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Mail & Guardian

Informal Economy

latest news & developments
SOUTH AFRICA

SA needs law, order and unity, not violence and hatred

South Africa grapples with serious challenges surrounding immigration and xenophobia. This moment demands calm leadership to address public concerns about jobs, crime, and…

  • Mampapatla Madikoto
4 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa. (GCIS)
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Ramaphosa touts youth jobs drive as StatsSA data paints grim unemployment picture

The statistics agency’s youth report notes worsening joblessness, hunger and safety concerns among South Africa’s youth

  • Nkateko Joseph Mabasa
6 min read
The Institute for Security Studies launched its Prospects 2043 report on Tuesday, with strong leadership seen as key to long-term stability in South Africa. (Photo by Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images)
ALIZE LE ROUX

GNU has ‘rekindled hope’ that South Africa can prosper, says ISS

The Institute for Security Studies launched its Prospects 2043 report on Tuesday, with strong leadership seen as key to long-term stability in the country This content is…

  • Des Erasmus
1 min read
CONSTITUTION

Street traders play a vital role in South Africa: How their rights can be protected

The South African informal economy accounts for 17% of employment. Street trading is the largest, and sells a vast range of products.

  • Nonhlanhla Ngcobo & Anél du Plessis
4 min read
If you build it, they will come: Mall construction in QwaQwa. Big retailers have been growing their presence in township malls for a couple of decades; now they are trying out smaller formats too. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
2021 SOUTH AFRICAN TOWNSHIP MARKETING REPORT

A bigger slice of the pie: Retailers find ways to cash in on township economy

The South African informal economy market is much sought-after, with the big, formal-sector supermarkets all looking to grow their share

  • Anathi Madubela
6 min read
People flee from police as they carry goods while looting and vandalising the Lotsoho Mall in Katlehong township, East of Johannesburg, on July 12, 2021. – Several shops are damaged and cars burnt in Johannesburg, following a night of violence. Police are on the scene trying to control further protests. It is unclear if this is linked to sporadic protests following the incarceration of former president Jacob Zuma. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP) (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)
CITY ECONOMIES

Learn from the riots: Link our formal and informal economies

The looting and violence has shown that South Africa is yet to realise hybrid and diverse economies in which micro-businesses can co-exist alongside large businesses and shopping…

  • Kopano Ntsoane
5 min read
Volunteers and local workers take part in the clean up operation at the looted Bara Mall in Soweto, on July 15, 2020. – Many South Africans, taking matters into their own hands in a country where few rely on a chronically failing state, have started to clean up and repair. And the South African presidency even tweeted its thanks to “those who clean up”. (Photo by LUCA SOLA / AFP)
ESKOM

Rebuttal: Township malls should be rebuilt

Tshepo Mokholo’s article on township malls misses some Kasi’s economic and social points

  • Mabu Raphotle
5 min read
According to Statistics South Africa’s most recent quarterly labour force survey, there were almost three million workers in the informal sector at the end of 2019. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CHILD GRANTS

Children who trade are an important part of the economy

The government should do more to develop and upskill these young entrepreneurs who are already street smart

  • Keabetswe Mogosoane
4 min read
ALCOHOL

Alcohol and tobacco: Time for a reality check

If the government relaxes its total ban, there’s more chance of people modifying their behaviour, for example, not sharing cigarettes or drinking from the same bottle

  • David Dickinson
6 min read
BEE

BEE must address needs of informal economy

Research shows that existing approaches have been wholly inadequate for addressing the needs of South Africa’s informal economy

  • Tessa Dooms
  • Khwezi Mabasa
4 min read
A strategy witha broader view of informal employment must focus on increasing the incomes and improving the conditions of workers in all informal sectors of the eonomy. (Photo: David Harrison)
ILO

Informal economies are diverse

South African policies need to recognise thi

  • Mike Rogan
6 min read
Despite its size, government support and financial services are not available to the informal sector, and this is the key issue holding its growth back. (Photos: Paul Botes and David Harrison)
ENTREPRENEURSHIP

How to grow the informal sector

Author GG Alcock has solutions to grow the kasi economy

  • Tehillah Nieselow
5 min read
A major problem for businesses during lockdown is that they are not getting money coming in, so they have little liquidity. (Paul Botes/M&G)
INFORMAL ECONOMY

The missed opportunity: SMMEs in the South African economy

Entrepreneurs in South Africa have found wasy to innovate for the finance that their businesses need

  • Sonqoba Vuba
12 min read