167 lines
5.5 KiB
YAML
167 lines
5.5 KiB
YAML
abstract: 'The concepts social fabric and social cohesion refer to complex and
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interdependent systems that exist in a community. Social cohesion
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includes aspects such as the level of respect people have for each
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other, people''s experiences of belonging, identification with the
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community, identity, their experiences of social justice, and
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participation. Social cohesion is further evident in the extent that
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people are accepting each other, taking responsibility for themselves
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and others and providing safety and security.
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South Africa''s political and racially-based history and the current high
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poverty and inequality do not provide a conducive context for a cohesive
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society. This is evident in the high prevalence of poverty,
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unemployment, crime, substance dependency and the neglect and abuse of
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women and children. Facilitating a socially cohesive society is high on
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the agenda of the current government, but the current policy frameworks
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and institutional structures cannot create a socially cohesive society.
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Failing to create a socially cohesive South African society is evident
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in the more than 50 000 day labourers who are standing on the street
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corners of our cities and towns daily, with the hope to access a job and
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an income for the day.
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Day labourers are unemployed people, mostly men, making a living by
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selling their labour and skills on the street corners of South African
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cities and towns. The growing number of day labourers who make a living
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in the informal economy is a clear indication that South Africa cannot
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absorb the unemployed in the formal economy. In particular, South Africa
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is unable to accommodate the low-skilled and uneducated labourers in the
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formal labour market. To make a living and survive in the informal
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economy imply an insecure existence.
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The aim of the article is to describe the socio-economic profile of the
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3 830 day labourers interviewed during the first national study in South
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Africa as a case study that illustrates the vulnerability of the social
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cohesion and social fabric of poor families and communities surviving in
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the informal economy. The national study was implemented in two phases.
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The first phase lasted approximately two years, which were spent
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travelling throughout South Africa to determine on which street corners
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and open spaces the day labourers are standing in the cities and towns
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of South Africa. This reconnaissance phase of the study resulted in the
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estimation that there are at least 50 000 day labourers occupying street
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corners of South African towns and cities daily. The second, or
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fieldwork, phase of the research consisted of the completion of 3 830
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interviews with day labourers throughout South Africa during 2007 and
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2008. In this phase, the authors developed the survey instrument,
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recruited field workers, provided appropriate training and tested the
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questionnaire. This was followed by the sampling, where a combination of
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cluster and snowball sampling was used to proportionally represent the
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research population. A representative sample of approximately 9\%
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enabled meaningful statistical analysis. All ethical principles were
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adhered to. The questionnaires were completed with the assistance of
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well-trained fieldworkers who were fluent in the languages spoken by the
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day labourers.
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The results of the study show that, given the high unemployment rate and
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slow economic growth in South Africa, the informal economy and day
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labouring are here to stay and should be supported with relevant
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facilitating policies and institutions/structures. Day labouring is
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furthermore a survivalist strategy and it implies an irregular income.
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It became clear that the day labourers in general have very low
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education and skills levels and will not be able to access formal labour
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in the current economic climate.
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Day labourers are the result of a vulnerable socially exclusive society.
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It will remain in an increasingly vulnerable exclusive society if not
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addressed through the implementation of policies and practices that will
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enhance social cohesion and strengthen the social fabric of the South
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African society.'
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affiliation: 'Schenck, R (Corresponding Author), Univ Wes Kaapland, Dept Maatskaplike
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Werk, Cape Town, South Africa.
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Schenck, Rinie, Univ Wes Kaapland, Dept Maatskaplike Werk, Cape Town, South Africa.
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Blaauw, Derick, Noordwes Univ, Skool Vir Ekon Wetenskappe, Potchefstroom, South
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Africa.'
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author: Schenck, Rinie and Blaauw, Derick
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author-email: 'cschenck@uwc.ac.za
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Derick.Blaauw@nwu.ac.za'
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author_list:
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- family: Schenck
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given: Rinie
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- family: Blaauw
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given: Derick
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da: '2023-09-28'
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doi: 10.17159/2224-7912/2018/v58n1a3
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files: []
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issn: 0041-4751
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journal: TYDSKRIF VIR GEESTESWETENSKAPPE
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keywords: 'Day labourers; informal economy; social fabric; social cohesion;
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unemployment; poverty; informal employment; migrants; survival;
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vulnerability; food insecurity'
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language: Afrikaans
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month: JAN
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number: '1'
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number-of-cited-references: '27'
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pages: 36-55
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papis_id: 0b69263cea23623114e35595ebc5618c
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ref: Schenck2018daylabourers
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researcherid-numbers: Schenck, Catherina J/O-9605-2014
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times-cited: '3'
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title: 'Day labourers: A case study of the vulnerability of the social fabric and
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cohesion in South Africa''s informal economy'
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type: article
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unique-id: WOS:000434432400003
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usage-count-last-180-days: '1'
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usage-count-since-2013: '13'
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volume: '58'
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web-of-science-categories: Social Issues
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year: '2018'
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