Food insecurity in South Africa is not due to a shortage of food in the country but to inadequate access to food by poor groups of individuals and households. Many people, who lost their jobs due to retrenchments or can’t find suitable jobs for various reasons, revert to street trading or other activities of the informal economy as a survival strategy. There is limited information on understanding the food security status and strategies used by street traders and their households in Durban. This study aims to understand the extent of food insecurity among street traders in terms of their access to food, the quality of food consumed and the strategies they used to cope with food shortage. A mixed research method composed of a survey, face to face interviews and observations were conducted with a sample population of 120. The findings of this study confirmed that the sector was dominated by semi-literate people who generated R2000 per month which was to be shared with an average of 4 members of their respective households. Consequently, the majority of street traders’ households lived below the poverty line, thus food insecure. Limited income compromised the quality of food consumed: energy dense food dominated their food; hence 59.2% suffered from communicable lifestyle diseases. The study recommended more studies in this field, the extension of the Isipingo census to the entire municipality and the decriminalization of street trading by the municipality in order to improve the food security situation of street traders. / Geography / M.A. (Human Ecology)

Food insecurity in South Africa is not due to a shortage of food in the country but to inadequate access to food by poor groups of individuals and households. Many people, who lost their jobs due to retrenchments or can’t find suitable jobs for various reasons, revert to street trading or other activities of the informal economy as a survival strategy. There is limited information on understanding the food security status and strategies used by street traders and their households in Durban. This study aims to understand the extent of food insecurity among street traders in terms of their access to food, the quality of food consumed and the strategies they used to cope with food shortage. A mixed research method composed of a survey, face to face interviews and observations were conducted with a sample population of 120. The findings of this study confirmed that the sector was dominated by semi-literate people who generated R2000 per month which was to be shared with an average of 4 members of their respective households. Consequently, the majority of street traders’ households lived below the poverty line, thus food insecure. Limited income compromised the quality of food consumed: energy dense food dominated their food; hence 59.2% suffered from communicable lifestyle diseases. The study recommended more studies in this field, the extension of the Isipingo census to the entire municipality and the decriminalization of street trading by the municipality in order to improve the food security situation of street traders. / Geography / M.A. (Human Ecology)

This study investigates the application of conventional marketing tactics of 93 hawkers in the East London Central Business District (CBD). Its focus is on what is being practiced in this informal trading environment from a marketing point of view. To this end the primary objective was to determine the extent of the use of generally accepted principles of common (conventional) marketing in primarily black owned or managed hawker businesses in the East London CBD area. Secondary objectives centred around the degree to which new or unknown marketing tactics were implemented and to identify any influencing factors and the relevance of these to marketing. An in-depth analysis of the marketing environment of the hawker and East London region is depicted and the literature review of the relevant theory relating to the marketing of small businesses is covered and debated thoroughly. A three section questionnaire covering demographic information (Section A), the extent of the use of researcher-identified generally accepted marketing tactics (Section B), and an open ended question identifying which marketing tactics and their ranking the hawkers used in order to achieve marketing success (Section C) was implemented through interviews with 93 hawkers in the East London CBD. Although many of the individual questions results produced interesting statistics, conclusions from analysis of the composite results indicate a fair application of the marketing concept (29%) a slightly higher percentage applying the societal marketing concept (51,6%) and 38,6% of hawkers in the East London CBD applying the marketing mix. The top 3 of 7 marketing tactics identified as being used to achieve good marketing performance were customer service, stall/product presentation and the offering of a discount or discounted pricing. No significant correlations existed between the demographic statistics and the application of any particular marketing tactic. The significant influencing factors noted were the hawkers zero tolerance for competition, the lack of any long term planning, no delayed gratification or building of capital and the strong need to belong to a group or association. It was concluded that much needs to be done to investigate methods of improving the application of marketing tactics but more importantly to analyse the reason for many of their actions. Special attention is recommended to be placed on obtaining further insight and support for the observed influencing factors in order to be able to state them as fact. / Business Management / M.Comm.