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Women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming in post-apartheid South Africa: an analysis of governmental policy frameworks and practicesMalinga, Bongekile January 2016 (has links)
This thesis is submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree, Masters of Arts in Sociology in the Faculty of Humanities (School of Social Sciences) at the University of Witwatersrand, 2016 / During the apartheid era, black women were forced into the rural areas to live off the land, without opportunities and choices to allow them to build decent lives for themselves. After many decades of apartheid, South Africa finally became a democratic country in 1994. Following the establishment of democracy in 1994, the South African society experienced quite a number of changes on the economic, social, and political level. Amongst those changes was the rectification of the constitution which recognized all citizens (men and women, black and white) as equal. Numerous acts were put in place to promote equality in all spheres of life. However, to this day, poverty and inequality remain evident on many black women in the country.
Microfinance is embraced by many development organizations, states and agencies around the world as the main and efficient form of women’s empowerment. South Africa is also one of the states which have joined the bandwagon, with its Department of Trade and Industry (dti) having various microfinance programmes aimed at empowering women. However, with all the programmes, there seems to be no changes in the situations of black women, especially rural poor women in the country as illustrated by statistics. This paper, therefore, attempts to find out the reason behind the low status of women in post-apartheid South Africa by reviewing critical literature on empowerment and microfinance as an empowerment strategy to understand their impact on women’s lives. The study also analyse the dti’s policy documents on empowerment as one of the state’s institutions which promotes women’s empowerment through microfinance.
Furthermore, this study argues that the current women’s empowerment strategy (microfinance) is not for the benefit of poor black women, but for that of the institutions offering these programmes. This argument is supported by an analysis conducted on dti’s women’s empowerment strategic documents and programmes, which was used as a case study for this paper. This study suggests that changes in the designing and implementation of the policies are required. / GR2017
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The cost of credit in the micro-finance industry in South AfricaCampbell, Jonathan January 2007 (has links)
This thesis analyses the cost of credit in the micro-finance industry in South Africa. The study situates micro-lending agreements within the law of contract, beginning with an examination of contractual fairness in terms of the common law: the fundamental principle of freedom of contract that underpins the common law of contract; the principle that agreements contrary to public policy should not be enforced; and the impetus given by constitutional values that inform public policy. In regard to moneylending transactions, common law usury law will be explained. The study then goes on to trace the origins and rapid growth of the micro-finance industry which was made possible by its exemption in 1992 from the Usury Act 73 of 1968. The upshot of this development was that registered micro-lenders have for nearly 14 years charged excessive interest rates, and continue to do so. The dire socio-economic impact of these high interest rates on individual consumers and lowincome communities is then demonstrated: how borrowers of small loans soon become over-indebted; the loss of billions of rands every year to low-income communities in the form of interest on micro-loans. The study then shifts to the legislative response to the need for consumer protection in regard to consumer credit. The extensive credit law review process is explained, resulting ultimately in the National Credit Act 34 of 2005, which allows the Minister to prescribe limits on interest rates and fees in all sectors of the consumer credit market. The prescribed limits on the cost of credit in the micro-finance sector are thoroughly explained and analysed, with particular reference to the implications of each element of the credit costing structure, and the combined impact of the total cost of credit on different types and sizes of loans. The envisaged maximum interest and fees will markedly alter the positions of micro-lenders and consumers, and receive careful analysis. The study closes with a summary of findings in the thesis, which includes suggested amendments to the National Credit Regulations and a review of possible legal challenges to the high cost of credit on smaller loans.
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The role of microfinance in Sekhukhune DistrictSampa, Regina Bwalya 12 1900 (has links)
The purpose of this study was to explore the role of microfinance in the Sekhukhune District, Limpopo Province. The Hulme’s Impact Framework and the Capabilities Approach were used to understand the role of microfinance. A qualitative approach was used to gain an insight into the perspective of both the beneficiaries and the providers of microfinance. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect in-depth data from 30 participants from two developmental Microfinance Institutions operating in the Sekhukhune District.
The results showed that Microfinance offered a variety of services, such as savings, small loans as well as business and health education, mainly to women who were interested in doing business. Loan eligibility for the institutions depended on both the ability to pay back and to save. Failure to pay back resulted in being excluded from the programme. Although loans were meant for business purpose, some clients found a way to use them for income smoothening and loan repayment. Overall, the results indicate that microfinance was used to supplement other government poverty-eradication tools such as monthly grants to the elderly and children. Moreover, microfinance is perceived by both beneficiaries and providers to bring about both economic and social capabilities.
It was also revealed that, even though microfinance has some benefits, there are still some challenges faced in the industry. Beneficiaries perceived the interest rate to be satisfactory microfinance. However, the interest rates charged by the Microfinance Institutions is higher than what is charged by commercial banks. In the quest to cover operational costs, such interest rates that have left some of the poor in an unending cycle of poverty.
Based on the findings, this study recommends that, the government should come up with other intervention strategies in addition to supplement microfinance. For instance, to help micro-entrepreneurs, the government could assist by building smaller shops to rent out to micro-entrepreneurs they could sell their goods. In addition, the government should build financial systems that work for the poor; create legal systems which that encourage market entry. / Economics / M. Com. (Economics)
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Supply-side constraints to the growth of microfinance industry in South AfricaLegadima, Lerato 03 1900 (has links)
Microfinance and microcredit are relatively new concepts in South Africa, yet the industry has
experienced significant consolidation and growth. The industry appears to be progressing towards
a sustainable growth phase. The aim of this paper is to study the problems experienced by the
microfinance industry in South Africa, with regard to supply-side credit.
Respondents ranked 26 challenges affecting the growth of MFIs in South Africa in order to
establish the degree in which these issues affected their organisations. The top six issues
impacting on the growth of the South African MFIs are: - High operational cost
- Increased competition from commercial banks
- Increased competition from MFIs
- Legislation and regulatory framework
- Fraud, There are solutions to most of these challenges. The industry can learn from a recommendation by
Africa Diagnostic, which are: “The client must come first; groom leaders; and highlight
transparency. All these recommendations are discussed at length.
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Improving the well-being of the poor through microfinance : evidence from the Small Enterprise Foundation in South AfricaKirsten, Maria Albertina 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Poverty in South Africa’s rural areas is complex and severe, especially among female-headed
households. The marginalisation of South Africa’s rural areas over a period of decades
resulted in an acute lack of economic opportunities, limited infrastructure and a serious
breakdown of social capital. Women living in rural areas are particularly poor in moneymetric
terms; they are often illiterate and therefore isolated from economic and social
opportunities; and many fall victim to violence in the household. They eke out a meagre
existence, based on small-scale agriculture, marginal self-employment or limited wage and
remittance income. While such income diversification, combined with the government’s
range of development interventions, helps to buffer them against risks such as illness, death
and disaster, rural poverty is not just a matter of income and assets. It is also rooted in other
disadvantages, such as exclusion, disempowerment and unequal power relations. These all
contribute to making poverty a multidimensional phenomenon.
The South African government has committed significant resources to poverty intervention
over the past 17 years. These interventions, which include social assistance grants, basic
municipal services and free water, electricity, schooling and health services, certainly have an
impact on the livelihoods of the rural poor, but they do not seem to bring a significant
improvement in the standard of living of the most vulnerable people in marginalised areas.
There is increasing recognition in the poverty literature that vulnerabilities – of income,
health, social exclusion and service delivery – are linked, and that support programmes
should focus not only on increasing the poor’s access to resources and assets but also on
empowering individuals to use these assets and make decisions.
This study investigates the potential of microfinance to address the overlapping
vulnerabilities experienced by women in South Africa’s rural areas. It suggests that
microfinance has the potential to generate positive shifts in selected indicators of
empowerment and well-being among participating women in rural areas. These claims are
tested by evaluating data gathered among clients of the Small Enterprise Foundation (SEF)
against a conceptual framework. The framework offers a stepwise progression away from
vulnerability: acquiring internal skills (empowerment), strengthening social capital,
accumulating assets and, eventually, transforming these assets into wealth. Existing datasets, gathered over a period of five years in rural Limpopo and representing both
a group that received microfinance from SEF and a control group, were examined. No
evidence could be found that the recipients of SEF’s microfinance experienced increased
empowerment, but the results did provide evidence that belonging to the group that received
microfinance increased the likelihood of experiencing livelihood security and well-being.
