Browsing by Author "Skinner, Caroline"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Assessing the implications of local governance on street trading: a case of Cape Town's inner city
    (2013) Mwasinga, Ben; Skinner, Caroline
    The significance of the informal economy in developing countries has long been established however, this is not reflected in the governance of informal economic activities in these states. Although restricted the informal economy contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product of developing countries and to the reduction of unemployment. In South Africa the abolishment of apartheid led to the rapid urbanisation of major cities and with it an increase in street trade which is recognised under the Business Act No. 76 of 1991. However, many authors have argued that street trade is still restricted in urban centres and remains marginalised due to the restrictive governance approaches adopted by local authorities. Hence the purpose of this study is to assess the implications of Cape Town's local governance approach for street traders in the inner city. Using a qualitative research method, the case study, this study explores the lived experiences of traders in the inner city and their relationship with the local authority . The study used interviews, primary document reviews and direct observations as the research techniques to gather information and explore the implications of the governance approach adopted by the local authority on trader's livelihoods and working experiences. The local authority was found to pursue urban planning initiatives, such as the redevelopment of Cape Town Station, in order to attract investment and formal businesses at the expense of street traders. It was found that the local authority's governance approach to street trading serves to marginalise traders and does not include them in urban planning and development. Furthermore the study established a lack of inclusive planning in the formulation of policy and implementation of strategies that impact on trader's livelihoods.
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    Encountering city governance: an analysis of street trading in Gaborone, Botswana
    (2020) Lethugile, Goabamang; Skinner, Caroline
    There is a need to review and recast how space is being planned and how regulations are responding to the realities of the informal economy. Street trading provides a critical platform to explore the dynamics and complexity of planning and management of informal activities in public spaces. This research explored how city governance shapes the practices of informal street trading in Gaborone, Botswana. It investigated how street traders navigate their daily trading and their spatial practices and strategies. Insights were gleaned through in-depth interviews with street traders in three different sites in Gaboroneand key informant interviews with politicians and government officials–both senior and lower level staff. Combining the government officials'and traders' perspectives has allowed for the exploration of the disjuncture betweenthe two. The interview findings indicated that the state continues to govern but with inappropriate tools, and traders continue to trade but in sub-optimum ways. The Gaborone Council has made some headway in accepting street traders but still provides little or no infrastructure. It is argued that traders themselves constitute public space, so their voices, practices, strategies and resilience need to be understood. The dissertation concludes by making recommendations that could improve conditions for all parties.
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    Second Best? Trends and Linkages in the Informal Economy in South Africa
    (2006-02) Devey, Richard; Skinner, Caroline; Valodia,Imraan
    The idea of a second economy has become a feature of recent government economic policy. In this paper we focus on one important element of the second economy – the informal economy. We analyse the nature of the informal economy in South Africa, providing some descriptive statistics and analysis to highlight the nature and extent of the informal economy.
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    Space, place and belonging: informal trading in and around Congolenses market, Luanda, Angola
    (2015) Mendelsohn, Martin; Skinner, Caroline
    The dissertation explores the interplay between government, informal street traders and the public in and around the Congolenses marketplace in Luanda, Angola. The nation was ravaged by 27 years of civil war until 2002. During this time, most of the city made use of extensive systems of informal provisioning to survive. Since the end of the war, the government has undertaken a high degree of spatial and social reordering with wide ranging consequences for those who inhabit the city, especially within the informal economy. Most previous research focusing on the informal economy, or government policy in Luanda has taken sectoral and city wide approaches. As such, the opportunity to explore the effects and manifestations of policy on informality in a site specific context presents itself. The Congolenses market is a key point in the city where interplay between informality, the public and government has taken place. This dissertation examines the various spatial constituents of Congolenses, reviews its situation within the context of greater Luanda, and discusses the role which informal trade has and continues to play in the city. Furthermore, in investigating the relationship between informal traders and the government's stance towards them, perspectives were drawn from three focal areas: The lived realities of traders in the area through in depth interviews, the perceptions of and ways in which the area is used by pedestrians through surveys, and how the Angolan government has interacted with them through media scans, observations and key literatures. It was found that planning mechanisms, including spatial, legal, and policy should be employed as critical interventions for the creation of an inclusive space to the advantage of all users of the market. Finally, a spatial concept was produced, suggesting improved land uses, and physical infrastructural interventions in the area and provides the view that a change in the current perspective of the Angolan government would be of benefit to informal traders and the Angolan economy.