Thesis (M. Ed. (Community and Continuing Education)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / The purpose of this study was to investigate the survival strategies used by unemployed rural women in Calais village. The study was conducted at Calais village in Maruleng Municipality in the Limpopo Province. The aim of the study was to investigate the survival strategies used by unemployed rural women at Calais Village. In order to achieve the aims outline above, I have formulated the following research question:  What are the survival strategies used by unemployed rural women at Calais village? With the study I wanted answers to the above question so that the department of social welfare can help in investigating further how unemployed rural women survive. In order to answer the question above, I decided to conduct a qualitative research by doing fieldwork at Calais village. I will also discuss about how to identify unemployed rural women, causes of unemployment and the challenges women from rural areas are faced with. I will also discuss the history of education in South Africa. In chapter two I outlined the theoretical framework of the study. The following key concepts were defined: unemployment, empowerment, social exclusion, strategy, and social grant. From the relevant literatures, I found out that the issue of survival strategies used by the unemployed rural women need to be taken into consideration. I also defined the following concepts, unemployment, empowerment, social exclusion, strategy, and social grants. The study found that unemployed rural women are surviving from child grants and hand-outs, food security, subsistence farming, EPWP and street vendor. Chapter three has to do with the design of the study. The main focus was to discuss i the fieldwork as a track I used for data collection. The fieldwork track was divided into four phases of data collection. I gave an explanation and discussion of the instruments that were utilised when the data was collected from the different role play players in various phases of data collection. The data was analysed by using qualitative method. I concluded the chapter by discussing the stages of data collection. In chapter four I presented the findings of the study. The strategies that might be useful for unemployed rural women to survive were discussed. I have also outlined in detail the views of the interviewees in relation to the assumptions of this study. I concluded the chapter discussing the findings of the observations based on the study. I also discussed about issues to be considered in ethical considerations. In the final chapter which is chapter five I presented the final conclusion and recommendations of the study. I also discussed about the recommendations for further studies. In the chapter I further integrated the information from the previous chapters in discussing the survival strategies that can be employed by unemployed rural women. I concluded the chapter by discussing the reflections, which are to do with my difficulties and learning experiences when I conducted the research.

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.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / The introduction and establishment of co-operatives by the State was for purposes of fighting and alleviating poverty through creating jobs, particularly in the rural areas,which were mostly neglected by the previous apartheid State. In order to deal with these social ills and malady, the new democratic government introduced cooperatives to mitigate these challenges. These good intensions are often countered by lack of commitment by State officials and reluctance from other institutions to assist co-operatives to be catalysts in fighting poverty and unemployment in South Africa, despite their noble intentions. In other developed countries, co-operatives are given serious attention, not only because they are catalysts in poverty alleviation, but because they can make huge economic interventions with regard to economic growth and economic development. The intention of this study was to make an assessment of whether or not agricultural co-operatives have any economic impact on women in the rural areas of Polokwane Municipality, since their inception as entities for local economic development. The study also assesses whether or not the State supports these entities in a variety of forms. For this purpose, four co-operatives have been used as a Case Study,namely, Mashashane Agricultural Co-operative at Ga-Mashashane; Phegelelo Agricultural Co-operative at Ga-Thaba village; Mothiba Agricultural Co-operative at Ga-Mothiba; and Itireleng Agricultural Co-operative at Matamanyane village in Moletjie

