COVID-19, migration and inclusive cities through e-governance: strategies to manage asylum seekers in Durban, South Africa
Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance
ISSN: 2398-5038
Article publication date: 25 August 2021
Issue publication date: 6 April 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the role of electronic governance (e-governance) in enabling asylum seekers’ access to public services in the city of Durban, South Africa. Because of COVID-19, the government scaled down its operations, limiting access to public services, including among migrants.
Design/methodology/approach
Because of COVID-19-related restrictions, a systematic review was conducted of the relevant academic literature as well as the information portals of relevant government departments, municipalities and research reports on migration and refugees in South Africa. A total of 320 peer-reviewed research articles were identified. These were filtered and 68 relevant articles were selected.
Findings
The study found that asylum seekers have limited access to public services via information communication technology-enabled mechanisms. Whilst the city government has embraced e-governance, it is still in its nascent stages.
Research limitations/implications
This study was limited to a desktop one because of COVID-19 restrictions and it focused exclusively on asylum seekers. Therefore, its findings can only be generalised to this category of people.
Practical implications
Future studies on this subject should gather data from all categories of migrants to gain in-depth perspectives.
Social implications
All spheres of governance in South Africa should recognise asylum seekers as a constituency that deserves access to public services. E-governance can facilitate easier access to these services, and policies need to be aligned with this reality.
Originality/value
This study examined the efficacy of e-governance in enabling access to government services by asylum seekers during COVID-19. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no other study on this subject was conducted during this period.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Disclosure of interest statement: There are no financial interests or benefits arising from applying this research to either authors of this articles.Funding declaration: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.Declaration of any conflict of interest: None.
Citation
Kariuki, P., Goyayi, M.L. and Ofusori, L.O. (2022), "COVID-19, migration and inclusive cities through e-governance: strategies to manage asylum seekers in Durban, South Africa", Digital Policy, Regulation and Governance, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 141-161. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPRG-08-2020-0114
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited