EASTERN CAPE — The Eastern Cape continues to lose residents to other provinces as South Africans relocate in search of better opportunities, with the latest Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) migration estimates showing the province among those experiencing the country’s largest net population losses.
Speaking at the South Africa National Migration Symposium (SAN-MIS) at the University of the Witwatersrand in June, Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke said migration remains one of the key drivers of population change, alongside births and deaths.
Drawing on Stats SA’s latest Mid-year Population Estimates, Maluleke said migration continues to influence population distribution across the country.
“Our data show that migration continues to influence population distribution across provinces. Gauteng, the Western Cape, North West, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal are gaining population, while the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and the Free State are experiencing net population losses,” said Maluleke.
According to Stats SA, Gauteng is expected to receive the largest inflow of migrants between 2021 and 2026, with about 1.4 million people moving into the province.
Gauteng also remains the country’s leading destination for international migrants.
The Western Cape is projected to receive the second-largest inflow, with an estimated 500,347 people expected to move to the province during the same period.
“The opportunities for employment, study and an improved quality of life are among the key push-pull factors resulting in the high flow of migrants to the Western Cape,” said Maluleke.
Stats SA’s Census 2022 recorded more than 2.4 million international migrants living in South Africa, representing just under 4% of the country’s population.
The data show that international migration remains closely linked to regional mobility within Southern Africa, with Mozambique and Zimbabwe having consistently been the leading countries of origin for migrants entering South Africa since 1996.
The data further indicate that most international migrants come from countries within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Maluleke stressed that migration statistics are essential for planning housing, infrastructure, healthcare, education and employment, as well as ensuring effective service delivery.
“Statistics enable us to move beyond perceptions and anecdotal evidence. They provide a factual basis for understanding migration trends and their impact on society, ensuring that policy interventions are informed by evidence,” said Maluleke.
The symposium was convened by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation in partnership with the Wits School of Governance and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
It brought together policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations and international partners to discuss migration trends and develop evidence-based policy recommendations aimed at promoting social cohesion and supporting safe, regular and humane migration.
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