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to develop the content of a programme to increase the awareness of women in Duncan Village of I) the potential role of food micro-enterprises in the improvement of food security; 2) the consumer demand concerning the operations of food micro-enterprises; and 3) appropriate microenterprise training programmes available in the greater East-London area. This was based on an identified need for the inclusion of a module on food security in a comprehensive programme to prevent growth failure in 0 to 24-month-old children attending local government clinics in Duncan Village by improving the capacity of mothers or primary caregivers to care for their children. Food security is defined as access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. The potential role of food micro-enterprises in the improvement of food security was established through a literature review. It was established that street foods contribute to individual food security by providing food where people work or congregate at cheap prices, thus increasing availability. It also helps in meeting energy and nutritional needs if safe, nutritious food is provided. The main method by which it increases an individual's access to food is by supplying an income to food micro-enterprise owners if they sell street foods. The consumer demand concerning the operations (including the products) of food micro-enterprises was determined through personal interviews with the customers and non-customers of food micro-enterprises in Duncan Village, using a structured questionnaire. One hundred and twenty-nine customers and 129 non-customers were selected using a combination of cluster and convenience sampling. Food microenterprises operating at the schools and on pavements in Duncan Village and at the taxi rank in East London were included. The results of this particular survey indicate that the consumer behaviour is influenced by the trade area where the customers purchase their food, the age and gender of the customers as well as the friendliness of the vendor. The product choice of consumers was mostly determined by taste, price and how filling the food is. There was general satisfaction with the operating times of, and the products sold by, food micro-enterprises. Street food consumers were least satisfied with the locations where the enterprises were situated. The dusty environment was given as a reason for dissatisfaction. Further, cleanliness of the food, the vendor and the environment were the main problems cited, especially by the non-customers. The appropriateness of micro-enterprise training programmes available in the greater East London area for current and prospective food micro-enterprise owners in Duncan Village was determined by compiling a profile of food micro-enterprises, their owners and their business operations in Duncan Village; identifying the features of the ideal training programme for current and prospective food microenterprise owners in Duncan Village; investigating the supply of micro-enterprise training in the greater East London area; and evaluating the appropriateness of the identified training programmes. The profile of food micro-enterprises in Duncan Village owned by women, included a profile of the owners, the enterprise itself as well as the business operations thereof. The data were gathered by means ofa personal interview (using a structured questionnaire) with the owners of food micro-enterprises. The enterprises included in the study were operated by women producing and trading processed foods from non-permanent structures at schools and on pavements in Duncan Village, as well as at the taxi ranks in East London. Systematic sampling techniques were used to select food micro-enterprises at the schools while all the enterprises at the pavements and at the taxi rank were included. This resulted in the inclusion of 41 food micro-enterprises. The results indicated that the profiles of these owners do not differ significantly from micro-enterprise owners operating in the informal sector elsewhere in South Africa. Furthermore, they indicated a clear need for training in all aspects regarding their business operations. The identification of the features of the ideal micro-enterprise training programme for the training of current and prospective female food micro-enterprise owners operating in Duncan Village was based on the profiles of street food consumers and food micro-enterprise owners, discussions with experts and on the literature. The identified features were used for the development of a framework to evaluate the appropriateness of micro-enterprise training in the greater East London area for current and prospective food micro-enterprise owners in Duncan Village. The supply of micro-enterprise training in the greater East London area for food micro-enterprise owners was investigated using a structured questionnaire, completed during a personal interview with the training managers of the organisations. All governmental and non-governmental organisations in the area offering training programmes with the objective to motivate and enable persons to establish a microenterprise in the informal sector; or with the objective to enable established micro-enterprises