UWCScholar :: Browsing by Author "Blaauw, Derick"

Browsing by Author "Blaauw, Derick"

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Day labor, informality and vulnerability in South Africa and the United States
(Emerald, 2014) Theodore, Nik; Blaauw, Derick; Schenck, Catherina
The purpose of this paper is to compare conditions in informal day-labor markets in South Africa and the USA to better understand the nature of worker vulnerabilities in this market, as well as the economic conditions that have contributed to the growth of day labor. The conclusion considers interventions that are underway in the two countries to improve conditions in day-labor markets.– The paper is based on national surveys of day laborers in South Africa and the USA. A random sample of day laborers seeking work at informal hiring sites was undertaken in each country. The paper presents key findings, compares conditions in South Africa and the USA, and analyzes the relationship between economic change, labor-market dynamics, and worker vulnerability.
Definitions matter: Including the socio-economic dimension as a critical component of SADC circular economy definitions
(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2022) Grobler, Lizette; Schenck, Catherina; Blaauw, Derick
Globally, scholars agree that there is a lack of clarity on the notion of the circular economy (CE) and a lack of consensus on a foundational definition of the term. Some definitions place greater emphasis on the socio-economic dimension of the CE than others. In Africa, notions of the CE are still evolving. This paper highlights the salient aspects of texts defining or informing the CE in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). In Africa, the transition to circularity is motivated by the need to stimulate job creation and income generation. At the same time, concern over mounting environmental impacts is increasing. Economic and population growth on the continent, continued urbanisation, and the resulting proliferation of municipal waste contribute to these economic, social and environmental challenges.
Double whammy wicked: street vendors and littering in Mankweng township and Paarl, South Africa—towards people‑centred urban governance
(Urban forum, 2022) Schenck, Catherina; Grobler, Lizette; Viljoen, Kotie; Blaauw, Derick; Letsoalo, Josephine
The article probes the complexity of dealing with two interrelated wicked prob lems, namely informal, self-employed street vendors, and their experiences of lit tering. This paper describes the themes that emerged from 92 qualitative interviews to determine the perceptions of street vendors regarding reasons for littering on the streets where they operate as well as their experiences of working in these littered environments. By drawing on the themes emerging from semi-structured inter views with vendors, we suggest how stakeholders could engage with the concerns = around street vending and littering by means of the use of adaptive management or co-management, engaging, and integrating diverse perspectives, the facilitation of self-organisation, and establishing safe boundaries to evade system thresholds. In this way, complexity-based strategies can promote people-centred urban governance that empowers and includes citizens in attempts to manage the wicked problems of growing cities inclusively
Enabling factors for the existence of waste pickers: A systematic review
(2016) Schenck, Rinie; Blaauw, Derick; Viljoen, Kotie
The paper reports on a systematic review research process to determine the enabling factors for waste pickers to operate in the informal economy in South Africa. Twenty-eight South African journal articles, theses and position and policy papers were sourced and appraised. The results indicate that recognition of the waste pickers in the waste system is the most enabling factor for them to operate. The concept of recognition is analysed, described and explained as assisting waste pickers to become more visible, having a voice and to be validated.
