A history of migrant labourers from Swaziland to South Africa 1920-1995=Umlando Wabasebenzi Abafudukayo besuka eSwazini beya eNingizimu Afrika 1920-1995.

Abstract

This thesis examines the historical patterns and trends in mine labour migration to South Africa between 1920 and 1995. It explores the socio-economic impact on the lives of Swazi migrants and their families and societies. Previous studies on Swazi migrant labour are limited in scope and did not sufficiently focus on the factors that shaped migrancy particularly its relationship with Swazi miners, ex-miners, and their dependents. This thesis, therefore, sets out to fill the gap in the historiography of Swaziland. In writing this thesis the author relied on archival sources from Swaziland National Archives, documents retrieved from migrant offices, Annual Reports, books, and newspaper articles. These documentary sources were critically analysed and complemented with oral interviews with ex-migrants, miners, labour officers, and the dependences of migrants. The thesis was underpinned by the Marxist theoretical model and the social history theory to highlight the voices of the marginalised. The study reveals the different strategies used by recruiting agents to entice Swazi labour, and the trends of mine labour migrancy. It also reveals the competition for unskilled labour and the Swazi migrant’s experiences of working in the South African Rand mines. This thesis has also addressed social issues and how migrancy affected families left behind. It further reveals the impact of Voluntary Deferred Pay (VDP) on Swazi miners and its impact on the ex-miners and their dependents. This study seeks to contribute to the existing body of knowledge of migrant labour studies, focusing on Swaziland in particular and Southern Africa in general. The study promotes international migration as an important phenomenon in socioeconomic factors of sending societies such as Swaziland. It adds to the histories of sub-Saharan Africa, thus adding new perspectives to the growing literature on the migrant labour history of Swaziland. It also fills a gap in the historiography of labour migration as it covers a longitudinal period, colonial to the post-colonial period.

Iqoqa Le-thesisi ihlola amaphethini omlando kanye nezimo zokufuduka kwabasebenzi basezimayini eNingizimu Afrika phakathi kuka-1920 no-1995. Ihlola umthelela wezenhlalo-mnotho ezimpilweni zabafuduki baseSwazini kanye nemindeni yabo. Izifundo zangaphambilini ezimayelana nomsebenzi wokufuduka eSwazini zinomkhawulo futhi azizange zigxile ngokwanele ezicini ezakha ukufuduka ikakhulukazi ubudlelwano bayo nabavukuzi baseSwazini, ababengabavukuzi, kanye nalabo ababethembele kubo. Ngakho-ke, le thesisi ihlose ukuvala igebe embhalweni womlando waseSwazini. Ekubhaleni le thesisi umbhali uthembele emithonjeni egciniwe evela e-Swaziland National Archives, imibhalo ethathwe emahhovisi abokufika, imibiko yonyaka, izincwadi, nezindatshana zamaphephandaba. Le mithombo yamadokhumentari yahlaziywa ngokujulile futhi yahambisana nezingxoxo zomlomo nabafuduki, abavukuzi, izikhulu zabasebenzi, kanye nabancikile kwabafuduki. Le-thesisi yasekelwa imodeli yethiyori ye-Marxist kanye nethiyori yomlando wenhlalo ukugqamisa amazwi abantu ababencishwe amathuba. Ucwaningo luveza amasu ahlukene asetshenziswa ama-ejensi aqashayo ukuze alinge abasebenzi baseSwazini, kanye nemikhuba yokufuduka kwabasebenzi basezimayini. Iphinde iveze ukuncintisana kwabasebenzi abangenamakhono kanye nolwazi lomfuduki waseSwazini lokusebenza ezimayini zaseNingizimu Afrika zamaRandi. Le-thesisi iphinde yakhuluma ngezindaba zomphakathi kanye nokuthi ukufuduka kuyithinta kanjani imindeni eshiywe ngemuva. Iphinde iveze umthelela we-Voluntary Deferred Pay (VDP) kubavukuzi baseSwazini kanye nomthelela wayo kwababengabavukuzi kanye nalabo ababethembele kubo. Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukufaka isandla olwazini olukhona lwezifundo zabasebenzi bokufika, olugxile eSwazini ikakhulukazi kanye naseNingizimu Afrika jikelele. Ucwaningo lukhuthaza ukufuduka kwamanye amazwe njengento ebalulekile ezicini zezenhlalo nezomnotho zokuthumela imiphakathi efana neyaseSwazini. Kwengeza emlandweni we-Afrika eseningizimu yeSahara, ngaleyo ndlela kwengeza imibono emisha emibhalweni ekhulayo ngomlando wezabasebenzi baseSwazini. Iphinde igcwalise igebe embhalweni womlando wokufuduka kwabasebenzi njengoba ihlanganisa inkathi yobude, ubukoloni kuya esikhathini sangemva kobukoloni.