Diasporas and remittances: exploring the determinants of remittance behaviour of Rwandan diasporas in South Africa: a case study of Rwanda South Africa Alliance (RSAA)

Abstract

Abstract Migration and remittance studies have focused on the volume and impact of remittances in the migrant sending countries. The present study explores the determinants of the remittance behaviour of Rwandan diasporas in South Africa. This is a qualitative case study of the Rwandan diasporas in South Africa under the Rwanda South Africa Alliance (RSAA). The present study established that social linkages/networks are the primary motivational factors that shape the remittance behaviour of the Rwandan diasporas’ in South Africa. More particularly, the study revealed that Rwandan diasporas remit mainly to first family and extended family members because there exist sustained social linkages and pre-established networks between the former and the latter. With regard to intended use of remittances to Rwanda, it was found out that some of these remittances were destined to pay for school fees and medical bills for extended family kids and other family members like parents and sisters. The desire to remit was motivated by perceived obligation to help needy family members left home as a way to keep close to them and maintain participation in family affairs as a responsibility to share with loved ones. Primary data was collected through face-to-face interviews with fifteen Rwandan diasporas’ members and the 2003 FMSP dataset was used to make a comparative analysis on migrants’ transnational practices and the motivations of migrants’ remittance behaviour in Johannesburg.