"Half a loaf is better than nothing": The risks and resilience of day labourers in Cape Town
(Social Work (South Africa), 2019) Mapendere; Schenck, Catherina; Blaauw, Derick
According to Worthington and Scherer (2004), resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or other significant sources of stress. The concept of resilience draws upon previous work in the area of psychology in which resilience is conceptualised not as an individual trait or characteristic, but as a dynamic process in the lives of people who encounter adversity or significant hardships (Van Breda, 2018; Walker, Anderies, Kinzig & Ryan, 2006). Similarly, in Van Breda’s (2018) critical review of the concept resilience, he widens the scope or definition to incorporate both the process and outcomes components. Van Breda (2018) views resilience as “multilevel processes that systems engage in to obtain better-than-expected outcomes in the face or wake of adversity”. This implies that people are seen as resilient when they respond better than expected in dealing with adversity. These ‘multilevel’ processes not only occur in the individual but also in the context of the person, which explains that there can be different pathways to resilience, depending on the unique person and his or her context. People do not respond the same way to the same adverse experience. A different pathway is referred to by Van Breda (2018) as distal-onset chronic adversity, which involves coping in the face of the adversity while it is on-going. This helps to explain how people can respond better than expected under continuous adverse circumstances such as chronic poverty and unemployment. It is in terms of this view of resilience that the risks and resilience of the day labourers at a hiring site in Parow in Cape Town were explored to understand what kind of adversity they face on a daily basis and how they deal with the difficulties on a daily basis. The results of the study will also provide direction to the social workers responses toward vulnerable groups.
“Half a loaf is better than nothing”: The risks and resilience of day labourers in Cape Town
(Stellenbosch University, 2019) Mapendere; Schenck, Catherina; Blaauw, Derick
According to Worthington and Scherer (2004), resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or other significant sources of stress. The concept of resilience draws upon previous work in the area of psychology in which resilience is conceptualised not as an individual trait or characteristic, but as a dynamic process in the lives of people who encounter adversity or significant hardships (Van Breda, 2018; Walker, Anderies, Kinzig & Ryan, 2006). Similarly, in Van Breda’s (2018) critical review of the concept resilience, he widens the scope or definition to incorporate both the process and outcomes components. Van Breda (2018) views resilience as “multilevel processes that systems engage in to obtain better-than-expected outcomes in the face or wake of adversity”. This implies that people are seen as resilient when they respond better than expected in dealing with adversity. These ‘multilevel’ processes not only occur in the individual but also in the context of the person, which explains that there can be different pathways to resilience, depending on the unique person and his or her context. People do not respond the same way to the same adverse experience. A different pathway is referred to by Van Breda (2018) as distal-onset chronic adversity, which involves coping in the face of the adversity while it is on-going. This helps to explain how people can respond better than expected under continuous adverse circumstances such as chronic poverty and unemployment. It is in terms of this view of resilience that the risks and resilience of the day labourers at a hiring site in Parow in Cape Town were explored to understand what kind of adversity they face on a daily basis and how they deal with the difficulties on a daily basis. The results of the study will also provide direction to the social workers responses toward vulnerable groups.
The opportunities and value-adding activities of buy-back centres in South Africa’s recycling industry: A value chain analysis
(SAGE, 2019) Viljoen, Jacoba; Blaauw, Derick; Schenck, Catherina
This paper investigates the entrepreneurial opportunities and value-adding activities of buy-back centres in the recycling industry. Using Porter’s firm-level value chain framework as theoretical framework for this analysis, a concurrent mixed method design was used to collect information from 67 buy-back centres across South Africa by means of face-to-face interviews, accompanied with a questionnaire with open-ended and close-ended questions. Buy-back centres’ competitive advantage is that they have the facilities to add value to the recyclables according to the recycling industry’s standards and specifications. To be viable, they need to attract large and sustainable volumes of recyclables, which often poses a challenge. Increased volumes of recyclables can translate into more jobs and income earning opportunities at all hierarchical levels in the recycling industry. A recycling model that increases the volumes of recyclables recovered by buy-back centres through informal sector activities is proposed. Such a model should facilitate changing citizen behaviour and implementation of, among others, responsible separation at source programmes to increase the volumes of cleaner recyclables. Increased supplies of recyclables should, however, be accompanied by an increase in the demand for products made from recyclables, to absorb the increased supply.
