This thesis is an investigation into the undocumented migration of Malawians to the city of Durban, and the influences on their livelihoods, identities and continued links to Malawi. In this context the thesis raises the issue of migration and citizenship. In the past Malawians were involved in contract migration system tightly controlled by the mining industry and the state, and in which their freedom of movement and association was circumscribed. This thesis argues that there is a new, emerging new form of migration, which may be termed transnational migration that has taken root since the early 1990s. It involves a web of links and networks created by transmigrants between Malawi and Durban. For a variety of reasons this transnational migration pattern is less visible, and largely hidden from the official gaze of the state. The reasons for migrating to Durban are mainly, through not exclusively economic ones, that is, about creating a livelihood, or multiple livelihoods. Malawian migrants become enmeshed in a series of livelihood itineraries as part of the chain of migration from towns and villages en route to, and in Durban. In pursuing their livelihood itineraries they begin to use their networks and other resources such as their ethnic and religious identities, family and friendship ties, nationality, accumulated experiences, skills and entrepreneurship to insert themselves in the city, and in the process, seek, find or create work in both the formal and informal sectors of the local economy. In this context they develop a sense of belonging to and being part of the city and begin to institutionalise their presence, contributing in many ways, both socially and economically to the city. The thesis argues that their presence, practices, dispositions and accomplishments in the city of Durban, and continued links to Malawi raise pertinent issues around the question of citizenship and migration. / Thesis (Ph.D)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2004.

Text in English / One of the critical challenges associated with migration is a need to acquire a destination language, which has never been an easy experience for immigrants. This study aims at exploring and analysing experiences of Malawian immigrant labourers in their process of acquiring spoken skills of isiZulu in Durban. In order to understand the phenomenon under investigation better, this study used a qualitative research approach and adopted a phenomenological research design. The data for this study was collected using semi structured one-to-one interviews. The data were analysed using content analysis method and was approached and discussed in light of Schumann‟s (1986) Acculturation Model and frame works and a destination–language acquisition model of Chiswick and Miller (2001). Empirical findings from this study have shown that adults; just like children, are also capable of mastering a second language if they can manage both social and psychological factors that impede acquisition. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Linguistics)

Text in English / One of the critical challenges associated with migration is a need to acquire a destination language, which has never been an easy experience for immigrants. This study aims at exploring and analysing experiences of Malawian immigrant labourers in their process of acquiring spoken skills of isiZulu in Durban. In order to understand the phenomenon under investigation better, this study used a qualitative research approach and adopted a phenomenological research design. The data for this study was collected using semi structured one-to-one interviews. The data were analysed using content analysis method and was approached and discussed in light of Schumann‟s (1986) Acculturation Model and frame works and a destination–language acquisition model of Chiswick and Miller (2001). Empirical findings from this study have shown that adults; just like children, are also capable of mastering a second language if they can manage both social and psychological factors that impede acquisition. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M. A. (Linguistics)