This Migration Profile Report comes as a consequence of the work and engagements conducted by the Migration and Urbanisation Forum which I launched in August 2022 and which Cabinet subsequently endorsed. This forum has involved itself in regional capacity building initiatives and on various engagements that relate to migration and urbanisation. Through the partnership with the National Population Unit at the Department of Social Development, the forum and this profile report is a testament to what can be achieved through strategic partnerships that seek to provide sound evidence that contributes towards good governance of migration in the country.
The Migration Profile Report for South Africa offers a comprehensive view of migration within a country experiencing mixed migration flows, hampered by fragmented data management systems. Aligned with the Global Compact for Migration and the Sustainable Development Goals, the report prioritises migrants' rights and underscores the critical need for precise, disaggregated data to inform policy decisions effectively.
The Migration Profile was prepared by members of the inter‑ministerial Technical Working Group, in close collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders and with technical support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This Migration Profile – a first for South Africa – is designed to enhance policy coherence, evidence-based policymaking, and the mainstreaming of migration into South Africa’s development plans.
