| Popis: |
This paper focuses on migrant labour from southern Botswana to South Africa. The main thrust of this article is its emphasis on the positive contribution of migration to the migrants and their communities. It is argued here that although migrant labour has been blamed for having negative socio-economic effects in southern Botswana, just as in other parts of the country, it also contributed, and continues to contribute positively to the wellbeing of some households and their communities at large. Through the use of case studies from different villages in the district, the article demonstrates that poor, uneducated and unskilled young men who migrated to South Africa managed to accumulate and invest in agriculture and commercial enterprises and rose up the social ladder. In this area, migrant wages were critical in forming the basis of some enterprises, several of which are still flourishing. It also argues that some migrants acquired on-the-job skills which were later utilised productively when the migrants returned to Botswana. A similar study, but one which did not emphasise the acquisition of skills was undertaken by the author in the Bukalanga region of north-eastern Botswana in 2004. Hierdie artikel fokus op trekarbeid van suidelike Botswana na Suid-Afrika. Die artikel poog om die positiewe bydrae wat migrasie vir migrante en hul gemeenskappe inhou, te beklemtoon. Ten spyte daarvan dat trekarbeid vir verskeie negatiewe sosio-ekonomiese uitwerkings in Botswana blameer is, word hier geargumenteer dat trekarbeid positief bydrae tot die welstand van sekere huishoudings en gemeenskappe in die breë. Deur die gebruik van gevallestudies in verskillende dorpies in die streek, gaan daar gewys word hoe arm en ongeskoolde jong mans wat na Suid-Afrika getrek het, dit kon vermag om in boerdery en kommersiële ondernemings te belê, terwyl hulle terselfdertyd ook die sosiale leer geklim het. Lone wat uit trekarbeid verkry is, het die basis van sommige suksesvolle ondernemings gevorm. Hierdie artikel dui ook op hoe van die vaardighede wat trekarbeiders aangeleer het, later, na hul terugkeer na Botswana, produktief aangewend is. 'n Soortgelyke studie wat op die Bukalanga-streek in die noord-oostelike deel van Botswana fokus, maar waarin die aanleer van werksvaardighede nie beklemtoon is nie, is in 2004 deur dieselfde navorser onderneem. |
