The participants gave their data voluntarily and were interviewed on site (within the camp).
Efforts were made to ensure gender equality among those who participated and also among
the volunteers who conducted the survey. Student interns for PASSOP and camp residents
conducted the survey under the guidance of PASSOP, after a 3‐hour training workshop and
signing indemnity forms and code of conduct forms.
2.
Summary of main demographic findings
The Zimbabweans at De Doorns fit the profile of migrants in many parts of the world, in that
they are mostly very over‐qualified for the type of employment in which they find themselves.
They are predominantly urban in background (74%), and only 4% has ever worked in
agricultural labour before. 46% claim to have previously had formal, non‐labour related work,
with only 15% having worked in any kind of job involving physical labour, including
agricultural labour. The standard of education is surprisingly high – one in seven
Zimbabweans (15%) has either “A”levels, a university degree or a diploma. A further 74%
had at least “O” levels, and only 11% had 9 years of schooling or less.
a.
Documentation
The vast majority of Zimbabweans in De Doorns have ASPs – 87%. A further 5% have full
refugee status, and 2% have work permits. This means that out of all those interviewed, in
fact only 6% were undocumented and therefore working illegally. It is also extremely likely
that most of those using ASPs would not meet the strict criteria used in South Africa to qualify
for full refugee status. They are among the many thousands who are being given ASPs as part
of the ad hoc measure in which Zimbabweans are receiving ASPs because there is no special
dispensation, while at the same time, there is an implicit acknowledgement by many officials
that there is a need to document this huge influx of people.
Chart i: showing legal status of Zimbabweans at De Doorns
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