Over the last decade, African immigrants have been met with and exposed to severe manifestations of hostility to their presence in South Africa. A significant number of these migrants have successfully applied their entrepreneurial flair in establishing small enterprises and employing workers, often to the envy of their local counterparts. This paper presents the findings of an empirical study conducted in 2007 on job creation for South Africans by African immigrant entrepreneurs, including face-to-face interviews with 120 African immigrant entrepreneurs. These findings were triangulated with 7 non-governmental organisations that interact with immigrants in Cape Town. A review of the literature on migration, entrepreneurship and immigrant entrepreneurs formed the basis for the study. The findings indicate that more than 80 per cent of African immigrant entrepreneurs interviewed employ South Africans in their businesses. Despite a generally negative national perception of immigrants, this study has also revealed that entrepreneurial skills are transferred from immigrant entrepreneurs to their South African employees. While the study was conducted only in the suburban areas of Cape Town, the researcher believes that the results represent the general trend in South Africa. Further, the study involved only migrants from the African continent. The overall result is an acknowledgement of the contribution that non-citizens are making to the country's growth and development. The findings include recommendations relevant to policy changes on South African immigration law, to inclusive research on the role of immigrants in job creation in South Africa, and to the need for consideration of immigrant entrepreneurs in the allocation of financial support.

The primary objective of this study was to discover the challenges in operating micro-enterprises by African

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate migration reasons, traits and entrepreneurial motivation of African immigrant entrepreneurs in Cape Town, South Africa, as there is limited research on immigrant entrepreneurship in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical research was conducted under mixed methods paradigm where primary data were gathered from a sample of 93 participants using the convenience sampling technique. Data were gathered through a survey of 72 semi-structured personal interviews and 21 self-administered questionnaires and analysed using SPSS version 21. Findings – The empirical research unveiled that immigrant entrepreneurs migrate into South Africa for different reasons: political instability and economic reasons were the chief reasons for migration. Immigrants engage into necessity entrepreneurship as a need to survive in the host country and to confront discrimination in the job market. Therefore, immigrant entrepreneurs in Cape Town are pushed, rather than pulled, towards entrepreneurship. Practical implications – This paper also suggests further research that will evaluate education levels of immigrant entrepreneurs in South Africa, as there is a controversy about the education levels of immigrant entrepreneurs. Social implications – South Africans need to understand that African foreign entrepreneurs are job creators rather than job takers and to be aware of the skills brought into the country by these entrepreneurs. Accordingly, the current study contributes to peaceful cohabitation between South Africans and African foreign entrepreneurs. Originality/value – This paper provides an empirical analysis of migration reasons, traits and entrepreneurial motivation of African immigrant entrepreneurs in South Africa and also provides an entrepreneurial migration progression.

Purpose This paper aims to determine how cultural values (language and religion) impact on entrepreneurial intentions of students at the University of Cape Town, University of Stellenbosch University of the Western Cape and Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Design/methodology/approach This empirical study was conducted under mixed-methods approach, using survey-correlational strategy. Primary data were collected from a sample of 278 students. A questionnaire survey was used to collect data which were coded and analysed using SPSS version 22. Findings The empirical findings reveal that the cultural variable of language influences entrepreneurial intentions among university students, while the variable of language was not found as such and this is in accordance with the literature reviewed. Research limitations/implications This study only concerned entrepreneurship university students in Cape Town. Though these universities host students from all corners of the country, their views cannot be said to represent the opinions of all other entrepreneurship students in the whole country. Practical implications These findings should encourage the stakeholders (learners, parents and educators) to use and practice the language that present the facilities in understanding more about entrepreneurship, such as the availability of written information. Social implications The study can be a catalyst to some societies which do not encourage their children to speak foreign languages to become aware of the advantages those languages do offer. Originality/value This is a unique study of its kind in Cape Town universities and presents findings that allow to know more than previously known about the topic of entrepreneurial intentions.

Entrepreneurial self-efficacy is best perceived as a multidimensional variable built from individuals’ beliefs about their abilities and capabilities for tackling the challenges and nurture entrepreneurial intentions towards the establishment of a new venture. Numerous studies are unanimous about the insufficient level of entrepreneurship in South Africa, as well as its below average total entrepreneurial activity of 7.8per cent compared to all efficiency-driven economies (developed countries) which have 11.4 per cent of activity. This study conducted in Cape Town—South Africa—aims at identifying the factors of self-efficacy and the role self-efficacy plays in rising entrepreneurial intentions among university students. Data were collected with the use of a questionnaire survey, where entrepreneurship students were the respondents. SPSS 22 was used to conduct bivariate and multivariate tests of statistical significance. The reliability of the data collection instrument was tested with the use of Cronbach’s Alpha and the variable of self-efficacy scored a reliability level of 0.877. The validity was ensured by the assessment of the instrument by two statisticians and two academics who are experts in their fields. The findings reveal the existence of a positive relationship between entrepreneurship university students’ self-efficacy and their entrepreneurial intentions. Recommendations to enhance self-efficacy among students and other aspiring business people have been formulated.