Resilience in Motion: Immigrants Thriving in South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-6549/15897Keywords:
Immigrants , xenophobia in South Africa, immigrant resilience , integration , social violence support networks , migrant enclaves , immigrant social integrationAbstract
This article explored the resilience strategies employed by African immigrants in post-apartheid South Africa to navigate discrimination, xenophobia, and violence. Drawing from resilience theory as a framework, the article explores multifaceted challenges faced by African immigrants, shedding light on their adaptive responses to adversity. Since the end of apartheid and the democratic elections in 1994, South Africa has witnessed a significant influx of migrants, particularly from African countries. Immigration in South Africa has triggered negative sentiments and opposition among the local population, resulting in xenophobic attacks.
For this article, a qualitative data research methodology was applied, guided by the resilience theory framework, to investigate how immigrants demonstrate resilience and remain in South Africa, despite encountering and witnessing social violence. This approach involved an extensive literature review of qualitative literature, encompassing peer-reviewed journals, books, reports, and qualitative studies, focusing on immigrants in South Africa and their encounters with social violence, as well as evidence of resilience. The main themes which emanated from the literature search show that strategies employed by immigrants include adopting local culture, joining South African religious groups, creating migrant enclaves, relocating to areas with a higher immigrant population, entering inter-marriages with South Africans, and pursuing self-employment. Many immigrants establish informal businesses to secure economic stability, utilising their entrepreneurial skills and networks to adapt to the local market conditions. However, instead of leaving or returning to their home countries, immigrants choose to stay and persevere in a society where they can be victims of violence at any time. Therefore, there is a need for comprehensive policies and initiatives in South Africa to combat xenophobia, streamline documentation processes, and promote social integration.
References
Aldwin, C. M., Cunningham, M. and Taylor, A. L. 2010. “Resilience Across the Life Span: A Tribute to Emmy E. Werner.” Research in Human Development 7(3): 159–163. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2010.504502 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2010.504502
Alfaro-Velcamp, T. and Shaw, M. 2016. “Please Go Home and Build Africa: Criminalising Immigrants in South Africa.” Journal of Southern African Studies 42(5): 983–998. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057070.2016.1211805 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03057070.2016.1211805
Banulescu-Bogdan, N. 2020. Beyond Work: Reducing Social Isolation for Refugee Women and Other Marginalized Newcomers. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute.
Breakfast, N., Bradshaw, G. and Nomarwayi, T. 2019. “Violent Service Delivery Protests in Post-Apartheid South Africa, 1994–2017: A Conflict Resolution Perspective.” African Journal of Public Affairs 11(1): 106–126.https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-1563b64637
Brodsky, A., Buckingham, S., Fedi, A., Gattino, S., Rochira, A., Altal, D. and Mannarini, T. 2022. “Resilience and Empowerment in Immigrant Experiences: A Look Through the Transconceptual Model of Empowerment and Resilience.” American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 92(5): 564 https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000634 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000634
Brown, C. and Shay, M. 2021. “From Resilience to Wellbeing: Identity‐Building as an Alternative Framework for Schools’ Role in Promoting Children’s Mental Health.” Review of Education 9(2): 599–634.https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3264 https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3264 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3264
Carlson, J. L., Haffenden, R. A., Bassett, G. W., Buehring, W. A., Collins III, M. J., Folga, S. M., Petit, F. D., Phillips, J. A., Verner, D. R. and Whitfield, R. G. 2012. Resilience: Theory and Application. Argonne, IL: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). https://doi.org/10.2172/1044521 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2172/1044521
Chigeza, P. 2011. “Cultural Resources of Minority and Marginalised Students should be Included in the School Science Curriculum.” Cultural Studies of Science Education 6: 401–412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11422-011-9316-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11422-011-9316-8
Chigeza, S. and Roos, V. 2011. “The Resilience of Illegal African Migrants in South Africa: A Relational Perspective.” The Australian Community Psychologist 23(2): 121–134.chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=16b7f84213321af15d8d49eb91489fe71af6a24f (Accessed, 1 December 2024)
Crush, J. and Ramachandran, S. 2015. “Doing Business with Xenophobia.” In Mean Streets: Migration, Xenophobia and Informality in South Africa, edited by Abel Chikanda, Caroline Skinner and Jonathan Crush, 25–59. Southern African Migration Programme (SAMP) https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvh8r45r.6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvh8r45r.6
Crush, J., Tawodzera, G., Chikanda, A., Ramachandran, S. and Tevera, D. S. 2018. Migrants in Countries in Crisis: South Africa Case Study: The Double Crisis – Mass Migration from Zimbabwe and Xenophobic Violence in South Africa. Canada: Coherent Digital.
