Heading for Canaan: a reflection on illegal migration in South Africa

Owing to a general perception of South Africa as a comparatively stable and wealthy country that offers ample economic opportunities, displaced and impoverished people from southern - and lately even central - Africa have been gravitating towards South Africa for many years. This process, however, has been taking place on an increasing scale since profound political change in South Africa had been launched in 1990, and gained momentum after the election of a new government in 1994. The Gauteng province, for example, is regarded as the migration centre of Africa with its capital, Johannesburg, often being referred to as the "bright light" or "New York" of Africa (Schutte 1993:3- 4). In many ways the harsh economic conditions in sending countries have been triggered or exacerbated by realities such as political instability, civil strife, environmental degradation and rapid population growth. In both Angola and Mozambique civil wars have effected millions of people, most of whom are potential migrants

Commercial Harvesting of Marula (Sclerocarya Birrea) in Swaziland: A Quest for Sustainability

All across sub-Saharan Africa rural communities, and especially women, are harvesting natural products for income generation purposes. In recent times, the degradation of ecosystems in terms of loss of biodiversity has become a major concern, especially when the harvesting of the species in question has become commercialized as is the case of marula harvesting in Swaziland. This chapter reports on some of the findings of a study conducted to explore the impact of commercial harvesting on the future availability of marula. If current levels of harvesting are unchecked, overconsumption or even depletion of marula in Swaziland will deepen the existing poverty levels among the rural poor, particularly women, who are proportionately more dependent on marula for their livelihoods

Mining, migration and misery: Exploring the HIV/AIDS nexus in the Free State goldfields of South Africa

Over the past few years a growing body of literature has explored the link between patterns of HIV/AIDS in South Africa and the system of migrant labour which is inextricably linked to the mining industry (Horwitz 2001; Jack 2001; Lurie 2000; Pelser 2003). A historical look at patterns of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) reveals a complex network of sexual relations in which migrants and their partners are at a higher risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases than other couples. Research has also shown that migrant workers in South Africa and elsewhere, probably as a result of their living and personal conditions while away from their homes, are particularly inclined to participate in risky sexual behaviour. The system of men moving away from their families for long periods, is thus seen by some analysts as creating a geographical network of sexual relations in urban and rural areas, a market for prostitution in towns, as well as conditions on the mines and in the hostels which encourage and facilitate the spread of HIV (Cf. Lurie et al. 2003; Zuma et al. 2003: White 2003; Lagarde et al. 2003)

Climate Change, Rural Livelihoods, and Human Well-Being: Experiences from Kenya

Over the next few decades, climate change is set to fuel the existing degradation of ecosystems across Africa, leading to dramatic consequences for poor rural populations that depend largely on agriculture and fishing for their livelihoods. This chapter draws on the findings of a study that explored how climate change affects the livelihoods and ultimately the well-being of farming and fishing households in a remote rural area in Kenya and discusses the coping strategies adopted by these communities. Understanding how climate change impacts people’s livelihoods is important as a precursor to assist communities to adapt to and cope with the adverse effects of climate change. The results pointed to relatively wide utilization of traditional knowledge in coping strategies. Conversely, robust modern technologies for forecasting weather patterns remain under-utilized among the target population. The chapter concludes with recommendations to capitalize on and strengthen the existing coping strategies of the affected communities