Xenophobia and the Role of Immigrant Organizations in the City of Cape Town
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Xenophobia and the role of immigrant organizations in the city of Cape Town Denys UWIMPUHWE Student Number: 3209825 PhD THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT, FACULTY OF ECONOMIC AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE In Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree, Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration In the Faculty of Economic Management Science (EMS) At the University of Western Cape (UWC) Supervisor: Prof. Greg Ruiters December 2015 UWC copyright information The dissertation/thesis may not be published either in part (in scholarly, scientific or technical journals), or as a whole (as a monograph), unless permission has been obtained from the University ii DECLARATION I, Denys Uwimpuhwe, declare that the contents of this thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University. Signed Date iii ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to develop an understanding of Cape Town’s foreign African immigrants by looking at the profile, character and role of immigrant associations and how they shape survival strategies as well as possible paths to the integration of African immigrants. The thesis seeks to develop an understanding of the mediating role played by Cape Town’s African foreign immigrant organisations. I also look at the transnational activities of these organizations. I selected Cape Town because it prides itself on liberal values of toleration, diversity and non-racialism while at the same time branding itself as an African City. The City of Cape Town has no comprehensive policy that protects or promotes the immigrants’ interests. The study of the agency and organisations of foreign African immigrants has been singularly neglected by scholars who have been mostly concerned with understanding why South Africans are xenophobic. This study is largely qualitative with life stories interviews that shed light on the context of exit and reception of African immigrants in Cape Town and reveals the hardship immigrants endure and the problems they face in their efforts to integrate into South African society. The thesis shows the different kinds of exclusions African immigrants face in both private and public spaces and highlights also the role of immigrant’s organizations in negotiating space and dealing with xenophobic attacks on their community members. My findings concur with the work of key scholars such Alejandro Portes. Immigrant organisations have a variety of activities and sub-organisations that promote both transnational and local collective action. The thesis documents types of immigrant organisations, their characteristics, location, membership, objectives, activities and their efforts in assisting their members in cases of xenophobic attacks. In Cape Town, immigrants have formed organizations that help them to network with one another in order to negotiate space in this hostile environment. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Various people have contributed to the accomplishment of this research study. I wish to particularly acknowledge and thank the following people who have made the journey a real learning experience: . Firstly, my Creator Yahweh, who provided me with strength and courage to complete this research study. My supervisor, Prof. Greg Ruiters, who played an instrumental role in this study for his critical comments, unwavering support and his persevering inspiration. I am grateful also for moral and financial support that enabled me to pursue this degree successful. Dr. Fred Bidandi, for his mentorship throughout this study. My dear family who have always supported and encouraged me in my studies. A special thank you to my dear wife, Aline Abagahirwa, my kids Walter and Judith for their support and their patience that helped me go through the all phases of this work and my other educational and research endeavours. Leaders of selected immigrants’ organizations who accepted to participate to this study, and informants who sacrificed their time to participate in the interviews. Their willingness to spend time with me and share their information and experiences made this study possible. Last but not least, I thank all my colleagues who contributed in various capacities to the process of writing this work. v DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to the Rwandan/Burundian SDA Ministry of Cape Town vi Table of Contents Declaration ........................................................................................................ iii Abstract .............................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgement .............................................................................................. v List of abbreviations ......................................................................................... xi Key Words: ....................................................................................................... xii Chapter One: Setting the scene ............................................................... 1 Background and Problem statement ................................................................ 1 Research objectives and significance of the study......................................... 5 Organisation of the thesis ................................................................................. 7 Chapter Two: International migration and debate around xenophobia in South Africa from 1994 to 2014 ................................... 9 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 9 Part One: International migration, networks and xenophobia ..................... 10 Figure 1: Domain of integration ...................................................................... 19 Xenophobia in international literature ............................................................ 21 Part two: South African immigration literature .............................................. 23 The period between 1994-2000 ........................................................................ 28 The period between 2001-2006 ........................................................................ 32 The literature of the period 2007-2014 ............................................................ 36 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 43 Chapter Three: Research methodology .............................................. 45 Research overview, a qualitative approach ................................................... 45 Research design and methods ....................................................................... 46 Figure 2: Countries of origin ........................................................................... 48 Data Collection Methods .................................................................................. 50 Documents review ............................................................................................ 51 Data analysis .................................................................................................... 52 Scope and limitations of research .................................................................. 53 Data reliability and validity .............................................................................. 55 Ethical considerations ..................................................................................... 55 My Role in the Study ........................................................................................ 56 Chapter Four: Socio-economic dynamics of immigrant life in the City of Cape Town ....................................................................................... 58 vii A brief history of Cape Town ........................................................................... 58 Migrant organisations and Cape Town local economy ................................. 61 Table 1: Cape Town population by race group .............................................. 63 Housing, informal settlements and services ................................................. 64 Political affiliation, voting patterns and racial patterns ................................ 68 Gangsterism in historical context ................................................................... 71 Foreign african immigrants in Cape Town ..................................................... 73 Recent foreign migrations and xenophobic attacks ..................................... 75 Table 2: Citizenship and country of birth of Cape Town residents - 2001 ... 75 Cape Town: Xenophobia attacks (a chronology)........................................... 77 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 84 Chapter Five: Cape Town: Policy and policy silences and the “tyranny of small decisions” ................................................................... 86 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 86 Migration policy and policy silences in Cape Town ...................................... 86 Policy implementation and agencies .............................................................. 90 Police silence in relation to immigrants ......................................................... 93 Figure 3: Extract from the draft