Migration patterns and migrant characteristics in the Western Cape through a differential urbanisation lens

Date
2014-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research examines contemporary in-migration patterns and trends to the Western Cape over the period 2001 to 2011. It applies the concepts of main stream and sub-stream migration from the theory of Differential Urbanization to analyse potential characteristics and patterns hidden by aggregated migration data through the use of spatial data and clustering analysis. The research found that there were 312 013 in-migrants to the Western Cape from other provinces between 2001 and 2011, of which 162 380 originated from the Eastern Cape. Mainstream in-migrants were mostly unmarried and of youthful age (mostly 25 to 29 years of age), with low income, moderately skilled, many of them unemployed or not economically active and 31.3% living in informal dwellings in backyards or informal settlements. A second sub-stream of migrants consisted of affluent, highly skilled, married, and older migrants from other metropolitan municipalities, especially from Gauteng. Strong migration patterns were found to exist between the municipalities in the Eastern Cape and the City of Cape Town region and coastal intermediate-sized municipalities in the Western Cape. Productionism was the dominant motivating factor of mainstream migration as migrants continued to migrate to the primate city of Cape Town. Environmentalism as a factor in migration decision making is evident in the sub-stream of migrants aged older than 50 years who favoured coastal municipalities of Overstrand, Mossel Bay, Knysna and Bitou in the Western Cape.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing het ten doel om die huidige in-migrasie patrone en tendense in die Wes-Kaap oor die tydperk 2001 tot 2011 te ondersoek. Die konsep van hoofstroom migrasie en sub-stroom migrasie word toegepas om potensiële verskuilde veranderings in die saamgestelde migrasie data te ontleed deur die gebruik van ruimtelike data en groepering analises. Die navorsing het bevind dat daar 312 013 in-immigrante na die Wes-Kaap uit ander provinsies tussen 2001 en 2011 was, waarvan 162 380 uit die Oos-Kaap gekom het. Hoofstroom in-immigrante was meestal ongetroudes en van die jeugdige ouderdomsgroep (meestal 25-29 jaar oud), met lae inkomste, matig geskoold, baie van hulle werkloos of nie ekonomies aktief nie en 31.3% wat in informele wonings in agterplase en informele nedersettings bly. 'n Tweede belangrike sub-stroom van in-migrante bestaan uit ouer, gegoede-, hoogsgeskoolde-, getroude in-immigrante vanuit ander metropolitaanse munisipaliteite, veral Gauteng. Sterk migrasie patrone bestaan tussen die munisipaliteite in die Oos-Kaap en die Stad Kaapstad-streek en die munisipaliteite met intermediêre-grootte stede aan die kus van die Wes-Kaap. Ekonomiese faktore was die dominante motiverende faktor van die hoofstroom migrasie na die primaatstad van Kaapstad. Omgewings- en leefstyl faktore is die onderliggende motiverende faktor van die sub-stroom van in-migrante ouer as 50 jaar na die kus-munisipaliteite van Overstrand, Mosselbaai, Knysna en Bitou in die Wes-Kaap.
Description
Thesis (MPhil) -- Stellenbosch University, 2014.
Keywords
migration, patterns, Western Cape, lens
Citation