The nexus between migration and human security

The paper examines the nexus between migration and human security, focusing on the vulnerabilities of undocumented Zimbabweans in South Africa. It identifies push factors in Zimbabwe, such as economic collapse and political repression, and pull factors in South Africa, including economic prosperity. The author argues that the lack of legal documentation renders migrants susceptible to employment exploitation, inadequate shelter, and physical abuse in detention centres. The document also discusses the SADC Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons as a potential mechanism to reduce illegal migration and improve human security, while noting institutional failures in both Zimbabwe and South Africa that perpetuate the current crisis.

• Undocumented Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa face significant human security threats, including employment vulnerability in precarious sectors, lack of adequate shelter, and physical abuse within detention centres.
• The economic and political collapse of Zimbabwe serves as a primary push factor for migration, characterized by hyperinflation (100,580% in February 2008), an estimated 80% unemployment rate, and the forced clearance of urban slums through 'Operation Murambatsvina'.
• Illegal entry into South Africa is facilitated by the inability of the Zimbabwean government to provide timely and affordable travel documents, as well as corruption among border officials and the use of smugglers known as Malaitsha.
• Migrants in South Africa are often exploited in the labor market, accepting low-wage, unprotected work in the domestic, agricultural, and construction sectors, even when they possess professional qualifications.
• There are widespread reports of human rights violations and physical abuse of migrants in South African detention centres, including the Lindela repatriation centre, which often contravene the South African Immigration Act.
• The SADC Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons, which allows for visa-free entry for up to 90 days, is proposed as a way to alleviate illegal migration, though its implementation has been delayed by fears of being 'swamped' by refugees.
• Institutional failures in South Africa, including corruption and administrative capacity challenges within the Department of Home Affairs and insufficient border patrols by the South African Defence Force, contribute to the persistence of illegal migration.

APA

Mawadza, A. (2008). The nexus between migration and human security. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper162.pdf

Chicago

Mawadza, Aquilina. The nexus between migration and human security. Institute for Security Studies, 2008. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper162.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mawadza |first1=Aquilina |title=The nexus between migration and human security |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=May 2008 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper162.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mawadza2008nexus, author = {Mawadza, Aquilina}, title = {{The nexus between migration and human security}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2008}, month = may, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper162.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }