An exploration of remittances in facilitating immigration of Zimbabweans into South Africa.

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to explore the effects of remittances in facilitating Immigration of Zimbabweans into South Africa. This was undertaken with specific reference to exploring how remittances facilitate immigration of Zimbabweans into South Africa. The study relied on an exploratory research design and qualitative research methods and then conducted in-depth interviews with 30 sampled Zimbabwean immigrants. The paper found that remittances are migration push and pull factors. Thus, on the one hand, an awareness of relative deprivation of access to remittances in country of origin constitutes PUSH FACTORS, while economic opportunities existing in destination country providing the ability to remit are PULL FACTORS. From the findings, the paper proposed two theories: (a) cyclical network remitting theoryand (b) relative deprivation push and pull factor theory. Cyclical network remitting theoryis informed by the reality that immigrants can remit to their countries of origin and from their countries of origin to their host countries. Nonetheless, relative deprivation push and pull factor theoryis informed by an awareness of potential immigrants being relatively deprived of remittances when they do not emigrate and, therefore, relative deprivation of remittances induces immigration from countries of origin to host states.