The challenges that rural-urban migration cause in South Africa

The influx of people to urban areas poses great challenges to the government and it’s resources allocation process, such as:

• increased population-growth in urban area
• increased housing infrastructure challenges.

Causes and consequences of rural depopulation on people and the economy:

• Young adults move away and more so young men
• Elderly, women and children are left behind
• Productivity in rural areas drop
• Income declines
• Services close down as they are not supported anymore
• Poverty increases
• More people leave the rural areas
• Displacement of families and social problems

Solutions to rural-urban migration in South Africa

The following are the solutions to the rural-urban migration challenges in South Africa, which the government can apply:

• Job creation projects in rural areas
• Decentralisation of industries
• Development corridors
• Improved basic services in rural areas
• Skills development in rural areas
• Farming related industries in rural areas
• Improved transport, health, education services
• Retirement villages in rural towns to attract people there
• Incentives for professionals and employers to settle in rural areas
• Development of eco-tourism through conservation of natural habitats and thus creating income opportunities for the local population