<p>In post the apartheid South Africa, the down of democracy in 1994 positioned the country as one of the most preferred countries for migrants as compared to other African countries. Migrants were attracted to South Africa due to the political stability, constitutional protection of human right and economic opportunities. However, as migrants come into South Africa in huge numbers, the South African economy shrank and drawn a lot of anti-migrants and social exclusion from South Africans. Thus, this study was aimed to explore the lived experiences and human rights challenges of African migrants in Ba-Phalaborwa. The researchers used the qualitative approach and interpretative phenomenological research design to conduct this study. A combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques was used to sample the participants. A total of nine African migrants participated in the study. Data were collected using semi-structured face-to-face interviews and analysed thematically. The study found that there is limited social integration of migrants in the Ba-Phalaborwa community, with minimal participation in community activities. However, other migrants have been involved in community activities through faith-based and charitable platforms. In addition, migrants experienced mixed feelings, in which others reported being discriminated and socially excluded in the community, whilst others felt a sense of belonging. In general, migrants experience inclusion, safety concerns, and their participation in community activities remain context dependent. Migrants create social networks to have a sense of belonging and for emotional support. Using ecosystems theory, it emerged that migrants have difficulty accessing services due to the lack of proper documentation. The study recommends strengthening community integration initiatives that promote social cohesion and meaningful participation of migrants in line with ecosystems theory.</p>