Hassim, S., Kulpe, T., Worby, E., Elise ev, A., Maruping, R., Glaser, D., Nieftagodien, N., Gelb, S., Pillay, D., Landau, L., Coplan, D., Hornberger, J., Silverman, M., Zack, T., Harber, A., Albertyn, C., Mngxitama, A., Gqola, P. D. and Tadjo, V. 2008. Go Home or Die Here: Violence, Xenophobia and the Reinvention of Difference in South Africa. South Africa: Wits University Press. https://doi.org/10.18772/22008114877 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18772/22008114877
Fletcher, D. and Sarkar, M. 2013. “Psychological Resilience.” European Psychologist 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000124 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000124
Galemba, R. B. 2021. “They Steal Our Work: Wage, Theft and the Criminalization of Immigrant Day Laborers in Colorado, USA.” European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research 27(1): 91–112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-020-09474-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-020-09474-z
Gastrow, V. 2018. “Problematizing the Foreign Shop: Justifications for Restricting the Migrant Spaza Sector in South Africa.” In SAMP Migration Policy Series No. 80, edited by Jonathan Crush, 1-44. Waterloo, Otario, Canada: Southern African Migration Programme. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvh8qx9k DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvh8qx9k
Grygorenko, Z. and Naydonova, G. 2023.. “The Concept of ‘Resilience’: History of Formation and Approaches to Definition.” Public Administration and Law Review 2(14): 76–88. https://doi.org/10.36690/2674-5216-2023-2-76-88 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36690/2674-5216-2023-2-76-88
Hlatshwayo, M. and Vally, S. 2014. “Violence, Resilience and Solidarity: The Right to Education for Child Migrants in South Africa.” School Psychology International 35(3): 266–279. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034313511004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034313511004
Hungwe, C. 2013. “Surviving social exclusion: Zimbabwean migrants in Johannesburg, South Africa” PHD diss. University of South Africa.
Hungwe, C. 2015. “The Uses of Social Capital Among Zimbabwean Migrants in Johannesburg.” Africa Review 7(2): 121–133. https://doi.org/10.1080/09744053.2015.1030868 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09744053.2015.1030868
Idemudia, E. S. 2017. “Trauma and PTSS of Zimbabwean Refugees in South Africa: A Summary of Published Studies.” Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy 9(3): 252–257. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000214 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000214
Idemudia, E. S., Williams, J. K. and Wyatt, G. E. 2013. “Migration Challenges Among Zimbabwean Refugees Before, During and Post Arrival in South Africa.” Journal of Injury and Violence Research 5(1)” 17–27.doi: 10.5249/jivr.v5i1.185 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5249/jivr.v5i1.185
Jafari, H., Kassan, A., Reay, G. and Climie, E. A. 2022. “Resilience in Refugee Children and Youth: A Critical Literature Review.” Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne 63(4): 678–694. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000320 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000320
Just, A. and Anderson, C. J. 2015. “Dual Allegiances? Immigrants’ Attitudes Toward Immigration.” The Journal of Politics 77(1): 188–201. https://doi.org/10.1086/678388 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/678388
Laboy, M. and Fannon, D. 2016. “Resilience Theory and Praxis: A Critical Framework for Architecture.” Enquiry The ARCC Journal for Architectural Research 13(1): 39–53. https://doi.org/10.17831/enq:arcc.v13i2.405 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17831/enq:arcc.v13i2.405
Langa, M. and Kiguwa, P. 2016. “Race-ing Xenophobic Violence: Engaging Social Representations of the Black African Body in Post-Apartheid South Africa.” Agenda 30(2): 75–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/10130950.2016.1222086 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10130950.2016.1222086
Light, I., Bhachu, P. and Karageorgis, S. 2017. “Migration Networks and Immigrant Entrepreneurship.” In Immigration and Entrepreneurship, 25-50. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203789056-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203789056-2
Luthar, S. S., Cicchetti, D. and Becker, B. 2000. “The Construct of Resilience: A Critical Evaluation and Guidelines for Future Work.” Child Development 71(3): 543–562. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00164 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00164
Madzamba, R. 2017. “Economic and social interactions of immigrants with the local population: A case of Zimbabweans working in Durban CBD” PHD diss. University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Madzamba, R. and Naidoo, K. 2022. “Perceived Socio-Economic Contribution of Immigrants by South Africans in Durban, South Africa.” Commonwealth Youth and Development 20(1). https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-6549/10721 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-6549/10721
Madzamba, R., Naidoo, K. and Ngwenya, B. N. 2022. “Experiences of Trauma Health Care Professionals When Providing Healthcare to Immigrants in Durban Public Hospitals, South Africa.” Ethics, Medicine and Public Health 25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemep.2022.100775 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemep.2022.100775
Magezi, C. 2018. “Theological understandings of migration and church ministry models: A quest for holistic ministry to migrants in South Africa” PHD diss. North-West University.
