Development planning and integration of migration in the city of uMhlathuze, South Africa
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Date
2024
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University of Zululand
Abstract
Migration, as a global phenomenon, affects municipalities not only in South Africa but across the globe. Therefore, it must be factored into municipal policy, planning and budget processes. Against this backdrop, this study investigated the extent to which municipal development planning integrated migration at uMhlathuze municipality, Northeast of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The objectives of the study were to (a) identify the roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders involved in sustainable development planning at a municipal level, (b) analyse migration trends within the municipality since 2001, (c) assess the inclusion of migration in sustainable development planning in the municipality, and (d) propose a comprehensive framework for migration and sustainable development planning in the municipality. The study employed the interpretivist research paradigm because it was deemed the most suitable for assisting the researcher in delving into the process of municipal planning. In light of this, the study adopted a qualitative research approach in the form of interviews with the key stakeholders and an extensive document review of municipal strategic plans. The findings of the study indicated that despite the number of migrants increasing in the municipality and the various stakeholders involved, migration was not integrated into municipal development planning. Reasons for this exclusion include the negative attitudes and perspectives of stakeholders towards migration. Some stakeholders believed that the management and planning for migration is not the competence of the local government but that of provincial and national governments. Another reason was the unavailability of up-to-date data about the migrant population mostly undocumented ones. Overall, the municipality has displayed a blinkered attitude towards the importance of integrating migration into existing or new municipal development plans for many years which has and continues to yield undesired consequences like social fragmentation, economic exclusion, and poor planning. Based on these findings, the study proposed a framework to assist in addressing migration-related issues while enhancing the positive contribution of migration to sustainable development in local municipalities. This framework describes various strategies that municipalities could implement to ensure that migrants are integrated into development planning as well as the expected outcomes. Some of the proposed strategies include the provision of educational initiatives, a multi-governmental approach to migration management and strengthening communication mechanisms among the stakeholders involved in municipal development planning. This study suggested that without the integration of migration into municipal planning, sustainable development goals cannot be achieved. Based on all this, the contribution of the study to the discipline of Geography is a different perspective and narrowing of the gap in the literature about the migration-sustainable development nexus at the municipal level where there was a dearth.
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Description
Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Zululand, South Africa [2024].