2011, the Beitridge Border Post reportedly handled 7,755 deportees.15 Between January 1 and March 2012, an additional 7,177 Zimbabweans were deported.16 iii. Push Factors that force people to migrate to South Africa Zimbabwe Up to 1,4 million of South Africa’s refugees and asylum seekers are Zimbabwean, representing almost 15% of Zimbabwe’s population.17Political instability and oppression and the continual threat of violence as well as poor human health and social conditions, and the very bleak economic prospects are what push young Zimbabweans (including many children) to emigrate.18 Zimbabwe’s GDP has halved in the last decade.19 In 2010, it was reported that about 13% of the population of Johannesburg, which is nicknamed “Egoli” (meaning “city of gold”), are Zimbabwean migrants.20 The signing of SADC facilitated Global Political Agreement (GPA) in Zimbabwe in September 2008 ushered in a cautious hope that the political conditions in the country would improve and set the stage for a steady improvement in political and economic conditions. While this event certainly led to some initial indicators of economic progress this has not led to any substantive growth in the livelihoods of the country’s citizens. Moreover the persistent uncertainties around the implementation of the GPA have fuelled the fears of yet another round of political turmoil and violence in the near future. This situation has led to continuing pressures for Zimbabweans to seek a means of earning a living outside of the country, and most notably in South Africa. Additionally the lull in the SADC mediation in Zimbabwe since the beginning of 2012 has not provided the kind of confidence in the process that is so sorely required by conditions in the country. Somalia Much of Somalia is consumed by political violence, and the various armed conflicts in the country have displaced about 2.5 million people.21 The militant group Al-Shabab refuses to admit aid agencies in the large territories which it controls in the south.22 This compounds the humanitarian crisis caused by the most severe drought in sixty years and near-famine conditions.23 These circumstances lead many Somalis to seek refuge in South Africa. Democratic Republic of the Congo 15 New Zimbabwe. “SA deports 15,000 in 5 months.” 5 March 2012. <http://www newzimbabwe.com/news-7370SA+deports+15,000+in+5+months/news.aspx http://www myzimbabwe.co.zw/news/1051-south-africa-deports-almost-15000zimbabweans html?&tmpl=component 16 Mzaca, Vladimir. “South Africa deports 15000 as controls tighten.” Times Live. 11 Mar 2012. http://www.timeslive.co.za/africa/2012/03/11/south-africa-deports-15000-as-controls-tighten 17 Solidarity Peace Trust: Gone to Egoli: Economic Survival Strategies in Matabeleland. Report. 2009. p. 6. 18 Zigomo, K. (2012) ‘A Community-Based Approach to Sustainable Development: The Role of Civil Society in Rebuilding Zimbabwe’. Report. 2 April, Solidarity Peace Trust: http://www.solidaritypeacetrust.org/1159/community-based-approach-to-sustainable-development/ 19 Solidarity Peace Trust: Desperate Lives, Twilight World. Report. Johannesburg: 2010. p. 13 20 Solidarity Peace Trust: Desperate Lives, Twilight World. Report. Johannesburg: 2010. p. 13 21 Refugees International. “Somalia.” Web. 27 Apr. 2012. <http://www refintl.org/where-we-work/africa/somalia>. 22 Refugees International. “Somalia.” Web. 27 Apr. 2012. <http://www refintl.org/where-we-work/africa/somalia>. 23 Refugees International. “Somalia.” Web. 27 Apr. 2012. <http://www.refintl.org/where-wework/africa/somalia>. 12