The findings show that microfinance can, even over the short term, make a difference in
people’s ability to smooth their consumption and, as such, provide them with more secure
livelihoods. The research also suggests that microfinance assists women in rural areas in
constructing and maintaining a portfolio of assets, thus improving well-being among the
recipients of microfinance.
The scope of the study was confined to measuring the effect of microfinance on selected
poverty indicators, and it did not attempt to prove that microfinance alleviates poverty. As
such, the research demonstrates that the government’s efforts to reduce rural poverty can be
complemented by micro-level interventions such as access to finance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Armoede in Suid-Afrika se landelike gebiede is kompleks en straf, veral vir huishoudings
met vroue aan die hoof. Landelike gebiede is vir dekades lank gemarginaliseer en dit het
gelei tot gebrekkige ekonomiese geleenthede, beperkte infrastruktuur en ‘n ineenstorting van
sosiale kapitaal. Vroue in Suid-Afrika se landelike gebiede is nie net arm in monetêre terme
nie, maar ook dikwels ongelettered, geïsoleerd van ekonomiese en sosiale geleenthede, en
dikwels die slagoffers van huishoudelike geweld. Hul huishoudings oorleef deur die skamele
bestaan wat hulle maak uit bestaansboerdery, gebrekkige besoldiging en trekarbeider lone.
Alhoewel die regering se wydverspreide ontwikkelingshulp daartoe bydra om arm mense te
help om risiko’s soos siekte, dood en natuurrampe te kan hanteer, gaan landelike armoede oor
veel meer as net inkomste en bates, en sluit dit ook ontmagtiging, uitsluiting en ongelyke
magsverdeling in. Al hierdie ontberinge maak armoede ‘n multidimensionele verskynsel.
Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het oor die afgelope 17 jaar aansienlike bronne op armoede
verligting gespandeer. Die hulp, wat maatskaplike toelaes, basiese munisipale dienslewering,
gratis water, elektrisiteit, opvoeding en gesondheidsdienste insluit, het sonder twyfel die
oorlewing van die armes in landelike gebiede meer houdbaar gemaak, maar tog lyk dit nie of
die lewenskwaliteit van die mees kwesbare huishoudings in die gemarginaliseerde areas
verbeter het nie. Die armoede-literatuur dui daarop dat verskillende vorms van kwesbaarheid
– kwesbaarheid in terme van inkomste, gesondheid, sosiale uitsluiting en dienslewering – met
mekaar verband hou. Daarom is dit belangrik dat hulpverlening nie alleen vir die armes
toegang gee tot hulpbronne en bates nie, maar ook die individue bemagtig om die bronne te
gebruik en besluite te neem.
Hierdie studie ondersoek die potensiaal van mikrofinansiering om die verskeidenheid sosiale
kwesbaarhede wat vroue in Suid Afrika se landelike gebiede ervaar aan te spreek. Die studie
voer aan dat mikrofinansiering kan lei tot positiewe veranderinge in geselekteerde
bemagtigings- en welvaarts-indikatore onder deelnemende vroue. Data wat versamel is onder
die kliente van die Small Enterprise Foundation (SEF) word gebruik om hierdie aansprake te
evalueer. Die studie is gedoen teen die agtergrond van ‘n konseptuele model, wat voorhou dat
armoede en kwesbaarheid oorkom kan word as ‘n trapsgewyse program gevolg word – deur
eerstens kundigheid (bemagtiging) te verkry, daarna sosiale kapitaal te versterk, bates op te bou en uiteindelik die bates in rykdom te omskep beweeg die vroue, en hul huishoudings, al
verder weg van hulle aanvanklike kwesbaarheid.
