The notion of migrant labour is based from a legal framework system that did not recognize 'homelands' or 'reserves' as part of the Union of South Africa, hence employment seekers travelling outside of the homelands  and those who had already secured employment within the Union of South Africa were considered migrant labourers. Migrant labourers across Southern Africa, from the Transkei (modern day Mthatha) and Rhodesia (modern day Zimbabwe), undertook lengthy jouneys from the kraal to gold and diamond mines seeking employemnt. Migrant labourers were accomodated in hostels on the outskirts of townships.