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Disability and Migration : a photovoice study on the lived experiences of Zimbabwean refugee mothers of disabled children living in the Western Cape, South Africa
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613778692014080 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Tarusarira, Willson |
| author2 | Geiger, Martha |
| author_browse | Geiger, Martha Tarusarira, Willson |
| author_facet | Geiger, Martha Tarusarira, Willson |
| author_sort | Tarusarira, Willson |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131926 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:41:32.562Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131926 Disability and Migration : a photovoice study on the lived experiences of Zimbabwean refugee mothers of disabled children living in the Western Cape, South Africa Tarusarira, Willson Geiger, Martha Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Centre for Disability & Rehabilitation Studies. Mothers of children with disabilities -- Zimbabwe Women refugees -- Economic conditions -- Western Cape (South Africa) Women refugees -- Social conditions -- Western Cape (South Africa) Refugee children -- Social conditions -- Western Cape (South Africa) UCTD Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH SUMMARY: This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Zimbabwean refugee mothers of disabled children living in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The main research question was: What are the lived experiences of Zimbabwean refugee mothers of disabled children in the Western Cape Province of South Africa? The sub questions focused on the three migratory phases: i.e. What are the lived experiences of Zimbabwean refugee mothers of disabled children (1) before they leave Zimbabwe (2) during their migratory journey to South Africa and (3) after arriving in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. In collecting data, I used photovoice and narrative inquiry methods. Volunteer sampling through a Non-Profit Organization (PASSOP), was used to recruit the participants, thus, 12 Zimbabwean refugee mothers of disabled children. Interviews were conducted in English with Shona and Ndebele explanations, to gain insights into their lived experiences. Thematic analysis was applied to the participants' verbal explanations of their photographs and their narratives covering the pre-migration, trans-migration, and post-migration phases. the three migration phases i.e. two themes were identified in the pre migration phase, thus, (a) Traditional beliefs about the causes of child disability and (b) consequences for mothers after giving birth to a disabled child. On trans-migration, one main theme was identified(c) Challenges in cross border travelling with a disabled child. During post-migration, two themes were identified: (d) Discrimination of mothers when accessing basic services at government departments. (e) Discrimination by host communities. Although most Zimbabwean refugees living in South Africa have been forced to migrate due to political and economic challenges as previously identified, this study established that participants migrated to South Africa because of the hostile traditional beliefs about child disability. Because of these hostile traditional beliefs, these mothers were forced to flee for the safety of their disabled children and themselves. Furthermore, travelling with a disabled child was challenging. During their journey, mothers faced stigma for travelling with a disabled child, in addition to the challenges faced by others (e.g., not having travelling documents and having to walk long distances, cross the crocodile infested Limpopo River, pay bribes to the police, and use illegal entry points risking being sexually abused by fellow migrants, and gang members along the way. Distressed by their pre-migration, and trans-migration experiences, participants continued to face challenges in South Africa because of their disabled children. This study demonstrated that this traumatising background experience of these mothers undermined their ability to cope with a lot of challenges in South Africa, for example xenophobia. This study revealed that xenophobia can be interpersonal or structural violence, such as being socially and economically marginalised. When seeking basic services for their disabled children, they are confronted with xenophobic attitudes from service providers such as the staff at government departments including the Home Affairs Department, Hospitals and Clinics, Police and Social Services. Participants reported that some service providers withheld basic services for their disabled children. Moreover, mothers reported that they encounter xenophobic attacks in the communities where they reside. Mothers are suspected by the communities of stealing their jobs, and of straining the South African health system. Although none of the participants received the SASSA grant, they reported being attacked by community members who believed that their disabled children are benefiting from the SASSA grant. In a nutshell, the challenges of these mothers started during their time in Zimbabwe and continued during their journey to South Africa, and when they resettled in South Africa. Recommendations are therefore identified for stakeholders on the Zimbabwean side regarding knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning persons affected by disability and everyone concerned with the integration of refugee mothers of disabled children in South Africa, including the government, the media, future researchers, refugee mothers of disabled children themselves, and the communities where they reside. