International Migrants and Refugees in Cape Town's Informal Economy

Abel Chikanda, Godfrey Tawodzera

Description

This is report is the most comprehensive study yet of the contribution of migrant and refugee entrepreneurs to Cape Town's local economy. The survey of over 500 entrepreneurs engaged in trade, services and manufacturing in different areas of the city dispels some of the more prevalent myths that o#en attach to the activities of migrants. The vast majority are not 'illegal foreigners', but have a legal right to be in South Africa and to run a business. Most are highly motivated individuals who enter the informal economy to earn revenue to support themselves, their families, and because they have a strong entrepreneurial motivation. Contrary to the claims of South African competitors, the vast majority are not successful because they are engaged in shadowy business practices. What emerges from the survey is that while migrant entrepreneurs undoubtedly have strong social networks, their businesses are highly individualistic in terms of organization, ownership and activity in a competitive business environment. This report demonstrates their positive economic contributions to Cape Town and examines the challenges they face in running a successful business operation in the city. It goes beyond the rhetoric of inclusion to demonstrate with hard evidence exactly why migrant and refugee entrepreneurs should be accepted as an integral and valuable part of the local economy.

Sujets

• Migration
• Social sciences
• Sociology

Informations

• Publié par: Southern African Migration Programme
• Date de parution: 13 juin 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781920596231
• Langue: English

Extrait

GROWING INFORMAL CITIES PROJECT

International Migrants and Refugees in Cape Town’s Informal Economy

SAMP MIGRATION POLICY SERIES 70

International Migrants and Refugees in Cape Town’s Informal Economy

SAMP MIGRATION POLICY SERIES No. 70

Godfrey Tawodzera, Abel Chikanda, Jonathan Crush and Robertson Tengeh

Series Editor: Prof. Jonathan Crush

Southern African Migration Programme (SAMP) 2015

AUTHORS

Godfrey Tawodzerais Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Limpopo

Abel Chikanda is Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA

Jonathan Crushis CIGI Chair in Global Migration and Development, Balsillie School of International A!airs, Waterloo, Canada

Robertson Tengehis Senior Lecturer, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SAMP and its partners in the Growing Informal Cities Project would like to thank the IDRC for funding the project and this publication."e survey methodology was designed by a group of researchers that included Wade Pendleton (UCT), Caroline Skinner (UCT), Sally Peberdy (GCRO), Ines Raimundo (EMU), Ramos Muanamoha (EMU), Potsiso Pha- sha (GCRO), Paul Okwi (IDRC) and the authors of this report. Key informant interviews were conducted by Vanya Gastrow."anks are also due to Edgar Pieterse, Bronwen Dachs, Maria Salamone, Jane Battersby and Gareth Haysom.

© Southern African Migration Programme (SAMP) 2015

Published by the Southern African Migration Programme, International Migration

Research Centre, Balsillie School of International A!airs, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

First published 2015

ISBN 978-1-920596-15-6

Cover photo by"om Pierce for the Growing Informal Cities Project

Production by Bronwen Dachs Muller, Cape Town

Printed by Megadigital, Cape Town

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without prior permission from the publishers