from others 32.8 2.8

Thank you