Phillip F. Blaauw

‘All quiet on the social work front’: Experiences of Zimbabwean day labourers in South Africa

Migration, particularly when triggered by economic or political hardship, has significant psychological and socio-economic consequences for the individuals concerned. While an impressive amount of research has been conducted by social workers into migration in North America, Europe and Asia, the same cannot be said for Africa. The continent has high numbers of displaced people and refugees, yet no Africa-linked research on migration has been published by the social work profession. This article addresses this gap in the literature by focusing specifically on Zimbabwean day labourers in South Africa. Survey results reveal that these migrants face intense competition for scarce jobs, and thus economic uncertainty, and are often victimised. It is incumbent upon the social work profession to expose the vulnerable conditions in which day labourers have to operate, and to mobilise a coordinated response from relevant government and non-profit organisations in the interests of greater social justice and harmony.

Social work and food security: Case study on the nutritional capabilities of the landfill waste pickers in South Africa

Food security (or the lack of it) has a direct impact on people’s well-being and is of great concern to many disciplines. The study on which the article is based used Drèze and Sen’s ‘nutritional capability’ concept as a theoretical framework to explain the food (in)security of landfill waste pickers. A cross-sectional research approach was followed, coupled with a triangulation mixed method research design. Viewing the waste pickers against the nutritional capability framework highlighted the important role that social work should play in focusing on people’s capabilities within their particular context.

The impact of basic and social infrastructure investment on South African economic growth and development

ABSTRACT Basic and social infrastructure investment can assist in addressing widespread inequality and divided societies by promoting economic growth and social development. The aim of this study is to determine whether basic and social infrastructure investment differently affect economic growth and social development indicators of urban and rural municipalities. We used a balanced panel dataset containing infrastructure, economic, demographic and social indicators for rural and urban municipalities for the period from 1996 to 2012. Principal component analysis was used to construct synthetic indices of basic and social infrastructure. Restricted within least squares dummy variable estimation techniques are used to evaluate the differences between urban and rural municipalities. The elasticities of basic and social infrastructure investment generally are more pronounced for economic growth and social development indicators in rural municipalities. These findings could potentially influence policy decisions in terms of infrastructure investment in favour of rural municipalities to increase economic growth and social development.

The socio-economic differences between landfill and street waste pickers in the Free State province of South Africa

ABSTRACT Waste picking is an important survival strategy of many people throughout the developing world. South Africa has a sizeable waste picker population who ply their trade on municipal landfill sites as well as on the streets of cities and towns. This study lifts the lid on this neglected area of research by analysing and comparing landfill and street waste pickers side by side in a socio-economic context. Samples of waste pickers were drawn from the three main municipalities of Mangaung, Matjhabeng and Metsimaholo in the Free State province of South Africa and a questionnaire-based survey was conducted. Among the findings was that waste picking offers a financial lifeline when, due to inadequate schooling and grinding poverty, individuals would be hard pressed to find employment in the formal economy. The study lays an important foundation for further comparative and qualitative research into this important segment of South Africa’s informal economy.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NGOS ON THE WELL-BEING OF EXTENDED HOUSEHOLDS IN SOWETO

Extended households, usually in the form of an elder or grandparent, have always provided a safety net for orphaned children. However, the high rates of HIV (AIDS) infection, unemployment and poverty have weakened their capacity to fulfil this vital role.The majority of extended households live in poverty and, therefore, lack sufficient resources to care for these children. In addition to receiving government social grants, some extended households are also receiving financial and non-financial assistance from local non-governmental organisations (NGOs). These local NGOs provide basic needs such as food, clothes and medical care to orphans living in extended family units. Little has been done to quantify their economic impact. This paper, therefore, investigates the economic impact of NGOs in improving the well-being of vulnerable orphaned children living in extended households in Soweto. Using Foster, Greer and Thorbecke’s (FGT) poverty indices, we found that the help of NGOs was statistically significant in reducing the level and extent of poverty in such dwellings. The results of FGT are supported by those of the logit econometric model.