Although South African society has progressed tremendously since the advent of democracy, many people, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable members of society, remain trapped by entrenched settlement and migration patterns.  Migration is, in many ways, a response to structural disequilibria between and within sectors of the economy and much pressure for migration is created by the deepening and widening inequality in income and opportunities within the country, and between South Africa and its neighbours.  Migration patterns and trends have far-reaching impacts on the social, economic and environmental conditions in the areas of origin and destination and the process is hence often, mistakenly, described as a problem.  However, it should be understood that migration is often a central component of households’ livelihood strategies, and that it not only offers hope for the future, but that it could play a vital role in redressing past inequities.