‘We have been completely immersed in frustration and trauma’: ambivalence in informal migrant care systems in South Africa

Abstract

Migrants assuming caregiving roles for other migrants require care themselves. We report on how migrants in South Africa navigate the dual responsibilities of caregiving and self-care. 15 semistructured interviews were conducted with migrant caregivers between January and June 2023. Data were thematically analysed and interpreted through a narrative lens. Findings highlight the critical role migrant caregivers play in offering support to their communities. Despite systemic challenges, including language barriers, exclusion and personal trauma, they foster community cohesion and emotional well-being. At the heart of acts of care exists an ambivalence between identity management and the experience of trauma and exclusion.