When Chronic Illness Meets Barriers: Migrants Struggling to Access Medication in South Africa A human story, and why it matters In early 2025, a 34‑year-old Zimbabwean woman — we’ll call her “Amina” — living in Johannesburg was diagnosed with hypertension. After losing her job, she could no longer afford private care. At her local public […]
Bridging the Treatment Gap: Supporting Migrants with HIV/AIDS-TB Co-Infections in South Africa When Borders Become Barriers: The Silent Crisis Thirty-five-year-old Grace* travels between Zimbabwe and South Africa’s Limpopo province every three months. She works on commercial farms near Musina during harvesting seasons. Grace lives with both HIV and tuberculosis (TB), requiring consistent medication for both
When networks become lifelines: a migrant household in Johannesburg In 2024, a family of Mozambican migrants living in a township near Johannesburg spoke with researchers about their weekly food situation. They reported surviving on “what the group can afford together.” Neither parent had stable employment. Instead, they pooled income and shared staples bought in bulk
Are Migrants in South Africa Being Reached by Food Assistance? In 2021, at a food-parcel distribution event in Jeppestown, Johannesburg, around 400 immigrants — many registered to receive aid from the provincial government — were turned away, even though the distribution truck still had food. It left full. Meanwhile, dozens of South African families were
Long-Term Health Implications of Dietary Acculturation for Second-Generation African Migrants in South Africa Introduction: Migration and Metabolic Risk Consider a hypothetical child, born in Johannesburg to parents who migrated from rural Limpopo. At home, the family still eats traditional meals such as maize porridge (pap), leafy greens, and pulses. Outside the home, at school and
Gender and Food Security in African Migrant Households in South Africa Introduction Food insecurity among African migrant households in South Africa is a pressing concern. Over 30% of migrant-headed households have limited access to nutritious food (Statistics SA, 2023). Gender roles shape food access, preparation, and nutrition. Women often manage meals, while men control finances,
Barriers to Healthcare Access for Diet‑Related Non‑Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Among Undocumented African Migrants in South Africa Introduction: A Hidden Burden in Plain Sight “ I worry when my chest feels tight and I cannot eat; but I dare not go to the clinic. I might be turned away.” — interview with an undocumented migrant in
Migration Status and Nutritional Transition Among African Migrants in Urban South Africa From Rural Roots to Urban Plates When 28‑year-old “Maria” (pseudonym) moved from a rural Limpopo village to Johannesburg in 2019, she sought better economic opportunities. Instead, she encountered a food environment dominated by convenience and cost pressures. Fresh leafy greens and staples she
Food Insecurity Among African Migrants vs. Host Communities in South Africa Opening: Hunger in the City — Migrants and Host Communities In 2023, a striking statistic emerged: approximately 63.5 % of South African households — over 12 million households — were classified as food insecure. Institute of Development Studies+2South African Human Rights Commission+2This number reflects a
Maternal and Child Health Among Mozambican Migrants in Border Communities Opening: A Border Story, A Human Cost In a rural border community in northeastern South Africa — home to many former refugees and migrants from Mozambique — 4‑year-old Maria* died of a preventable illness after missing her routine immunisation. Her mother, a Mozambican migrant, lacked
Maternal and Child Health Outcomes Among Mozambican Migrant Women in Border Communities Read More »