Bestaande data, versamel oor ‘n tydperk van vyf jaar in die landelike gebiede van Limpopo is
geanaliseer. Die data verteenwoordig twee groepe – ‘n groep wat mikrofinansiering ontvang
het en ‘n kontrole groep. Geen empiriese bewyse kon gevind word dat die vroue wat
mikrofinansiering van SEF ontvang het, bemagtig is nie. Die resultate het wel daarop gedui
dat vroue wat mikrofinansiering ontvang na alle waarskynlikheid meer bestaans-sekerheid
het en dat hulle welvaart verbeter het. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat mikrofinansiering, selfs
oor die kort termyn, ‘n wesenlike verskil kan maak in die vermoë van kwesbare vroue om
hulle verbruik, oor tyd, beter te bestuur en sodoende bestaans-sekuriteit te verseker. Die
navorsing toon ook dat mikrofinansiering vroue in landelike gebiede kan help om ‘n
portefeulje van bates te skep en te handhaaf, wat bydra tot groter welvaart.
Hierdie studie het die impak van mikrofinansiering op geselekteerde armoede indikatore geevalueer,
en het nie gepoog om te bewys dat mikrofinansiering armoede verlig nie.
Sodoende dui die navorsing daarop dat die regering se pogings om armoede te verlig kan baat
vind by mikrovlakintervensies soos mikrofinansiering.
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The impact of cash loans (Mashonisas) on the welfare of the non-propertied : a case study on Tubatse Ferrochrome mineworkers in the Mpumalanga ProvinceMatabane, Mokgohloe Lorraine January 1999 (has links)
Thesis (M. Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 1999 / Refer to document
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The debt trap: the indebtness of the poor in South Africa.Nagdee, Qureisha January 2004 (has links)
This investigation focused on why the poor are in debt, what they are indebted for, when debt was incurred, why a loan was incurred, and from whom it was aquired and for what purpose. In addition, it investigated the reasons for indebtedness, as well as the possibilities of how this situation may be addressed and the indebtedness reduced.
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The debt trap: the indebtness of the poor in South Africa.Nagdee, Qureisha January 2004 (has links)
This investigation focused on why the poor are in debt, what they are indebted for, when debt was incurred, why a loan was incurred, and from whom it was aquired and for what purpose. In addition, it investigated the reasons for indebtedness, as well as the possibilities of how this situation may be addressed and the indebtedness reduced.
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To what extent can microfinance sustain the livelihoods of the women of Mdantsane (Ward N.U. 9)Cuntu, Somila January 2012 (has links)
I have observed that in Mdantsane there is a clear gap between men and women, as people are tradition-bound, and men are often the breadwinners in their households, which leave some women sidelined and only left with household chores. Therefore this research aims to investigate these inequalities, and if microfinance can contribute positively towards the development of these women, so that they can develop and sustain their lifestyles. Chapter two of this research, containing available literature on this particular study which is sustainable livelihoods and microfinance for poor women, and covers both local as well as international studies. Here microfinance and sustainable livelihoods will be conceptualised accordingly so as to shed light on the subject. The third chapter covers the methodology used in the current study which clearly outlines the methodological framework, the research instruments, participants as well as the research design and procedure. The fourth chapter provides the findings and of the the current study, this will outline the main themes that surface and are prevalent among the participants. Chapter five will consist of the discussion of the results. Lastly chapter six will provide the conclusion as well as well as recommendations relevant to the results of this study.
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Scaling up microfinance institutions : a case study of the Kuyasa FundHenwood, Olivia 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Globally microfinance is recognised as an important tool in addressing poverty and in
building the assets of poor people. Housing microfinance is emerging as an important tool
for assisting poor people to improve their housing conditions and to build their asset
values. However, microfinancial institutions are perpetually dogged by small scale
financially unviable operations. This study seeks to identify the factors that must be
present to ensure that a microfinance initiative is able to scale up significantly, and further
investigates the Kuyasa Fund as an example of a microfinance organisation that is scaling
up.
The McKinsey 7S model is used to evaluate the Kuyasa Fund’s plans for scaling up and
the shared values, strategy, structure, skills, staffing requirements, style and systems of
the Kuyasa Fund is examined in determining the scalability of the Kuyasa Fund. Overall
Kuyasa have either already addressed the critical factors in determining its growth or it is
in the process of addressing those factors.
