This study focused on the impact of vegetable sales on household income of hawkers in the Limpopo province. A stratified sampling technique was used. The population of hawkers was selected from the five district municipalities of the province. Three major towns from each district were randomly selected for 366 questionnaire administration. Multiple regression analysis (linear, semi-log and double-log) was used to determine the impact of vegetable sales on the household income of hawkers. The outcome of the study revealed that, nine independent variables had a significant impact on the vegetable sales of hawkers when the linear regression model was applied. On application of the semi-log regression, 11 independent variables had a significant impact on the vegetable sales. Ten independent variables had a significant impact on vegetable sales when considering the double-log regression. The cross tabulation of total sales according to districts showed that an average of 1.6 respondents earned less than R200 which is close to, but lower than R174 which is the poverty line measure in South Africa. The study showed the degree of significance of different variables that have an impact on hawkers’ vegetable sales. Vegetable hawkers generate enough income from their sales to live above the poverty line. The recommendation was that the local municipalities should build new markets and improve the infrastructure of existing markets, and also provide proper sanitation and clean water to avoid unhygienic situations in hawkers’ markets. / Agriculture and  Animal Health / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

This study focused on the impact of vegetable sales on household income of hawkers in the Limpopo province. A stratified sampling technique was used. The population of hawkers was selected from the five district municipalities of the province. Three major towns from each district were randomly selected for 366 questionnaire administration. Multiple regression analysis (linear, semi-log and double-log) was used to determine the impact of vegetable sales on the household income of hawkers. The outcome of the study revealed that, nine independent variables had a significant impact on the vegetable sales of hawkers when the linear regression model was applied. On application of the semi-log regression, 11 independent variables had a significant impact on the vegetable sales. Ten independent variables had a significant impact on vegetable sales when considering the double-log regression. The cross tabulation of total sales according to districts showed that an average of 1.6 respondents earned less than R200 which is close to, but lower than R174 which is the poverty line measure in South Africa. The study showed the degree of significance of different variables that have an impact on hawkers’ vegetable sales. Vegetable hawkers generate enough income from their sales to live above the poverty line. The recommendation was that the local municipalities should build new markets and improve the infrastructure of existing markets, and also provide proper sanitation and clean water to avoid unhygienic situations in hawkers’ markets. / Agriculture and  Animal Health / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Various studies have found that South Africa’s high unemployment rate contributes to poverty, inequality, crime and ill-health. Furthermore, South African low to middle-income households are characterised by a high debt to income ratio which contributes to low or negative savings rates. This has left many households vulnerable to financials risk and shocks. This research examined how households with low-income or no income manage to cope on a daily basis. The research adopted an auto ethnography method. During the initial phase of the fieldwork the researcher observed participants over a period of more than a year in the provinces of Limpopo and Gauteng, this was followed by in-depth interviews with households selected using purposive and snowballing sampling. The results revealed that the most common coping strategies used by participants’ to deal with financial risks and shocks are borrowing from peers (family, friends and neighbours) and high-risk lenders i.e. mashonisas and accessing social support networks. Other strategies employed included pawning and selling of assets as well as employers’ loans. It was interesting to note that unlike studies in other countries, skipping meals were not a common coping strategy, and this could mainly be ascribed to the social support networks (Ubuntu) that were found in the communities studied. Future research is recommended on the impact of family financial obligations on households’ financial well-being. / Taxation / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)