to operate more efficiently within the informal sector, were included in the study population. These organisations were identified through snowball sampling and resulted in ten organisations and 17 programmes being included. Subsequently, the appropriateness of micro-enterprise training programmes available in the greater East London area for current and prospective food micro-enterprise owners in Duncan Village was evaluated using the Evaluation Framework. The results indicate that only one programme, combining business management and cooking skills, could be rated as appropriate for current and prospective food microenterprise owners in Duncan Village. Five other programmes could be rated as moderately appropriate for particular groups. These programmes, with the exception of one, included business management skills and no cooking skills. The remaining programmes were rated as either not very appropriate or inappropriate for current and prospective food micro-enterprise owners in Duncan Village. It is concluded that a need for the mentioned awareness-creating programme exists. Furthermore, it is recommended that the programme developed in this research, be used as basis for the household food security module of the comprehensive programme. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was die ontwikkeling van 'n program om die bewustheid van vroue in Duncan Village ten opsigte van 1) die bydrae wat voedsel mikro-ondernemings tot die verbetering van voedsel sekuriteit kan lewer; 2) verbruikers se behoeftes betreffende die bedrywighede van voedsel mikroondernemings; en 3) toepaslike mikro-onderneming opleidingprogramme in die groter Oos Londen area te verhoog. Die behoefte om 'n module oor voedselsekuriteit in 'n omvattende intervensie program in te sluit, is reeds geïdentifiseer. Hierdie intervensie program het ten doeI om groeivertraging in 0 tot 24 maande oue kinders, wat munisipale klinieke in Duncan Village besoek, te voorkom deur die versorgingkapasiteit van hul moeders of primêre versorgers te verhoog. Voedselsekuriteit word gedefinieer as toegang deur alle mense, ten alle tye, tot genoegsame voedsel vir 'n aktiewe, gesonde lewe. Die potensiële rol wat voedsel mikro-ondernemings in die verbetering van voedselsekuriteit kan speel, is deur middel van 'n literatuuroorsig vasgestel. Daar is vasgestel dat die voedsel wat deur hierdie ondernemings verkoop word tot individuele voedselsekuriteit bydra deurdat dit goedkoop voedsel beskikbaar stel by plekke waar mense werk of andersins bymekaar kom. Indien veilige en voedsame voedsel voorsien word, kan dit help om energie- en voedingbehoeftes te bevredig. Die belangrikste metode waardeur dit 'n individu se toegang tot voedsel verhoog, is deur 'n inkomste aan die eienaars van voedsel mikro-ondernemings te verskaf. Verbruikers se behoeftes betreffende die bedrywighede, insluitend produkte, van voedsel mikroondernemings is met behulp van gestruktureerde vraelyste tydens persoonlike onderhoude met die kopers en nie-kopers van voedsel van hierdie ondernemings, bepaal. Eenhonderd nege-en-twintig kopers en niekopers is onderskeidelik geselekteer deur 'n kombinasie van bondel- en geriefssteekproefneming te gebruik. Die voedsel mikro-ondernemings wat handel gedryf het by skole en op sypaadjies in Duncan Village, asook dié by die taxi staanplek in Oos Londen, is in hierdie steekproef ingesluit. Die resultate van hierdie opname toon aan dat verbruikergedrag bepaal word deur die gebied waar verbruikers hul kos koop, die geslag en ouderdom van die verbruiker, en die vriendelikheid van die verkoper. Verbruikers se produkkeuse word grootliks bepaal deur die smaak, koste en die vullingsvermoë van die voedsel. Verbruikers was oor die algemeen tevrede met die bedryfsure en die produkte van voedsel mikroondernemings. Hulle was egter die minste tevrede met die area waar die ondernemings bedryf word, hoofsaaklik vanweë die stowwerigheid van die omgewing. Nie-kopers in die besonder het die higiëne van die voedsel, die verkoper en die omgewing as hul grootste bronne van kommer bestempel. Die toepaslikheid van beskikbare mikro-onderneming opleidingprogramme in die groter Oos Londen omgewing vir huidige en voornemende eienaars van voedsel mikro-ondernemings in Duncan Village is geëvalueer deur die volgende stappe uit te voer: 'n Profiel van voedsel mikro-ondernemings, met inbegrip van die eienaars en die besigheidsaktiwiteite, is saamgestel. Die eienskappe van die ideale opleidingprogram vir huidige en voornemende eienaars van voedsel mikro-ondernemings in Duncan Village is geïdentifiseer, die beskikbaarheid van mikro-onderneming opleiding in die groter Oos Londen omgewing is ondersoek en die toepaslikheid van die geïdentifiseerde programme is geëvalueer. Die profiel van voedsel mikro-ondernemings in Duncan Village, het 'n profiel van die eienaars, die onderneming self en die besigheidbedrywighede ingesluit. Die data is ingesamel deur gestruktureerde vraelyste gedurende 'n persoonlike onderhoud met die eienaars van voedsel mikro-ondernemings te voltooi. Die ondernemings wat in die studie ingesluit is, is bestuur deur vroue wat voedsel vervaardig en verkoop vanaf nie-permanente strukture by die skole en op die sypaadjies in Duncan Village, asook die taxi staanplek in Oos Londen. Sistematiese steekproefnemingmetodes is gebruik om die voedsel mikroondernemings by die skole te selekteer. Al die ondernemings wat vanaf die sypaadjies in Duncan Village en die taxi staanplek in