The rural women in EMLM hew the wood, carry water, satisfy the men, produce and take care of the children to continue the family tree, and manage all the household chores. Their contribution is central to the effective functioning of families and communities. Yet, in terms of decision-making and local governance structures, they are absent. Indeed, there is truly a large constituency of women out there who are largely unrepresented; and therefore, they have no idea how governance is conducted – even around them. This is unfair, especially in jurisdictions where women are clearly in the majority. It is inconceivable that local governance structures have over a decade recorded only a single elected female member. With this in mind, this study seeks to explore the extent of rural women’s participation in local governance in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality. It is a comparison of traditional and democratic local governance structures; and the methods the researcher has used are qualitative and quantitative data on women councillors from 2013, in order to assess the factors that may be accountable for their small numbers, as compared to their male counterparts. The conclusion drawn was that the social structure, its traditions and cultural was identified in the study as the main obstacle to the advancement of women in the political arena. This study has not exhausted all the facets of the challenges; but it has brought a few to the fore, in an attempt to help stimulate debate, and inform policy and practice in the future.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2015 / The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of gender discrimination in water services provision on women empowerment in GaPila Village, located in Limpopo Province. Gender discrimination remains a major challenge both in the labour market and within households. The allocation of resources within households is still much gendered due to unequal gender relations in most rural areas. Men are allocated most resources within households and have many benefits than women. Such also manifest to children. Despite, women being major beneficiaries of the delivery of water services, they are discriminated against as they are not involved with the processes that precede the provision of such services. The study used both quantitative and qualitative research approach to establish the effects of gender discrimination in the provision of water services on women empowerment. The findings of the study illustrated that culture and tradition are the key to the inadequacy of women’s access to and control over management of water services. Cultural practices within communities either ignore female participation in water services management. Their participation is obstructed by lack of time, level of education, low self-esteem and flexibility due to substantial workload and numerous household responsibilities. The study also showed that according to local cultural beliefs, the status of women whether high or low, does not determine the amount of work that must be done by her at home, because irrespective of her status or career placement, her primary assignment is to care for the family/home. The study further revealed that women in the GaPila Village are allowed access to economic opportunities and participation roles during community meetings. Also, women are allowed to occupy positions such as chairperson, secretary and treasurer; however, due to culture and tradition, low self-esteem and lack of support from men, women do not take advantage of such opportunities to occupy these positions of authority in water services. Therefore, the study concluded that, as woman’s contributions regarding water services provision remains inconsequential because they are excluded from decision making processes that affect their level of living and prospects of empowerment. From a water services provision perspective, this study affirms the theoretical principle that discrimination against women disempowers them. Women are the beneficiaries of water services because most of their duties require water. As such, it is important for women to actively participate and to be involved in the management committee relating to water services and provision.

Literacy is a key outcome of education. Although literacy is a basic human right, and, can lay the foundation for further education and training, there is still a high number of illiterate people in South Africa. Black rural women form the majority of non-literates in the country and this has a negative impact on the development of the country. This means that rural women are still marginalized and stay in conditions of squalor because they are unemployed, poor and lack skills required by the labour market. This study focuses on the importance and benefits of literacy programmes to the empowerment of black rural women. It was conducted in two rural areas of Mopani District Municipality, in Greater Giyani. Rural women who have been socially excluded and benefited less from the growing economy need to be empowered through literacy programmes to stand up and fight poverty, ill health and other social ills they face. The qualitative method was employed where participants were involved in focus group and one on one interviews so as to evaluate the effectiveness of the literacy programmes. The results of the study indicate that literacy programmes did empower women to a certain extent because they have gained functional skills and they involve themselves in community development programmes. However, the engagement of all stakeholders in the provision of quality literacy programmes can emancipate rural women so that they may take their rightful places in society. / Educational Studies / (M. Ed. (Secialisation in Adult Education))

