IOM, in partnership with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and Department of Social Development Mpumalanga facilitated a Migration Sensitisation workshop “Understanding Migration” targeted at municipal councillors and managers in Mpumalanga province on 23 July 2012. The purpose of the workshop was to strengthen participants’ understanding of migration health, management, development and human trafficking.

The workshop was attended by the Office of the Premier, Executive Mayors, Councillors, Members of the Mayoral Committe (MMCs), Municipal Managers, SALGA Mpumalanga and Mpumalanga Department of Social Development (DSD) and Department of Health.

While migration contributes to economic development, it also impacts on state-financed services and programmes, posing challenges on development planning, especially at the local level.

Through this workshop, IOM empowered key government stakeholders at local level on migration issues so they can best assess migration issues within their communities and better plan programmes that respond to migration challenges and opportunities.

IOM will also support the Mpumalanga province, SALGA and DSD to conduct research that will assess and profile migration dynamics in the province and its municipalities. This follows specific requests to IOM by municipalities for assistance with managing migration in the province.

The research will be critical to inform policy and programmes to effectively and efficiently respond to opportunities and challenges that come with migration. It will also strengthen the evidence base and broaden evidence application to migration policy making at local government.

“IOM remains committed to providing technical expertise to the province throughout the process. We are confident the workshop contributed to enhanced knowledge and understanding of migration” says Dabea Gaboutloeloe, IOM South Africa Migration Health Coordinator.

“I have realized today that answering the question how many is not enough. The following questions  are also crucial in understanding migration in a specific context: Where do migrants move to and from? What are the trends and dynamics? How does it link to development? Who is involved?  Why do migrants move?” said Ms. Elize Botha, Director Population and Research Unit – Department for Social Development, Mpumalanga.

“Today I have learnt a lot, especially that migration has positive effects in our community”, added Councillor Mafika Nkosi, Provincial Chairperson – SALGA Mpumalanga.