Informal township businesses and socio-economic challenges: a case of South Africa = Izinselelo zamabhizinisi nenhlalomnotho yasemikhukhwini: ucwaningo lubhekiswe eNingizimu Afrikha.

Abstract

Most African countries continue to face challenges that negatively impact social wellbeing and the economy of the country such as unemployment, poverty, poor educational systems, gender inequality, income inequality, and poor health care systems. South Africa is no exception to these challenges and has recently faced another challenge, namely an increase in immigration. Immigration growth in SA has, inter alia, contributed to informal business growth in most townships in the country. Economic activities taking place in townships areas have an important role of ameliorating some of the existing socio-economic challenges for township residents. SA’s growth potential lies in promoting economic activities taking place in township communities. This thesis discusses the rise and nature of informal businesses across SA and within the Inanda, Ntuzuma and Kwamashu (INK) townships in relation to existing socio-economic challenges and provides insight into how informal businesses may help to ameliorate the socio-economic challenges citizens face. Using secondary data sourced from the Survey of Employers and Self-Employed for the period 2001–2017, a descriptive analysis was conducted to understand informal business activities and ownership nationally. Primary data was also collected (through a survey questionnaire) for the analysis of local versus foreign INK informal business ownership and activities, analysed through the descriptive analysis and multivariate econometric models (earnings regression model and probit model estimating improvement in standard of living of participants). The two econometric models were estimated on STATA software to determine how participation in INK informal business ownership and income generated may affect socio-economic conditions of participants. This study considers both aggregate information on the informal economy and micro level information through primary data collection and will therefore further the understanding of informal businesses on the ground, by permitting a level of questioning and information gathering that is not possible in the collection of aggregate data.

Iqoqa.

Amazwe amaningi ase-Afrikha asaqhubeka nokubhekana nezinselelo ezinomthelela omubi kuyinhlalakahle yomphakathi nomnotho welizwe njengomsebenzi, ukuhlupheka, uhlelo lwezemfundo olubi, ukungalingani ngobulili, ukungalingani kwamaholo kanye nohlelo lokunakelela ngezempilo olubi. INingizimu Afrikha ayikhishiwe ngaphandle kwalezi zinselelo, kamuva nje ibhekene nezinye izingqinamba njengokukhula kwesibalo sabokufika. Ukukhula kwezifikanamthwalo e-SA phakathi kokunye, inter alia, kube nesandla ekukhuleni kwamabhizinisi angekho emthethweni ezweni. Imisebenzi yezomnotho eyenzeka ezindaweni ezingamalokishi inomsebenzi omkhulu wokwenza ngcono ezinye zezingqinamba zenhlalomnotho ezivele zikhona kubahlali basemalokishini. Amandla okukhula kwe-SA alele ekuthuthukiseni imisebenzi yezomnotho otholakala emiphakathini yasemalokishini. Le thesisi ixoxa ngokukhula nobunjalo bamabhizinisi angekho emthethweni e-SA yonke emalokishini INanda, iNtuzuma naKwamashu (INK) mayena nezingqinamba zenhlalomnotho ekhona bese iletha ukuqonda ukuthi amabhizinisi angekho emthethweni angasiza kanjani ukwenza ngcono izingqinamba zenhlalomnotho izakhamizi ezibhekene nazo. Kwasetshenziswa imininingo yesigaba sesibili somthombo WeSaveyi Yabaqashi Nabazisebenzayo besikhathi esisuka onyakeni wezi-2001-2017, iSurvey of Employers and Self-Employed, uhlaziyo olucacisayo lwenziwa ukuze kuqondwe ngemisebenzi yamabhizinisi angekho emthethweni nobunikazi kuzwelonke. Imininingo yesigaba sokuqala yaqoqwa nayo (ngokusebenzisa uhlu lwemibuzo yesaveyi) ukuze kuhlaziywe imisebenzi nobunikazi bamabhizinisi angekho emthethweni kuqhathaniswa nemisebenzi namabhizinisi angekho emthethweni e-INK eyendawo kuqhathananiswa nawangaphandle, kuhlaziya kusetshenziswa ukuhlaziya okucacisayo namamodeli ohlaziyongxube lwezomnotho (imodeli yempindelamuva yemali engenayo nemodeli yenzuzo ehlawumbisela ukuthuthukiswa kwezinga lokuphila kwababambiqhaza). Amamodeli amabili ezokomnotho zahlahlawumbiselwa kuhlelokusebenza i-STATA ukusho ukuthi kungakanani ukubamba iqhaza lobunikazi bamabhizinisi angekho emthethweni e-INK nengenisomali eyenziwe ingaphazamisa izimo zenhlalomnotho zababambiqhaza. Lolu cwaningo lwabheka lolubili ulwazimvama emnothweni ongekho emthethweni nolwazi lwezinga elincane oluqoqwe emininingweni yesigaba sokuqala ngalokho luyoqhubela phambili ukuqonda amabhizinisi angekho emthethweni akhona, ngokuvumela izinga lokubuza nokuqoqwa kolwazi okungenzeki kumininingomvama eqoqiwe.