Even the economic motives for migration are gender-specific, with women going to South Africa largely to trade and men to work, most in formal employment. Related to the differences in the purpose of migration, men and women go to different destinations in South Africa. Male migration is closely tied to places of employment, notably the mines, whereas female migration is to towns and cities offering opportunities for informal-sector trade and the procurement of a range of goods and services. The decision process and physical logistics of female migration differ from those of men. In addition, although women's migration cannot be seen merely as an adjunct to male migration, women's migration is still commonly tied to that of men, with many women travelling to South Africa for the express purpose of visiting male family members.
Women visit South Africa for shorter time periods, and are more likely than men to migrate legally.
The social and economic behaviour of people migrating to South Africa is gender-specific, reflecting the different motivations and patterns of male and female migration. Men are more likely to have established social networks in South Africa, arising from their longer periods of stay in single locations and their ties to workplace-based social structures. Men participate more formally in the South African economy, while women's migration experience is shaped by the temporary and contingent social and economic interactions involved in trading and retail activity. Both genders, migrants and non-migrants alike, hold generally favourable impressions of life in South Africa, although they would still generally prefer to remain in their home country. The impacts of migration, both positive and negative, are well understood by the men and women affected.