Masters Degrees (Development Studies)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10413/6663

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Adaption and survival: perspectives and experiences of migrants in an urban township in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2022) Mazibuko, Philane Bongumusa.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
South Africa is currently facing a growing number of migrants from other countries. This qualitative study investigates the dilemma of being a migrant in South Africa. The overall objective was to explore the perspectives and experiences of migrants in Newcastle, South Africa. Particular attention is given to exploring how the migrants negotiate the often controversial social, economic, cultural, and political realities in the urban towns of KwaZulu-Natal. The South African case is subject to investigation, particularly regarding the migration system. In this study, the data was collected using in-depth interviews. Interviews were held with 20 migrants, both men, and women, living in Newcastle KwaZulu-Natal. All participants were migrants from various African countries such as Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Congo, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Nigeria. The study found that migrants use different livelihood strategies to survive in South Africa, and their level of education does not allow them to work in the formal sector. This study found that migrants work as street traders to earn income, buy, and sell goods at an affordable price, and they use their skills to make and sell a range of products. Furthermore, migrants work as hairdressers, restaurant waiters, welders, bricklayers, and shopkeepers to earn income. Other migrants have families in South Africa as well as in their home countries. Migrants send home part of their earnings in the form of either cash or goods to support their families, these transfers are known as a worker or migrant remittances. Migrants are vulnerable to crime and xenophobia, they become abused and exploited by the local people since they are not from South Africa, they even call them derogatory names. Most participants observed that they are surviving in South Africa, nevertheless, they are concerned with their safety. The study recommends that there must be a strong awareness among police that everyone has a right and deserves respect and protection, regardless of who they are and whether they have any legal documentation.
Exploring the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the informal economy in Durban, South Africa.
(2023) Mhlangu, Thulile Sinethemba.; Khambule, Isaac Bheki.
The informal economy in South Africa is predominantly characterised by the presence of women and the working poor. The flexibility in entry and exit in the informal sector enables the marginalised and those with low skills to gain entry in this particular sector. Informality is quite prevalent in developing countries as the economies have less economic diversification. The high levels of unemployment in South Africa influence the growth of the informal sector as a method of livelihood. The informal economy has minimal protection, exposing those operating in the informal sector to social and economic shocks. The eThekwini region is noted as one of the busiest hubs in South Africa and has a strong presence of informal traders. It is impossible to ignore the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, which has caused a huge instability in the daily lives of South Africans. Against this background, the aim of this study was to explore the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on informal workers in the eThekwini Region. This study has also identified and explored the various livelihood and socio-economic challenges encountered by the informal workers in the region. Methodologically, the study utilised secondary data analysis as a data collection tool, informed by the mixed methods approach. The study’s data is based on a survey conducted with 150 informal workers in eThekwini on the impact of COVID-19 on their livelihoods. The key finding reveal that the Covid-19 brought upon great hardship and challenges in the informal businesses and the livelihoods dependent on the sector due to the closure of economic activities during the height of the pandemic. There was insufficient distribution of Covid-19 relief funds by the government and the local municipality towards informal workers in the midst of being barred from earning a living. Additionally, there is a huge gap for social security in the informal sector in the eThekwini region. While the resilient informal workers in eThekwini region have returned to trading (despite being unable to recover post-Covid income), most aspire for better protection in the midst of social and economic shocks.
Post-Covid 19 recovery and resilience in Cato Manor, Durban.
(2022) Dlamini, Andisiwe Nomvelo.; Mottiar, Shauna.
The Coronavirus disease that has come to be popularly known as the Covid-19 pandemic has become more than a health crisis as it has exposed the vulnerabilities that exist in our country and within our communities. The declaration of the National State of Disaster was subsequently followed by the implementation of the national lockdown that commenced at midnight on the 26th of March 2020. As a country we quickly had to adapt to what was termed the “new normal”. We had to adapt to the mandatory wearing of face masks, curfews as well as the closure of schools for a longer period of time. The lockdown regulations put a limit of economic activities which threatened people’s livelihoods. The impact of these changes was unequally experienced amongst our societies and revealed the dire socio-economic conditions that our societies are faced with. This study explored the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in Cato Manor and the level of resilience of the residents from the pandemic shocks. This was done through conducting faceto-face interviews with twelve members of households in Cato Manor which falls under the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. The qualitative methodology applied aimed to gain an in-depth insight into the residents’ experiences and realities during Covid-19. The study also aimed to get a sense of what the post-recovery phase would entail amongst the citizens in our communities. The responses to the questions posed to the were transcribed and analyzed with the aid of NVivo analysis software to generate codes and themes. From the findings it can be highlighted that the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the plight of unemployment in Cato Manor, that was present prior to the pandemic, especially amongst the youth. The study also found that the pandemic had an impact on the informal businesses of Cato Manor. It can also be noted that Cato Manor residents relied on the social grants to prevent them from falling into poverty combined with the use of the newly introduced SRD grant which they relied on buy basic necessities. Moving away from the pandemic, the post-recovery plans for the residents include looking for and securing employment as well as starting up businesses and picking up those businesses that existed prior to the pandemic.
The role of civil society organisations in the provision of adequate housing to citizens: the case of Abahlali baseMjondolo (ABM)
(2022) Mhlongo, Nhlakanipho Wiseman.; Mottiar, Shauna.
Housing is an essential component of the social and personal life of every individual. Housing the nation is one of the greatest challenges facing the South African government. To address the housing challenge, the South African government introduced several policies such as the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) in 1994 and 10 years later, the Breaking New Ground (BNG) in 2004. Despite the adoption of these policies, the housing crisis in South Africa’s continues to worsen each year as Hartmann (2019) indicates the housing backlog in South Africa stands at 2.3. million houses and it is growing by approximately 178 000 houses a year. With this in mind, the study sought to understand the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in the provision of adequate housing to citizens. It investigates this through the case study of Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM) which is a CSO that was established in 2005 by shack dwellers in Kennedy Road in Durban, within the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study method was qualitative. The sample consisted of ten participants, and purposive sampling was used while selecting the five AbM members and snowballing sampling was utilised to sample shack dwellers and an interview schedule was applied. The study revealed that AbM is not a political organisation, but it is a social movement meant to address the issue of housing and land as well as restoring the dignity of a black person. The organization is committed to building a just society where people enjoy equality and access to opportunities. Findings also revealed that the organization seeks to improve the living conditions of shack dwellers through the provision of basic services and assisting them in the provision of adequate shelter. In the delivery of adequate housing to the citizens, the study findings indicate that AbM plays a role of empowerment, advocacy and promoting participation. Furthermore, AbM uses five (5) strategies in the delivery of housing to the citizens namely, engagement, issuing media statements, holding marches and protests, litigation and/or the use of the legislation as well as land occupation. The study also discovered that there are several challenges faced by AbM while attempting to play a role in the delivery of housing to the citizens. AbM members and shack dwellers face brutal and violent evictions at the hands of law enforcement officers. Furthermore, some AbM members have been killed while trying to assist the citizens in terms of housing. Despite the challenges, AbM has had success in the delivery of adequate housing, and they have been recognized by international institutions for their effort. The research also discovered that AbM has a good relationship with other CSOs. However, the relationship between AbM and local government is a concern and borders on animosity. Based on the study findings, this study concludes with a proposition of a number of recommendations for CSOs and the government on how to work together to deliver adequate housing to the citizens. There is a need for cooperation between all spheres of government and CSOs. Furthermore, the research recommends that the delivery of services and housing should be de-politicized.

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Development Studies) by SDG "SDG1"