Abstract
While mining has been a source of livelihood for many Basotho families since the 1970s, the 1980s,
the 1990s, and the 2000s, have seen progressive decline in the number of migrant mine workers in
South Africa’s mining companies. This decline has forced many families to adjust their livelihood
activities to replace income lost from mine migrant wage labour. In view of various livelihood
transition options, former mine migrant labour families have reverted to rural subsistence
agricultural livelihoods as well as capitalized agricultural activities based within rural areas. These
livelihood options are significantly influenced by investment options undertaken while still
employed within the mining industry. Although these livelihood transitions have necessitated
adjustment of expenditure patterns, these adjustments have in many instances not significantly
altered gender based decision making practices and responsibilities of adult household members. In
spite of limited income generation activities by husbands, in most families the husband continues to
be seen as the head of the household, responsible for making decisions pertaining to investment and
disposal of assets, expenditures related to ploughing of fields and caring for livestock, while the
wife’s decision making activities are confined to matters pertaining to caring for the children,
including their schooling.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/7628 |
| Date | 05 March 2010 |
| Creators | Molefe, Nthabiseng |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf, application/pdf |
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