Thesis (MVerbruikerswet)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Rural areas in South Africa experience extreme levels of unemployment, and therefore are in dire need for skills training. In some rural areas this training takes place in community centres. Participants are empowered to generate an income. The activities mostly take place in a group context. In such a community centre a lack of the presentation of structured skills training programmes was identified. The aim of the study is to develop a skills training programme to help rural people in starting an income-generating project in a group context by means of intervention. In the literature study the concept of community centres was discussed. The basic human needs and the needs for training were related to the concept of group work. Programme development for adult education, income-generation and interventions were described in detail. The development of creativity, empowerment, capacity building and sustainable development were briefly discussed as potential outcomes of skills training programmes for the generation of income. For the purpose of this study a case study was undertaken of existing needlework groups in the Darling Focus Community Centre. A study group of 15 members was identified. The duration of the study group's involvement in needlework training was determined. The need for skills training workshops and the study group's interest in group work were established. Although the activities of the study group take place in group context, very little evidence exist of co-operation towards the objective of income generation. A major shortcoming is the failure to pinpoint objectives in the group. Darling is a rural tourist attraction with a target market for the sale of handcrafted products. For this purpose the crafted products need to adhere to certain criteria. Despite the opportunity to market products to tourists, only the local market is being targeted. The requirements of these clients are not considered a priority in the manufacturing of products. Therefore the study group was considered a suitable case study in this research. An intervention programme was compiled and implemented in group context for the training of skills in the manufacturing, marketing and selling of products. Surveys were done by self-administered questionnaires and unstructured interviews were conducted with important role players. Workshops were presented where skills application was monitored through control lists. The application of business skills was established through a semi-structured interview. Throughout the process the researcher made observations and documented information. Surveys indicated that the duration of the group members' involvement with needlework activities were between three and eleven years. A clear need for skills training as well as interest in group work was established and addressed. Self diagnoses of needs for skills training was done during visits to trade areas. A brainstorming session was conducted to generate ideas for the manufacturing of products to be sold. The skills in making these products were demonstrated during the workshops and practised during follow-up work sessions. A basic business skill workshop was conducted. After implementation of the intervention the results of the group work were evaluated at the hand of success criteria identified from literature. This list of criteria provides a guideline for similar training programmes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Landelike gebiede in Suid-Afrika gaan gebuk onder werkloosheid wat vaardigheidsopleiding noodsaak. Sommige plattelandse dorpe het gemeenskapsentrums wat onder meer vaardigheidsopleiding bied. Deelnemers aan die opleiding word bemagtig om 'n inkomste te kan genereer. Die aktiwiteite vind meestal in groepverband plaas. 'n Leemte, geïdentifiseer in so 'n gemeenskapsentrum, is die aanbieding van gestruktureerde vaardigheidsopleidingsprogramme in groepverband wat mense in staat stel om 'n volhoubare inkomste te genereer. Die studie het ten doel om deur intervensie 'n vaardigheidsopleidings-program te ontwikkel wat landelike mense help om 'n inkomstegenereringsprojek in groepverband te vestig. In die literatuuroorsig is die konsep van gemeenskapsentrums bespreek. Die basiese menslike behoeftes en behoeftes aan opleiding is in verband gebring met die konsep van groepwerk. Programontwikkeling vir volwassene-onderwys is uiteengesit en inkomstegenerering en –intervensies is volledig bespreek. Die ontwikkeling van kreatiwiteit, bemagtiging, kapasiteitsbou en volhoubare ontwikkeling is kortliks aangeraak as moontlike uitkomste van vaardigheidsopleidingsprogramme vir die generering van inkomste. Vir die doel van hierdie studie is 'n gevallestudie gedoen van bestaande naaldwerkgroepe gesetel in die Darling Fokus Gemeenskapsentrum. ‘n Studiegroep van 15 lede is geïdentifiseer. Die tydperk wat die studiegroep by naaldwerkopleiding betrokke is, is bepaal asook die behoefte aan vaardigheidsopleidingswerkswinkels. Verder is die studiegroep se belangstelling in groepwerk bepaal. Hoewel die aktiwiteite van die studiegroep in groepverband plaasvind, is daar min bewyse van samewerking ten einde die doel van inkomstegenerering te bereik. 'n Groot leemte is dat doelstellings nooit deur die groep gestel was nie. Darling is 'n landelike toeriste-aantreklikheid met 'n teikenmark vir die verkoop van handwerkprodukte. Hiervoor moet produkte aan sekere vereistes voldoen. Ondanks hierdie geleentheid om produkte onder toeriste te bemark, word daar slegs op die plaaslike mark gemik. Die vereistes van hierdie kliënte is nie 'n prioriteit in die vervaardiging van produkte nie. Die studiegroep is daarom as 'n geskikte geval beskou vir hierdie studie. 'n Intervensieprogram is in groepverband vir die opleiding van vaardighede in die vervaardiging, bemarking en verkope van produkte saamgestel en geïmplementeer. Opnames is gedoen deur selfgeadministreerde vraelyste en ongestruktureerde onderhoude is met belangrike rolspelers gevoer. Werkswinkels is aangebied waartydens vaardigheidstoepassing deur middel van kontrolelyste gemoniteer is. Die toepassing van besigheidsvaardighede is deur 'n semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud bepaal. Die navorser het deurentyd die waarneming gedoen en inligting gedokumenteer. Opnames het aangedui dat die groeplede tussen drie en elf jaar by die naaldwerkaktiwiteite betrokke is. 'n Duidelike behoefte aan vaardigheidsopleiding asook belangstelling in groepwerk is gevind en aangespreek. Selfdiagnose van behoeftes aan vaardigheidsopleiding is tydens besoeke aan afsetgebiede gedoen. 'n Dinkskrum is gehou om idees te genereer vir die maak van produkte om te verkoop. Die vaardighede vir die maak van hierdie produkte is deur middel van werkswinkels gedemonstreer en in opvolgende werksessies deur die studiegroep ingeoefen. 'n Besigheidsvaardigheidswerkswinkel waar basiese beginsels behandel is, is aangebied. Die resultate van groepwerk na die implementering van die intervensie is aan die hand van sukseskriteria wat uit literatuur geïdentifiseer is, geëvalueer. Hierdie stel kriteria bied 'n riglyn vir soortgelyke opleidingsprogramme.

