The Scapegoat Syndrome: Immigration, Inequality, and the Governance Gap
Liberal democracies have endured a series of cascading crises over recent decades from 9/11 and the financial crash to the pandemic, climate pressures, and geopolitical fragmentation. These crises have challenged their ability to govern in an increasingly complex world. In this climate of insecurity, immigration has become a potent scapegoat, symbolizing frustrations tied to economic strain, cultural change, and the perceived failures of globalization. Politicians and online movements exploit this narrative by portraying migrants as invaders and...
Crossing Borders: Redefining African Migration Through Storytelling
In an attempt to provide a human-centered understanding of African migration through film, I, Itumeleng Morake, founded Final Frame, a Gaborone-based production company dedicated to telling diverse and impactful African stories. As a Move Africa Data Storytelling Fellow, I have been trained to explore the power of data-driven narratives that reshape perceptions of migration, not from the outside looking in, but through the authentic voices of those living these experiences.
South Africa's National Dialogue: A Model for Inclusive Governance?
South Africa is undertaking an ambitious experiment in participatory democracy. The National Dialogue a six-to-nine-month process initiated by President Cyril Ramaphosa aims to bring together diverse voices from across the country to shape a collective vision for the nation's future. After a successful National Convention in August 2025 that brought together delegates from multiple sectors, the process is now moving toward the appointment of a Steering Committee that will guide public dialogues nationwide. Twenty-six sectors have nominated representatives...
Invisible Labour, Visible Impact: Rethinking Migration Policy and Precarity in South Africa
Migrant workers in South Africa’s domestic service, agriculture, and construction sectors form the unacknowledged backbone of the economy. They build homes, harvest food, and sustain households, yet their contributions remain largely invisible in national discourse. Despite recent policy reforms and research initiatives, systemic exploitation, insecure legal status, and limited access to social protection continue to define their daily realities. Promise and Pitfalls of Policy Reform The newly approved
Protecting Children on the Move in South Africa: Legal Frameworks, Lived Realities, and Systemic Challenges
In South Africa, the protection of children on the move, asylum seekers, and migrants is built upon a layered legal framework spanning national, regional, and international levels. At the national level, the Refugees Act (No. 130 of 1998) upholds the right to seek asylum and explicitly prohibits refoulement the forced return of individuals to countries where they face persecution (South African Government, 1998). The...
.jpg)
Humanitarian and Migration Dynamics in Niger: A Regional Analysis
Niger occupies a pivotal role in West Africa’s asylum and migration landscape, shaped by intersecting pressures of regional conflict, environmental stressors, and political volatility. Bordered by Burkina Faso, Libya, Nigeria, Mali, and Chad all affected by varying degrees of insecurity the country has experienced sustained displacement, particularly in the regions of Tillaberi, Tahoua, Diffa, and Maradi. These movements are compounded by climate-related events such as flooding and drought, which exacerbate rural poverty and place additional strain on...