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie kwalitatiewe studie het die geleefde ervarings van Zimbabwiese vlugtelingmoeders van gestremde kinders wat in die Wes-Kaap Provinsie van Suid-Afrika woon, ondersoek. Die hoofnavorsingsvraag was: Wat is die geleefde ervarings van Zimbabwiese vlugtelingmoeders van kinders met gestremdhede in die Wes-Kaap Provinsie van Suid-Afrika? Die subvrae het gefokus op die drie migrasiefases: d.w.s. Wat is die geleefde ervarings van Zimbabwiese vlugtelingmoeders van kinders met gestremdhede (1) voordat hulle Zimbabwe verlaat (2) tydens hul trekreis na Suid-Afrika en (3) na aankoms in die Wes-Kaap Provinsie van Suid-Afrika. In die insamelingvan data het ek fotostem (“photovoice”) - en narratiewe ondersoekmetodes gebruik. Vrywillige steekproefneming deur 'n nie-winsgewende organisasie (PASSOP) is gebruik om die deelnemers te werf, dus 12 Zimbabwiese vlugtelingmoeders van kinders wat met gestremdhede leef. Onderhoude is in Engels gevoer met Shona- en Ndebele-verduidelikings, om insigte te kry in hul geleefde ervarings. Tematiese analise is toegepas op die verbale verduidelikings van die deelnemers van hul foto'sen hul narratiewe wat die pre-migrasie-, trans-migrasie- en post-migrasie fases dek. Vyf hooftemas is geidentifiseer op grond van die deelnemers se geleefde ervarings, d.w.s. twee temas is in die premigrasiefase geidentifiseer, dus, (a) Tradisionele oortuigings oor die oorsake van kindergestremdheid en (b) Gevolge vir moeders na geboorte van 'n gestremde kind. Oor transmigrasie is een hooftema geidentifiseer (c) uitdagings in oorgrens reis met ‘n gestremde kind. Na migrasie (“post-migration”) is twee temas geidentifiseer, naamlik (d) Diskriminasie van moeders wanneer toegang tot basiese dienste by staatsdepartemente gesoek word en (e) Diskriminasie deur gasheergemeenskappe. Alhoewel die meeste Zimbabwiese vlugtelinge wat in Suid-Afrika woon, gedwing is om te migreer as gevolg van politieke en ekonomiese uitdagings soos voorheen geidentifiseer, het hierdie studie vasgestel dat deelnemers na Suid-Afrika gemigreer het as gevolg van die vyandige tradisionele oortuigings oor kindergestremdheid. As gevolg van hierdie vyandige tradisionele oortuigings, is hierdie moeders gedwing om te vlug vir die veiligheid van hul gestremde kinders en hulself. Verder was reis met 'n gestremde kind uitdagend. Tydens hul reis het moeders stigmaondervind omdat hulle saam met 'n gestremde kind reis, benewens die uitdagings wat ook ander in die gesig staar (bv. om nie reisdokumente te he nie en om lang afstande te stap, die krokodilbesmette Limpoporivier oor te steek, omkoopgeld aan die polisie te moet betaal, en gebruik te maak van onwettige toegangspunte wat die risiko loop om seksueel misbruik te word deur mede-migrante, en bendelede langs die pad. Ontsteld oor hul voor-migrasie- en transmigrasie-ervarings, het deelnemers steeds uitdagings in Suid-Afrika ondervind as gevolg van hul gestremde kinders. Hierdie studie het getoon dat hierdie traumatiserende agtergrondervaring van hierdie moeders hul vermoe om baie uitdagings in Suid-Afrika te hanteer, byvoorbeeld xenofobie, ondermyn het. Hierdie studie het aan die lig gebring dat xenofobie interpersoonlike of strukturele geweld kan wees, soos om sosiaal en ekonomies gemarginaliseer te word. Wanneer hulle basiese dienste vir hul gestremde kinders soek, word hulle gekonfronteer met xenofobiese houdings van diensverskaffers soos die personeel by staatsdepartemente, insluitend die departement van binnelandse sake, hospitale en klinieke, polisie en maatskaplike dienste. Deelnemers het gemeld dat sommige diensverskaffers basiese dienste vir hul gestremde kinders weerhou het. Boonop het moeders berig dat hulle xenofobiese aanvalle teekom in die gemeenskappe waar hulle woon. Moeders word deur die gemeenskappe daarvan verdink dat hulle hul werk steel, en dat hulle die Suid-Afrikaanse gesondheidstelsel onder druk plaas. Alhoewel nie een van die deelnemers die SASSA-toelae ontvang het nie, het hulle gerapporteer dat hulle aangeval is deur gemeenskapslede wat glo dat hul gestremde kinders by die SASSA-toelae baat. In 'n neutedop, die uitdagings van hierdie moeders het tydens hul tyd in Zimbabwe begin en voortgeduur tydens hul reis na Suid-Afrika, en toe hulle in Suid-Afrika hervestig het. Aanbevelings word dus geidentifiseer vir belanghebbendes aan die Zimbabwiese kant met betrekking tot kennis, houdings en praktyke rakende persone wat deur gestremdheid geraak word en almal gemoeid met die integrasie van vlugtelingmoeders van gestremde kinders in Suid-Afrika, insluitend die regering, die media, toekomstige navorsers, vlugtelingmoeders van gestremde kinders self, en die gemeenskappe waar hulle woon. Doctoral 2025-04-25T12:31:07Z 2025-04-25T12:31:07Z 2024-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131926 Stellenbosch University 188 pages : illustrations, maps, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Mothers of children with disabilities -- Zimbabwe Women refugees -- Economic conditions -- Western Cape (South Africa) Women refugees -- Social conditions -- Western Cape (South Africa) Refugee children -- Social conditions -- Western Cape (South Africa) UCTD Tarusarira, Willson Disability and Migration : a photovoice study on the lived experiences of Zimbabwean refugee mothers of disabled children living in the Western Cape, South Africa |
| title | Disability and Migration : a photovoice study on the lived experiences of Zimbabwean refugee mothers of disabled children living in the Western Cape, South Africa |
| title_full | Disability and Migration : a photovoice study on the lived experiences of Zimbabwean refugee mothers of disabled children living in the Western Cape, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Disability and Migration : a photovoice study on the lived experiences of Zimbabwean refugee mothers of disabled children living in the Western Cape, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disability and Migration : a photovoice study on the lived experiences of Zimbabwean refugee mothers of disabled children living in the Western Cape, South Africa |
| title_short | Disability and Migration : a photovoice study on the lived experiences of Zimbabwean refugee mothers of disabled children living in the Western Cape, South Africa |
| title_sort | disability and migration a photovoice study on the lived experiences of zimbabwean refugee mothers of disabled children living in the western cape south africa |
| topic | Mothers of children with disabilities -- Zimbabwe Women refugees -- Economic conditions -- Western Cape (South Africa) Women refugees -- Social conditions -- Western Cape (South Africa) Refugee children -- Social conditions -- Western Cape (South Africa) UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131926 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tarusarirawillson disabilityandmigrationaphotovoicestudyonthelivedexperiencesofzimbabweanrefugeemothersofdisabledchildrenlivinginthewesterncapesouthafrica |