The biggest strengths of the Kuyasa Fund in its growth plans are the cohesive strategy
and in the compelling strategic intent that represents its shared values. However in the
medium and long term the greatest challenge is located in the long-term financing and
transformation of the Kuyasa Fund from a non-profit to a for-profit entity that has equity
shareholders. In achieving this transformation Kuyasa would be required to balance its
development objectives with the requirements of equity holders, who will require
prescribed rates of return. Preventing mission drifts and achieving scale will be the most
important tensions to balance.
To mitigate these risks and to set clear guidelines for its operations, the Kuyasa board
developed clear criteria for the evaluation of equity partners and the board also set a
trajectory for the transformation of Kuyasa to a company. The intention of these is to guide
the Kuyasa operation towards the milestones that must be reached before conversion and
to set the criteria to select partners.
The Kuyasa Fund’s path to conversion from a small niche player limited to one province to
a national role player, transformed into an equity holding company will present interesting
material for learning about scaling up development efforts, and not just for microfinance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mikrofinansiering word wêreldwyd erken as ‘n belangrike hulpmiddel in die stryd teen
armoede en in die bou van bates vir arm mense. Behuising-mikrofinansiering is besig om
as ‘n belangrike instrument na vore te tree om arm mense te help om hul
behuisingsomstandighede te verbeter en hul batewaarde op te bou.
Mikrofinansieringsinstansies word egter aanhoudend lastig geval deur kleinskaalse
besighede wat nie finansieel lewensvatbaar is nie. Hierdie studie poog om die faktore te
identifiseer wat teenwoordig moet wees om te verseker dat ‘n mikrofinasieringsinisiatief
beduidend kan uitbrei en ondersoek verder die Kuyasa Fund as ‘n voorbeeld van ‘n
mikrofinansieringsorganisasie wat tans uitbrei.
Die McKinsey 7S-model word gebruik om die Kuyasa Fund se planne vir uitbreiding te
evalueer. Die Kuyasa Fund se gedeelde waardes, strategie, struktuur, vaardighede,
personeelvereistes, styl en stelsels word ondersoek om die uitbreidingsmoontlikhede van
die fonds te bepaal. Oorhoofs het Kuyasa alreeds die kritiese faktore aangespreek wat hul
groei bepaal of hulle is in die proses om hierdie faktore aan te spreek.
Die grootste sterkpunte van die Kuyasa Fund se uitbreidingsplanne lê in die
samehangende strategie en in die gebiedende strategiese rigting wat sy gedeelde
waardes verteenwoordig. In die medium- tot langtermyn is die grootste uitdaging geleë in
die langtermyn-finansiering en transformasie van die Kuyasa Fund van ‘n niewinsgewende
tot ‘n winsgewende entiteit met ekwiteitsaandeelhouers. Ten einde hierdie
transformasie deur te gaan, sal van Kuyasa vereis word om sy ontwikkelingsdoelwitte te
balanseer met die vereistes van die aandeelhouers, wat hul eie opbrengskoerse sal
vereis. Om koersvas hul missie na te streef teenoor die beplande uitbreiding te behaal sal
die belangrikste spannings wees om te balanseer.
Ten einde hierdie risiko’s te beperk en duidelike riglyne daar te stel vir sy bedrywighede,
het die Kuyasa raad duidelike kriteria ontwikkel om ekwiteitsvennote te evalueer. Die raad
het ook ‘n vorderingsplan bepaal vir die transformasie van Kuyasa tot ‘n maatskappy. Die
bedoeling hiervan is om die Kuyasa bedryf te lei op die pad na mylpale wat bereik moet
word voordat omskakeling kan plaasvind en om kriteria daar te stel om vennote te kies. Die Kuyasa Fund se pad na omskakeling van ‘n klein niche speler, beperk tot een
provinsie, tot ‘n nasionale rolspeler, wat getransformeer het tot ‘n ekwiteitsmaaskappy sal
interessante leergeleenthede bied oor die uitbreiding van ontwikkelingsmaatskappye en
nie net op die gebied van mikrofinansiering nie.
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