Abstract
Since the late 1990's, in the context of the transition from an apartheid led regime to a non-racial democracy, there has been an influx of migrants into South Africa, particularly in view of its perceived business opportunities, and financial and relative political stability. Most migrants came from different regions of Africa and the Asia, while there are smaller numbers from North Africa and the Middle East. This article examines the arrival and settlement of Pakistanis in Verulam, a town on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The growing prominence of Pakistani controlled businesses in Verulam led to an interest in examining the reasons for them migrating to South Africa, in particular what factors led to their migration; how they identified South Africa as a potential place of destination; who they migrated with and how; the skills and social capital that they came with; the manner in which they integrated into the local community; how they have adapted and settled in their new setting, and the ways in which they maintain contact back home. This article is an exploratory study of the complexities of the migrant experience from the perspectives of individuals’ themselves. It is based on a case study approach using qualitative, semi-structured interviews to acquire data. The five case studies illustrate that migrants, in general, leave their family for far off places under difficult circumstances with the expectation of and ambitions for a more prosperous life for both themselves and their families back in the villages of Pakistan. To achieve this they are compelled to work long hours, live under difficult conditions, visit home rarely, and put up with locals’ xenophobia.
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