Presenter: Dr Catherine Musuva
Date: Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Time: 12:30 – 13:45
Venue: ACMS Seminar Room: Room 2163, Solomon Mahlangu House (2nd floor), East Campus, Wits University (directions)
Zoom link: https://wits-za.zoom.us/j/95786624514?pwd=53Oi1h6gHcWY2Q43O0p8ZqzOsOLZXp.1
Register: https://tinyurl.com/4zxkc7s8
Abstract:
This research examines the extent to which South Africans living abroad are interested in participating in homeland elections. South Africa has a relatively large emigrant population, and non-resident citizens enjoy the right to vote in national elections. Yet, electoral behaviour is largely studied through a domestic voter lens, and the factors that influence emigrant political behaviour are not fully understood despite the growing interest of migration scholars and political scientists in external voting globally. A historical analysis of external voting data from the electoral commission of South Africa reveals that uptake is very low and opposition parties are the main beneficiaries of external votes. The research theorises on explanations for the data and contributes to broader debates on migrant agency, citizenship and transnational political participation.
About the researcher/presenter:
Dr Catherine Musuva is a senior researcher and postgraduate coordinator at the African Centre for Migration and Society (ACMS) at Wits. She is also a research fellow at the Centre for Research on Democracy (CREDO) at Stellenbosch University. Musuva holds a BA in International Relations, an MA in Development Management, an MPhil in Development Studies and a PhD in Political Science. Her research interests are broadly around democratic development and migration governance in Africa.