The study focuses on investigating the impact of crop production to sustainable livelihood strategies among rural women. The main objective of the study are as follows: to investigate the extent to which Silwindlala crop production cooperative has improved the lives of Jerseyville rural women, to investigate the new skills that Jerseyville rural women have obtained from Silwindlala crop production cooperative, to explore on challenges that would contribute to failure of crop production cooperative and to come up with the recommendations that would contribute to policy formulation and skills on management of crop production cooperative of rural women. The study employed qualitative method for data collection and analysis. The main findings of this study were that, the impact of crop production on sustainable livelihood is still seasonal, during harvesting period. Data showed low educational status and lack of business management skills among rural women, however, technical skills and collective interest contributed to the success of the cooperative

This study assesses the challenges confronted by rural women participating in small-scale commercial farming in Tweespruit, a rural town of the Free State Province. A qualitative, descriptive and explorative study was used for the study, and data was collected using focus group discussions during August 2015. The study found that rural women farmers are extremely challenged, as they are inadequately equipped as farmers, and they do not receive adequate aid from government or other entities, to enable them to turn their form of farming from subsistence farming to a more beneficial, commercialized form of farming. As a result, the study made the following recommendations. Firstly, the government should intensify programmes and strategies aimed at assisting rural women involved in farming activities. Secondly, it should also assist these farmers with training, especially in modern farming technologies, so as to grow their business into a commercialized form of farming. Finally, it was recommended that government facilitates these farmers to obtain funding from foreign donors to further grow their business.

Literacy is a key outcome of education. Although literacy is a basic human right, and, can lay the foundation for further education and training, there is still a high number of illiterate people in South Africa. Black rural women form the majority of non-literates in the country and this has a negative impact on the development of the country. This means that rural women are still marginalized and stay in conditions of squalor because they are unemployed, poor and lack skills required by the labour market. This study focuses on the importance and benefits of literacy programmes to the empowerment of black rural women. It was conducted in two rural areas of Mopani District Municipality, in Greater Giyani. Rural women who have been socially excluded and benefited less from the growing economy need to be empowered through literacy programmes to stand up and fight poverty, ill health and other social ills they face. The qualitative method was employed where participants were involved in focus group and one on one interviews so as to evaluate the effectiveness of the literacy programmes. The results of the study indicate that literacy programmes did empower women to a certain extent because they have gained functional skills and they involve themselves in community development programmes. However, the engagement of all stakeholders in the provision of quality literacy programmes can emancipate rural women so that they may take their rightful places in society. / Educational Studies / (M. Ed. (Secialisation in Adult Education))