Thread by @zenzele

In his paper titled " Black Workers from Zimbabwe in South Africa " J.Van H.Coetzer (1980) says a tradition of working seeking in South Africa had built up since Pre- World War 1 days.#Asakhe

He says the largest and the only real problem from SA point of view is the Matebeleland Contigent comprising mainly the kalanga from Bulima Mangwe ( Plumtree),Tjolotjo and Matopo(Kezi)."Spending a period in Johhanesburg is a habit so firmly entrenched among the kalanga men..

..He says #Johhanesburg is their Mecca also known as Egoli.

Around 1968- 69 South African authorities accused Zimbabwean of "creating a Mafia in the domestic labour Market especially Johannesburg's plush Northern surburbs ".

2nd group was made up of shona speakers from Victoria Province ( Masvingo).He says in terms of numbers it never compared with the Matebeleland migration.

The shona group looked for work in farms and forestry industries of the Eastern Transvaal while others went to mines but Johannesburg was always in their minds especially "tribesman from Rusape.

Around 1949 South African farmers used to send their recruiting Agents known to Rhodesia as Magaratshani ( those who wait in long grass) may be thus where the word ugalatshani came from . These agents would recruit job seekers from Rhodesia.

The job seekers worked under hard conditions especially in Bethal a potato growing area 150km South East of Pretoria .They were made to dig out potatoes with their bare hands to prevent cutting and bruising potatoes.

The 3rd group of migrants were Hlengwe from South eastern districts crossing into Mozambique .Most of them were of Shanganis (Amatshangana). These ones mostly worked in the gold mines (ewenela).

The first attempt to regulate the movement of Rhodesians into South Africa was after the 2nd Workd war in the latter days of the United party gvt

Rhodesian were issued with a document known as a " metal pass" also called Jan Smut's pass then in 1952 came the Dompass

In 1966 the South African gvt decided that all Rhodesians shld have a passsport.

In 1966 the South African gvt sent a delegation to Salisbury to talk ablit the influx into Johannesburg of Rhodesian from South- Western Matebeleland

The result was the Rhodesian Workers Travel Document introduced in 1968.

Arresting illegal Rhodesians in South African did not help.It was estimated that there were about 70 000 illegal Rhodesian workers in South Africa.

In October and Nov 1977,152 Rhodesians came forward to register 70 ( 46.05%) were from Plumtree, 49(:32.24%):Tjolotjo 20 (13.16%) Matopo and 13( 8.55%) from other districts.

In the same months in 1978, 81 people from Rhodesia registered 54 were from Plumtree, 12 Tjolotjo , 11 Matopo and 4 from other districts.

It was agreed that unregistered black Rhodesians who had been in South Africa prior to and on the 1st of April 1976 could have their legal status legalised by having current employment contract registered with authorities.

The registration phase operated from April 1976- September 1978:
1976-3189 registered
1977- 1358 registered
1978( May- September) 1 153 registered
Total 5 700

Still a lot of people did not came forward for registration .( SA estimated to have about 70k unregisted Zimbabweans

There were a number of factors which caused this. As soon as the men registered he lost 30-60% of his salary thru deferred pay deductions although they were told they could get the money in Rhodesia when they retured.

Around 1979 a delegation under the joint Minister of Internal Affairs Senator Chief Khayisa Ndiweni held a meeting with South Africans on the issue of unregistered immigrants.Rhodesia suggested a monthly qouto of work seekers be permitted in SA

Rhodesian emphasized on the traditional links with SA and that if pple from Matebeleland were not legalised they will still find their way illegally. A second arrangement was reached

The agreement reached in September 1979 allowed 100 Zimbabwean a month to be recruited as domestic workers within area of jurisdiction of Joburg and West rand.