Abstract
Many migrants have journeyed to South Africa in the hope of a better future; however, years later, many find themselves operating on the city streets, trying to survive. This chapter explores the experiences of older migrant, informal traders in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Using a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 migrant, informal traders aged 50 years and older. Most journeyed to South Africa as far back as 25 years ago to make a living and improve their lives. However, years later they are struggling to avoid poverty and hunger and survive by earning a daily income to feed themselves and their families. To exacerbate their challenges, they are continually battling the hostile terrain in order to secure an income. Many want to leave the country before they become older because they fear that they are ageing amidst uncertainty about their future.
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Zihindula, G., Maharaj, P., Dunn, S. (2023). No Protection, No Support: Older Migrants Operating in South Africa’s Informal Economy. In: Maharaj, P. (eds) Migrant Traders in South Africa. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21151-5_7
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