Oos Londen bedryf is, is ingesluit. Een-en-veertig voedsel mikroondernemings is in die studie populasie ingesluit. Die resultate het aangedui dat die profiel van die eienaars nie wesentlik verskil het van dié van algemene mikro-onderneming eienaars in die informele sektor elders in Suid Afrika nie. Bykans alle eienaars het aangedui dat daar by hulle 'n behoefte bestaan vir opleiding in alle aspekte rondom die bestuur van hulle besighede. Die eienskappe van die ideale mikro-onderneming opleidingprogram vir huidige en potensiële eienaars (vroulik) van voedsel mikro-ondernemings in Duncan Village, is gebaseer op die profiele van die verbruikers en eienaars van voedsel mikro-ondernemings, besprekings met kundiges op die gebied en relevante literatuur. Die geïdentifiseerde eienskappe is gebruik vir die ontwikkeling van 'n raamwerk om die toepaslikheid van mikro-onderneming opleidingprogramme in die groter Oos Londen area te evalueer. Die beskikbaarheid van mikro-onderneming opleiding programme in die groter Oos Londen omgewing, vir voedsel mikro-onderneming eienaars, is met behulp van 'n gestruktureerde vraelys wat tydens 'n persoonlike onderhoud met die opleidingbestuurders van die organisasies voltooi is, ondersoek. Alle regerings- en nie-regerings organisasies in die omgewing wat opleidingprogramme met die doel om persone te motiveer en in staat te stel om 'n voedsel mikro-onderneming in die informele sektor te vestig, of om 'n gevestigde voedsel mikro-onderneming meer effektief te bedryf, aanbied, is in die studie populasie ingesluit. Tien organisasies en 17 programme is deur middel van sneeubal steekproefneming geïdentifiseer en ingesluit. Die toepaslikheid van beskikbare mikro-onderneming opleidingprogramme in die groter Oos Londen omgewing is deur middel van die Evaluering Raamwerk geëvalueer. Die resultate het aangedui dat slegs een program wat ondernemingsbestuur- en voedsel voorbereidingsvaardighede gekombineer het, as toepaslik vir huidige en voornemende voedsel mikro-onderneming eienaars beskou kon word. Vyf ander programme kan as redelik toepaslik vir sekere groepe gesien word. Almal behalwe een van hierdie programme het ondernemingsbestuurvaardighede ingesluit, maar geen voedsel voorbereidingsvaardighede nie. Die oorblywende programme is as nie baie toepaslik of geensins toepaslik vir huidige en voornemende eienaars van voedsel mikro-ondernemings in Duncan Village geëvalueer. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat daar 'n behoefte bestaan vir die bogenoemde bewusmakingprogram. Daar word verder aanbeveel dat die program wat in hierdie navorsing ontwikkel is, as 'n basis vir die huishoudelike voedselsekuriteit module in die omvattende intervensie program gebruik word.

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Informal street trading is an aspect with which South Africa's ever growing cities need to cope. Since the earliest times, trade has played an important role in creating livelihoods for many people. In today's society - characterised by unemployment and underdevelopment - informal street traders have recognised that there is a gap in the market, and thus, by plying their trade they created a sustainable livelihood for themselves. It has to be admitted that town planning over the years neglected the role of the informal street trader, and not much was done by way of creating a city sphere to accommodate the street trader. In chapter two of this study the discussion addresses the historical role and activities of the informal street trader, and surveys aspects of legislation and racism that played a prominent role in previous times. Authorities did not regard informal trading in a positive light and many harsh steps were taken against street traders. This provides one of the reasons why no latitude was granted to informal street trading and why South Africa's existing efforts to accommodate informal street trade could at best be described as dismal. In chapter three the role and extent of informal trading in the economy is discussed. A study was made of the possible reasons why the informal street trade has emerged, and the contribution of the informal trade towards South Africa's Gross Domestic Product, is also dealt with. Today informal street trade is viewed as one of the ways by means of which to alleviate South Africa's existing employment crisis and accommodation of the informal street trade is seen as a top priority. When considering the phenomenon of informal street trading, it is impossible to ignore the people who are involved in this sector. They have created not only jobs for themselves, but a sustainable way of living. Chapter four attends to the characteristics of the informal street trader and also addresses the problems and challenges that these people have to face. Addressing these problems or challenges is not an easy task, and one of-the major problems in this respect has been the question of legislation. Informal street trading needs to be directed through laws and policies, aimed at addressing traders' needs and which are proactive in creating a positive trading environment. In chapters five and six the legislation and regulation of informal street trading in three of South Africa's major metropolitan cities - Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban - are reported. Chapter seven contains the conclusions of the study, followed by some policy recommendations. These are based on the findings made in the study on informal street trading, and could possibly enhance the proactive control and development of informal street trading. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Informele straathandel is 'n verskynsel wat volop in Suid-Afrikaanse stede voorkom. Handel is verantwoordelik vir die skep van werksgeleenthede en in vandag se samelewing, wat gekarakteriseer word deur armoede en werkloosheid, bied informele straathandel 'n uitweg aan menige persone om In bestaan te voer. Deur die jare het stadsbeplanning nie die nodige aandag aan die informele straathandelsektor gegee nie en meeste Suid-Afrikaanse stede kan nie hierdie tipe aktiwiteit suksesvol akkommodeer me. In hoofstuk twee van hierdie studie word daar ondersoek ingestel na die historiese agtergrond en aktiwiteite van die informele straathandelaar en word kwessies soos wetgewing en rasisme aangespreek. Owerhede het tydens die vorige bedeling nie die straathandel as 'n positiewe aspek van Suid-Afrika se groeiende stede beskou nie en sterk maatreels is teen straathandelaars gene em. Weens hierdie stappe en aksies, het dit gelei tot 'n stedelike omgewing wat nie straathandelaars vandag kan akkommodeer nie, en word dit ook as die rede beskou waarom huidige pogings tot die akkommodasie van straathandel nie as besonder suksesvol beskou kan word nie. In hoofstuk drie word die rol en mate waartoe informele straathandel tot die land se ekonomie bydra, bespreek. Die moontlike redes is ondersoek om die ontstaan van die informele straathandelsektor te identifiseer, en ook is gekyk na die bydraes wat die straathandel tot Suid-Afrika se Bruto Binnelandse Produk maak. Vandag word die informele straathandel as 'n moontlike oplossing vir armoede en werkloosheid in Suid- Afrika beskou en word die ontwikkeling van die sektor as 'n top prioriteit hanteer. Daar is ook ondersoek ingestel na die mense wat betrokke is in informele straathandel. Hierdie deel van die bevolking was in staat om op 'n volhoubare manier werk vir hulself te skep. Hoofstuk vier stel ondersoek in na die kenmerke van die informele straathandelaars en kyk ook na die daaglikse probleme en uitdagings wat hierdie mense beleef. Om hierdie probleme en uitdagings te bowe te kom, is nie eenvoudig nie, maar die grootste probleem vir straathandelaars spruit voort uit wetgewing oor die sektor. Informele straathandel benodig rigtinggewende w.etgewing en beleid wat die sektor se behoeftes en probleme aanspreek en ook 'n positiewe omgewing vir die straathandelaars skep om in te werk. Hoofstukke vyf en ses stel ondersoek in na die bestaande wetgewing oor informele straathandel, soos dit aangetref word in drie van Suid-Afrika se grootste stede, Kaapstad, Port Elizabeth en Durban. In hoofstuk sewe word die gevolgtrekking en beleidsvoorstelle rondom die bevindings van die studie gemaak. Dit sal dan moontlik lei tot die bevordering en skep van 'n gunstige en pro-aktiewe omgewing waarbinne informele straathandel kan floreer.

This study investigates the application of conventional marketing tactics of 93 hawkers in the East London Central Business District (CBD). Its focus is on what is being practiced in this informal trading environment from a marketing point of view. To this end the primary objective was to determine the extent of the use of generally accepted principles of common (conventional) marketing in primarily black owned or managed hawker businesses in the East London CBD area. Secondary objectives centred around the degree to which new or unknown marketing tactics were implemented and to identify any influencing factors and the relevance of these to marketing. An in-depth analysis of the marketing environment of the hawker and East London region is depicted and the literature review of the relevant theory relating to the marketing of small businesses is covered and debated thoroughly. A three section questionnaire covering demographic information (Section A), the extent of the use of researcher-identified generally accepted marketing tactics (Section B), and an open ended question identifying which marketing tactics and their ranking the hawkers used in order to achieve marketing success (Section C) was implemented through interviews with 93 hawkers in the East London CBD. Although many of the individual questions results produced interesting statistics, conclusions from analysis of the composite results indicate a fair application of the marketing concept (29%) a slightly higher percentage applying the societal marketing concept (51,6%) and 38,6% of hawkers in the East London CBD applying the marketing mix. The top 3 of 7 marketing tactics identified as being used to achieve good marketing performance were customer service, stall/product presentation and the offering of a discount or discounted pricing. No significant correlations existed between the demographic statistics and the application of any particular marketing tactic. The significant influencing factors noted were the hawkers zero tolerance for competition, the lack of any long term planning, no delayed gratification or building of capital and the strong need to belong to a group or association. It was concluded that much needs to be done to investigate methods of improving the application of marketing tactics but more importantly to analyse the reason for many of their actions. Special attention is recommended to be placed on obtaining further insight and support for the observed influencing factors in order to be able to state them as fact. / Business Management / M.Comm.

