WhatsApp Remittances and Health: The Cost of Feeding Families Across Borders Money From Abroad, Vegetables at Home, and the Economics of Eating Clean A 32-year-old electrician from Harare never thought he would leave Zimbabwe. Nevertheless, economic collapse forced him out. Today, he lives in Cape Town’s informal settlements, working casual jobs. However, his WhatsApp notifications […]
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
Excluding Non‑Citizens from Food Security in South Africa: Ethics and Policy Opening — A Case of Silent Hunger In late 2023, a family of Zimbabwean migrants living in a Johannesburg township reached out to a local NGO. The mother described how, after losing her informal‑sector job, her children went hungry for days because food parcels
The Invisible Barrier: How Xenophobia Undermines Health Access for African Migrants in South Africa In June 2025, a 32‑year-old female migrant from Zimbabwe — let us call her Amina — arrived at a busy public clinic in Johannesburg with fever and persistent cough. Clinic staff demanded identification and proof of documentation. When Amina could not produce
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 »
Durban East African Migrants: Mental Health and Support Access Introduction: A Crisis Hidden in Everyday Life Every morning, the Durban Inner City Clinic sees long queues of migrant workers seeking help. Many come from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and South Sudan. Most wait quietly, but behind the calm lie stories of trauma, displacement, economic stress, and
Xenophobia in South African Workplaces Introduction: Fear at Work – The Hidden Cost of Xenophobia In South Africa, workplaces should be spaces of safety, dignity, and opportunity. Yet many African migrant laborers experience fear and exclusion instead. According to a recent report on xenophobic discrimination in South Africa (2022–2024), xenophobic incidents—including workplace-related discrimination—remain widespread.¹ In
African Migration and Urbanization in Johannesburg: Policy, Health, and Social Implications Introduction: Migration and the Changing Face of Johannesburg Johannesburg is South Africa’s economic powerhouse. It has become one of the most prominent migrant-receiving cities in Africa. In 2022, South Africa hosted over 4 million international migrants. Johannesburg absorbed the largest proportion (UN DESA, 2022).
What is the connection between African migration and urbanization in Johannesburg? Read More »
The Urban Health Emergency Unfolding in Real Time In the bustling township of Alexandra, Johannesburg, Dr. Sarah Mthembu witnessed firsthand the strain migration places on urban health systems. With Africa experiencing a 25-percent growth in intra-continental migrants over the last decade—from 12 million in 2015 to 15 million in 2024, her clinic now serves triple
How Does African Migration Affect South Africa’s Urban Landscapes? Read More »
Accessible Immigration Processes Opening: The Documentation Dilemma Maria, a Zimbabwean nurse working in Cape Town’s public health system, spent three days navigating between Home Affairs offices, losing critical work hours while attempting to renew her work permit. Meanwhile, Ahmad, a Syrian refugee in Johannesburg, delayed seeking HIV treatment for six months due to uncertain documentation
Documentation and Legal Pathways: Creating Accessible Immigration Processes Read More »
