Migration and municipal sustainable development planning framework in the city of uMhlathuze, South Africa

Abstract

Internationally, migrants encounter a multitude of obstacles in the countries they settle in, including being denied access to essential services and economic prospects due to restrictive laws that undermine their ability to contribute to the fulfilment of the 2030 global agenda. While it is crucial to incorporate migration into development goals at all levels, the integration at the local government level is still incomplete. This research utilises the notion of global governance and employs a qualitative case study approach to conduct an explorative investigation of the difficulties pertaining to the integration of migration into municipal development plans. A total of 20 individuals engaged in municipal development planning were interviewed. The data was collected by reviewing municipal strategic plans. Thematic analysis was employed for data analysis. The study findings indicate that the lack of current migration data, negative attitudes towards migration, and insufficient coordination among parties responsible for development planning are the primary obstacles to integrating migration into municipal development planning. The exclusion of migrants has significant ramifications for municipal planning. Not only does it contradict the 2030 global goal, which recognises migrants as catalysts for sustainable development, but it also renders municipal planning inadequate and unsustainable. The discoveries aided in the creation of the Migration and Municipal Development Planning Framework. The framework has substantial ramifications for municipal planning since it delineates the actions that local municipalities could take to seamlessly incorporate migration issues into development planning, along with the anticipated results. The framework is a unique and valuable addition to the existing knowledge since it offers a fresh viewpoint on the relationship between migration and sustainable development, specifically at the level of local government.