M.A. / In terms of the Constitution, municipalities have a mandate to govern, to provide services and to promote social and economic development. Several pieces of legislation enhance the developmental role of local government, such as the Development Facilitation Act, 1995 (Act 67 of 1995) empowering municipalities to establish statutory land development objectives setting out a clear approach to land development for each municipality. The objects of local government as stipulated in section 152 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa , serve as a guideline in fulfilling its role and functions. The Integrated and Development Plan approach is more appropriate in facilitating efficiency and effectiveness in municipalities. Several provinces have passed regulations requiring that the land development objectives also cover economic development goals.The Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) is compelled by law to use the Integrated Development Planning (IDP) and this is likely to shape the actions of local government in implementing policies intended to reduce poverty and inequality. A municipality must structure and manage its administration and planning process to give priority to the basic needs of the community and to promote the social and economic development of the community, according to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Only when the majority of the citizens receive at least a lifeline supply of basic-need services and goods, can equity be achieved. This study focuses on the City of Johannesburg's constitutional obligation to promote local economic development. The study is limited in this way to make it more manageable. This area is selected on the basis that there is a diversity of people whose economic levels are highly different and therefore there is a need for LED. A municipality's approach to street traders in, for example, former Black township areas, is likely to be quite different to approaches in CBDs. The study is mainly a historical study of both published literature and unpublished material concerning municipalities' constitutional obligations to promote LED. The study is trying to pin down facts, and identify trends, in a rapidly changing environment.

MAdmin / Department of Public and Development Administration / This study focused on The Integrated Development Plan as a strategy to empower informal traders using Thohoyandou as the case study. The study was conducted at Thulamela Municipality and at the informal markets of Thohoyandou. The researcher used two population groups; the municipal officials and the informal traders. The researcher made use of both qualitative and quantitative methods as the study was explorative in nature; 50 informal traders were sampled and took part in the study and on the other hand, 20 municipal officials were sampled and participated in the study. The researcher made use a pilot survey to two groups of population to test the efficacy of the interviews schedule as well the questionnaires as data collection instruments. SPSS and Microsoft excel were used as tools for data analysis. The results show that Thulamela Municipality’s IDP strategy is not doing enough for the informal markets in Thohoyandou. However, respondents indicated that shortcomings such as Limited Budget affect the success of IDP on informal trading. Initiatives such as the provision of loans, workshops, training and promotion of LED programmes were indicated as having been put in place in an effort to empower informal traders, although a number of informal traders in the Thohoyandou area are forever increasing, through urbanisation and migration which pose serious control challenges to the municipality. To manage informal trading in Thohoyandou, the researcher recommended that there could be: preferences on trading fee/levies; provision of services and infrastructures to informal traders; enhancing public participation; limiting overtrading, integrated management planning, policy formulations and that future researchers can be more specific on aspects such as: situation of foreign traders; constitutionality of by-laws and trading at intersections.

