Cross-border and internal environmental migration in South Africa – deciphering the complexities of the changing policy landscape

Abstract

SA has been receiving millions of migrants from neighbouring countries and further afield. Environmental factors can be one of push factors that contribute to people’s decision to move. Easier identifiable in cases of rapid onset disasters than slow onset disasters. Also rapid urbanisation – again environmental reasons can be one of push factors for relocation (e.g. increased rainfall variability impacts subsistence farming activities). In particular, we investigate the issue of environmental migration in the South African context and consider the degree to which it is currently being addressed in South Africa’s policy and legislative framework. It’s not addressed in one place only, so we look at four distinct areas where it is being addressed.