Photos: Thom Pierce Urban Informality and Migrant Entrepreneurship in South African Cities Edited by Jonathan Crush, Abel Chikanda and Caroline Skinner Published by the Southern African Migration Programme (SAMP), the International Migration Research Centre, the African Centre for Cities (ACC) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). ISBN 978-1-920596-11-8 First published 2015 Copies will be available through the IMRC at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, 67 Erb Street West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 6C2, Canada and the ACC at the University of Cape Town, Environmental & Geographical Science Building, Upper Campus, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa Urban Informality and Migrant Entrepreneurship in South African Cities Edited by Jonathan Crush, Abel Chikanda and Caroline Skinner This book, which will be available in April 2015, provides a wide-ranging analysis of the informal sector and migrant entrepreneurship in South Africa’s cities. With unemployment rampant in the formal sector, the informal economy has emerged as a major source of income and livelihoods for poor urban households. Although the numbers of international migrants are frequently exaggerated, it is clear that they play a crucial role in the informal economies of South African cities. However, their importance of that role is largely invisible to researchers and policymakers. This 12-chapter book aims to draw attention to what it is that migrant entrepreneurs bring to their adopted country through analysis of research into previously unexamined areas and aspects of migrant entrepreneurship. In a chapter, “Doing Business with Xenophobia,” the authors present SAMP research which shows that levels of xenophobia in South Africa are extremely high, with denial permeating the country, including government. They note that policy-makers need to address the xenophobia inherent in the frequent and regular attacks on migrants and their businesses and seek solutions that recognize the economic value migrants bring to the country. Migrant trading activity in Johannesburg’s inner city is looked at from various perspectives by different authors and Somali spaza shops in Cape Town are the focal point of another chapter. The factors that make Chinese shops in Johannesburg successful are set out, as well as interesting survey results on Cameroonian migrants in Durban. Cross-border trade, with fascinating aspects of this constant movement of people, goods and money, is covered in two chapters; and the role of networks in entrepreneurial success is discussed in another. Urban Informality and Migrant Entrepreneurship in South African Cities goes a considerable way towards meeting the need for accurate data, analysis and assessment of the contribution of migrant entrepreneurs to the informal economies and other aspects of cities in South Africa.