MPH / Department of Public Health / Introduction: Street food vending is a source of income for billions of people around the world. In most developing countries, including South Africa street food is popular. However, most street food has been linked to outbreaks of foodborne illness. The assessment was based on the general hygiene requirement stipulated in R962 of November 2012 framed under Foodstuff cosmetics and Disinfectant Act of 1972 Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess compliance of street food vendors with food and safety regulations in Thulamela Municipality. Method: The study used a quantitative, cross- sectional survey, descriptive design. A convenience sampling was used to sample 155 street food vendors. Data was collected using two instruments; namely, a self-administered questionnaire and an observation checklist. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23.Validity and Reliability will be ensured and measures to ensure ethical considerations were adhered to. Results: A total of 155 street food vendors participated in the study. Most of the street food vendors were in the age group 25- 30 years. There were more females than males. Furthermore, the majority of street food vendors had experience of 5-10 years. The majority (n=61; 39.4%) of street food vendors were operating in Thohoyandou, while some (n=25.8%)operated in Sibasa and forty others (25.8%) operated in Shayandima. Forty-five (29%) of them were illiterate, fifty (32, 3%) did primary education, thirty two (20.6%) had secondary education, four (2.6%) had a matric certification and twenty- four (15.5%) had vocational training. More than half of the In regard to knowledge items on preventing foodborne vendors (n=100; 64.5%) did not attend food hygiene training while (n=55; 35.5%) did. Lastly about a third most (n=48; 31%) of the street food vendors were selling their food in the transport terminals. The survey results indicate that street food vendors exhibited high levels of knowledge regarding items pertaining to hand hygiene. Therefore street food vendors were highly knowledgeable with regard to how much time should be spent when washing hands with soap, the correct way of stopping bleeding while at work, important measures to keep germs away from the food, hand washing and methods of drying hands. However, the street food vendors displayed poor knowledge with regard to reasons why they should dry their hands. Regarding knowledge items on preventing foodborne illnesses, the street food vendors were knowledgeable about the symptoms that make a street food vendors stay away from the workplace, that the best way to destroy any harmful germs is to cook food to the right temperature, that a combination of washing hands, using gloves and keeping food at the right temperature are ways of preventing food borne illnesses. However, street food vendors displayed some knowledge gaps with regard to the correct detergents for washing vessels and why food handlers require some knowledge on food hygiene. A total of 155 vending stalls were observed. The results from the checklist indicated that three quarters (n=116; 75%) of the stalls were protected from the sun, wind and dust. In addition, about (n=136; 87.7%) of the stalls did not have direct access to potable water. Furthermore, about (115; 74.2 %) did not have adequate hand washing facilities and 141(91%) did not have waste disposal facilities. Animals, flies and insects were indeed evident around the stalls in 124(80%) of the 155 stalls. In addition the majority of street food handlers (136; 87.7%) did not wash their hands before preparing food. Regarding hand washing after using toilet, all of the vendors said that they washed their hands each time after visiting the toilet. This was not confirmed as the researcher did not follow the vendors into the toilets. More than three quarters (120; 77%) of the food handlers operated in clean clothes. However, only 39(25%) used an apron when handling food, while 124(80%) did not use gloves to handle food and only 24(15%) used disposable gloves. Although the street food vendors complied with wearing clean clothes, they did not consistently wear aprons and they also used bare hands to touch food. Conclusion: Although the street food vendors were knowledgeable about food hygiene and safety practices, the majority displayed poor hygienic practice and prepared food on unhygienic sites. / NRF

In many countries, the authorities face extreme difficulties in monitoring and ensuring that food sold on the street is safe, that is, fit for human consumption. This is particularly the case in urban areas, where people buy food on the street because it is readily available and relatively inexpensive. The objective of this study was to determine the food safety knowledge and microbial hazard awareness of street food consumers, and to assess the bacteriological quality of selected ready-to-eat foods sold by street vendors in the Johannesburg municipality. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted and a total of 402 respondents who buy and consume street-vended foods were randomly selected at various street food vending locations. A total of 315 various street-vended samples were purchased from randomly selected street food vendors at different vending locations in Johannesburg metropolis, in order to investigate the bacteriological quality of street-vended foods. Results of the bacteriological analysis revealed that total aerobic counts ranged from 0.3*102 - 0.4*105 cfu/g in cereals and grain-based foods; 0.4*102 - 0.5*105 cfu/g in meat-, dairy- and fish-based foods and 0.7*102 - 0.9*104 cfu/g in fruit- and vegetable-based foods. None of the food samples tested positive for Salmonella spp and Staphylococcus aureus. Results of the survey showed that the majority of respondents were black males younger than 35 years. Individuals of different gender, race, level of education and monthly income groups significantly (p<0.05) differed in their responses regarding the frequency of purchasing and confidence in the safety of street-vended food. Better taste followed closely by affordability and accessibility were the most cited reasons for purchasing street-vended food / Life and Consumer Sciences / M. Sc. (Life Sciences)