Magezi, V. and Magezi, C. 2018. “Migration Crisis and Christian Response: From Daniel De Groody’s Image of God Theological Prism in Migration Theology to a Migration Practical Theology Ministerial Approach and Operative Ecclesiology.” HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 74(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v74i1.4876 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v74i1.4876
Maombera, P. 2018. “Zimbabwean migrant parents and changing immigration law in South Africa: understanding migrant parents and their responses to South Africa's Immigration Policy Amendments on the cross-border movement of children and impact on migrant parents” PHD diss. University of Pretoria.
Masten, A. S., Best, K. M. and Garmezy, N. 1990. “Resilience and Development: Contributions from the Study of Children Who Overcome Adversity.” Development and Psychopathology 2(4): 425–444. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579400005812 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579400005812
Migrant Workers’ Association of South Africa (MWASA). 2014. https://www.migrantworkersrights.net/en/global/all (Accessed, 2 December 2024)
Mlambo, D. N. 2019. “A South African Perspective on Immigrants and Xenophobia in Post-1994 South Africa.” African Renaissance 16(4). https://doi.org/10.31920/2516-5305/2019/16n4a3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31920/2516-5305/2019/16n4a3
Mudi-Okorodudu, C. 2011. “Immigrant Street Traders in South Africa: The Economics, the Struggle and the Tensions.” Annual Research Committee, 21.
Muzondidya, J. 2008. “Majoni-joni: Survival Strategies Among Zimbabwean Migrants in South Africa.” Paper presented at the International Conference on the Political Economies of Displacement in Zimbabwe, Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 9-11.
Muzondidya, J. 2011. “The Zimbabwean Diaspora: Opportunities and Challenges for Engagement in Zimbabwe’s Political Development and Economic Transformation.” In Zimbabwe in Transition: A View from Within, edited by Tim Murithi and Aquilina Mawadza, 112–158. Jacana Media.
Nyberg–Sørensen, N., Van Hear, N. and Engberg–Pedersen, P. 2002. “The Migration–Development Nexus: Evidence and Policy Options.” International Migration 40(5): 49–73. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2435.00211 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2435.00211
Schmich, M. and Mitra, J. 2023. “Can Entrepreneurship Enable Economic and Social Integration of Refugees? A Comparison of the Economic, Social and Policy Context for Refugee Entrepreneurship in the UK and Germany.” Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies 9(1): 9–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/23939575221146848 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/23939575221146848
Sigamoney, R. F. 2020. “Exploring narratives of coping and resilience with socio-economic and emotional challenges in a group of Zimbabwean migrants: A qualitative study” PHD diss. University of South Africa.
Sui, X. C. and Padmanabhanunni, A. 2016 “Vicarious Trauma: The Psychological Impact of Working with Survivors of Trauma for South African Psychologists.” Journal of Psychology in Africa 26(2): 127–133. https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2016.1163894 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2016.1163894
Vandeyar, S. 2012. “Immigrant Students’ Shifting Identifications in South African Schools.” International Journal of Educational Development 32(2): 232–-240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011.03.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011.03.006
Vanyoro, K. P. 2019. “‘When They Come, We Don’t Send Them Back:’ Counter-Narratives of ‘Medical Xenophobia’ in South Africa’s Public Health Care System.” Palgrave Communications 5(1): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0309-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0309-7
Werner, E. E. 1995. “Resilience in Development.” Current Directions in Psychological Science 4(3): 81–85. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.ep10772327 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.ep10772327
Werner, E. E. 2005, “Resilience Research: Past, Present, and Future.” In Resilience in Children, Families, and Communities: Linking Context to Practice and Policy, edited by Ray DeV. Peters, Bonnie Leadbeater and Robert J. McMahon, 3-11. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Werner, E. E. and Smith, R. S. 2001. Journeys from Childhood to Midlife: Risk, Resilience, and Recovery. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Wright, M. O. D. and Masten, A. S. 2005. “Resilience Processes in Development: Fostering Positive Adaptation in the Context of Adversity.” In Handbook of Resilience in Children, edited by Sam Goldstein and Robert B. Brooks, 17–37. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Wulff, K., Donato, D. and Lurie, N. 2015. “What Is Health Resilience and How Can We Build It?” Annual Review of Public Health 36: 361–374. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031914-122829 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031914-122829
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright will be vested in Unisa Press. However, as long as you do not use the article in ways which would directly conflict with the publisher’s business interests, you retain the right to use your own article (provided you acknowledge the published version of the article) as follows:
- to make further copies of all or part of the published article for your use in classroom teaching;
- to make copies of the final accepted version of the article for internal distribution within your institution, or to place it on your own or your institution’s website or repository, or on a site that does not charge for access to the article, but you must arrange not to make the final accepted version of the article available to the public until 18 months after the date of acceptance;
- to re-use all or part of this material in a compilation of your own works or in a textbook of which you are the author, or as the basis for a conference presentation.
