The unheard voices of professional Black migrant women in South Africa: the hidden layers of exclusion and marginalisation
“I was surprised at your topic because I feel like we are sort of the forgotten people in this work…people overlook us…I was quite surprised and interested that someone is actually wanting to listen to us and our experiences.” (Esther) When we talk about migration and human mobility in Africa, the stories we often hear are shaped through precarity: forcibly displaced, illegal migrants, informal labour, undocumented women, and a constant...
Enhancing Protection and Asylum: A South-South Dialogue for Rights and Solutions (Research Phase)
Project Funded by EU - Implemented by ICMPD Across the African continent, asylum systems are evolving under immense pressure from shifting migration patterns to tightening global attitudes toward mobility. In this context, the latest comparative research on general asylum processes and the protection of children on the move in Uganda and South Africa arrives at a pivotal moment. Drawing on rich qualitative engagement with frontline practitioners, legal experts, community organisations, and refugee-led groups,...
Migration in Focus: The DRC and Rwanda Through the SIHMA Atlas Lens
Human migration in Africa is shaped by a mix of historical, economic, and political factors, and the Atlas of African Migration by SIHMA provides detailed insights into these dynamics. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, as neighbouring countries in the Great Lakes region, offer contrasting but interconnected migration stories, highlighting how displacement, urbanization, and policy interact across borders. The Democratic Republic of the Congo: Migration at the Crossroads...
Layers of (Un)Belonging: Zine-Art Research with Migrant Youth Leaving Alternative Care in Cape Town
"I do not feel I belong anywhere. I do not belong here, I am not from here. I am nowhere. I am not from this country. I am not from this planet. I just feel like I do not belong anywhere." These words, written by Rebecca on the last page of her ‘zine’, capture the profound alienation felt by many young migrants navigating life after leaving alternative care. Rebecca, 17, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), came to...
Operation Dudula Ruled Unlawful: What the Court Decided
The South African High Court ruled that Operation Dudula’s actions are unlawful and unconstitutional, affirming that only police and immigration officers may request identity documents. The court has interdicted Operation Dudula and its leaders from demanding passports, intimidating or assaulting foreign nationals, engaging in hate speech, blocking access to healthcare or schools, unlawfully evicting people, interfering with traders or employment, and inciting others to do so. Operation Dudula must inform all its members of the ruling....
The Scapegoat Syndrome: Immigration, Inequality, and the Governance Gap
Liberal democracies have endured a series of cascading crises over recent decades from 9/11 and the financial crash to the pandemic, climate pressures, and geopolitical fragmentation. These crises have challenged their ability to govern in an increasingly complex world. In this climate of insecurity, immigration has become a potent scapegoat, symbolizing frustrations tied to economic strain, cultural change, and the perceived failures of globalization. Politicians and online movements exploit this narrative by portraying migrants as invaders and...