Reasons for littering: Social constructions from lower income communities in South Africa
(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2022) Schenck, Catherina; Grobler, Lizette; Blaauw, Derick
Littering has been defined as the careless and improper disposal of small amounts of waste that results in unwanted and unnatural elements remaining in the environment. People tend to blame external factors for their own littering. A person seldom refers to themselves as being the litterer but will rather place the blame on insufficient infrastructure, such as lack of bins, or on other persons. When referring to other people, they identify problematic behaviour and personal traits such as ignorance, naivety, need for convenience, laziness and inattentiveness as causes of littering. This study addressed the gap in the literature on the socially constructed perceptions people hold about reasons for littering in the South African context, as subjectively perceived reasons for littering may correspond with actual causes and could point towards options for tackling the littering problem. Five lower socio-economic areas in South Africa – particularly those that experience major infrastructural challenges – were included in the study. Qualitative semistructured interviews were held with 322 residents from the respective areas.
Researching a Deposit Return System for South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2024) Grant, Andy; Elliott, Laurence; Ainger, Nicola; Schenck, Catherina; Nell, Charlotte; Flatman, Tom; Grobler, Lizette; Van Hille, Rob; Blaauw, Derick; Edwards, Bonte; Chandewar, Vedashree; Kaminska, Magdalena; Loots, Olivia
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) in association with Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd. (Eunomia) is pleased to announce the findings of a study on the feasibility, cost, and impact of a proposed mandatory single-use beverage Deposit Return System (DRS) for South Africa. The study was co-funded by the Norwegian Embassy and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (Alliance). The report provides a tailored DRS for single-use beverage packaging designed to meet the needs of South Africa. The report indicates that under such a system, collection rates for beverage containers can increase significantly, particularly for plastic bottles and glass bottles. A deposit level of ZAR 1 could achieve collection rates as high as 90% – higher than South Africa’s existing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets. An important aspect of this study has been on-the-ground research into key aspects that define the South African context. This involved engaging with the informal economy through waste reclaimer interviews and workshops, as well as surveying Buy Back Centres (BBCs) – which purchase recyclable materials from waste reclaimers and other suppliers – and informal retailers and HORECA establishments. The research undertaken for this study also included a market overview consisting of field surveys and data analysis, and a literature review of South African legislation and DRS/EPR legislation from nations in Africa and beyond. In terms of environmental impact, the DRS is projected to deliver a substantial net reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, ranging from 119 to 294 thousand tonnes CO2e per year. These reductions are expected on both the low and high placed-on-the-market (PoM) baselines and across two return route scenarios.
A three-pronged approach to waste composition determination
(Elsevier, 2022-02-01) Nell, Charlotte; Schenck, Catherina; Blaauw, Derick; Grobler, Lizette; Viljoen, Kotie
Understanding solid waste composition has frequently been cited as one of the most valuable resources to those responsible for the proper management of solid waste. The unique contribution of this article lies in the fact that a waste characterisation study, conducted in a remote rural town in South Africa, was combined with an illegal dumping contents mapping and a household survey. This enabled researchers to gain a more thorough understanding of household waste management practices and challenges in this community, bridging the knowledge gap that is created when illegal dumping and household perceptions are omitted from waste characterisation studies in study areas where illegal dumping is an ongoing concern. The study therefore contributes to understanding the waste behaviour of households within the larger context of the town's waste management practices. Results indicate that, in order for municipalities to fully understand how to manage their waste, the contents of illegal dumping, where present, and household surveys should also be included in waste characterisation assessments.
Towards a circular economy: A cross-case analysis of recycling in three South African towns
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2023) Pretorius, Anmar; Blaauw, Derick; Schenck, Rinie
The concept of circular economy includes three aspects from a human perspective, namely Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Studying human behaviour is important in understanding and evaluating the possible success of any of the three elements. We explored the link between household waste practices and local governments’ ability to provide proper waste management, as stipulated in the South African Constitution, as well as the factors linked to different waste management practices through a crosscase analysis using a mixed-method research design. Households in Calvinia, Philippolis and Polokwane handle waste differently due to different levels of municipal waste services rendered and the availability of local recycling options.

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