The construction of illegality: Basotho migrant domestic workers' experiences
Date
2016-03-07
Authors
Makoro, Mantuna
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Abstract
The following research is a study on migrant Basotho Domestic workers. This research details
their reasons for migrating by looking at socio economic and cultural factors that are at play in
Lesotho. It documents their journey to South Africa by studying the border and how it
constructs their illegality. This paper argues that by labelling migrants as illegal, South Africa
is in fact perpetuating Basotho’s vulnerability and exploitation by South African employers. It
also shows that there is a contradiction between South African labour, ILO convention 189 and
Immigration act as the two former laws aim to protect migrants which the Immigration Act
does not favour migrant domestic workers.
Description
This research report is in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a degree of Masters in Anthropology Ethics protocol number H14/08/40
Department of Anthropology- Faculty of humanities
University of the Witwatersrand
March 2015