Analysis of the livelihoods of female scrap collectors in the rural Eastern Cape of South Africa
| dc.contributor.advisor | Schenck, Catherina | |
| dc.contributor.author | Xweso, Mzukisi | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-02-24T13:20:21Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-02-24T13:20:21Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023 | |
| dc.description.abstract | In South Africa, social inequality, unemployment, and poverty are widespread, particularly in the post-apartheid era. The rural Eastern Cape of South Africa vividly displays the injustices, as impoverished populations continue to face harsh situations and low living standards. Despite the government's commitment to raising living standards in rural areas, progress has been extremely slow, and women have borne the brunt of poverty, often being forced to eke out meagre existences by collecting and selling scrap to Durban's Buy-Back Centres (BBCs). This study sought to analyse the livelihoods of female metal scrap collectors in the rural Eastern Cape of South Africa using the sustainable livelihood framework (SLF) as a lens. Data from the study participants were gathered using both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques, leaning on multiple or collective case study design. The study's population consisted of female scrap collectors who were found along the N2 highway, which runs through rural Eastern Cape. The study was carried out in four phases: reconnaissance in phase one, quantitative research (questionnaires) in phase two, qualitative interviews in phase three, and data triangulation in phase four. Three case studies in the Eastern Cape from which data was gathered (Phase 2 and 3) have been identified as a result of the reconnaissance (phase 1), namely, Mthatha, Qumbu and Elliotdale (also known as Xhora). Convenient sampling was used to select the research sample in both phase 2 (quantitative) and phase 3 (qualitative interviews). | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10566/20114 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of the Western Cape | |
| dc.subject | Waste picker | |
| dc.subject | Recycling | |
| dc.subject | Rural area | |
| dc.subject | Livelihood | |
| dc.subject | Unemployment | |
| dc.title | Analysis of the livelihoods of female scrap collectors in the rural Eastern Cape of South Africa | |
| dc.type | Thesis |