A Push-Pull Factor Analysis in eThekwini, South Africa
Buyani Nkabinde *
Durban University of Technology, South Africa.
Lawrence Mpele Lekhanya
Durban University of Technology, South Africa.
Nirmala Dorasamy
Durban University of Technology, South Africa.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The push and pull factors play a pivotal role in the patterns of rural-urban migration hence it is important to understand that push factors are events or situations that leave people with no choice but to migrate ranging from politics to climate change, while the pull factors refer to urban attractions that act like drivers attracting migrants from rural to urban areas ranging from better access to water, job opportunities and better access to electricity in the cities, to mention a few. Furthermore, there is a need for urban authorities to prepare and plan for the movement of people from rural to urban areas with the aim of developing adequate policies to enhance urban and spatial planning to support urban expansion, which is poised to lead to economic growth. The purpose of the paper is to examine the role of municipalities in managing rural to urban migration patterns with reference to eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, herein referred to as “Umlazi Township Silver City”. The study adopted a quantitative approach and used 5 Likert scale questionnaires, which were distributed in the selected areas of the eThekwini metro. A total of 350 participants from the “Umlazi Township Silver City” were selected, and informed consent was obtained. The qualitative aspects of the study comprised secondary data through an extensive literature review. The study found that the lack of transport system development in rural areas makes it difficult to travel to work, and some people then migrate from rural areas in order to work in the urban transport business. It also found the need for holistic development in rural areas to reduce the current influx of rural to urban migrants, and balancing that with proper spatial planning in the cities and urban expansion that incorporates the small cities into big cities while creating cities in the rural areas. The study contributes to the development of the body of knowledge in public administration, development, urban planning and service delivery. The study was limited by the use of one city, and this was due to time and financial constraints.
Keywords: Push-pull factor, rural-urban migration, urban transport business, financial constraints