Abstract
The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has harshly affected the livelihoods of informal traders in South Africa because informal trading is a source of income especially for poor and single headed households. Informal trading plays a key role in providing the South African single mothers with employment. Emerging studies shows that informal traders lost their businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they were financially strenuous as the restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the virus took away the opportunities of making money, developing and sustaining their businesses and increased poverty rate. Therefore, this study explores the economic experiences and sustainable livelihoods of South African single mothers who are informal traders in the COVID-19 era, a sustainable livelihood approach in Elukwatini, Mpumalanga. We analyse a representative sample of 10 informal traders who are single mothers from Mpumalanga This study adopted qualitative methodology and conducted one-on-one semi-structured interviews with the participants. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Four key themes emerged from the analysis: COVID-19 implications, financial and physical capital challenges, social capital support and coping strategies. Recommendations are made for single mothers who work as informal traders to form a support group to discuss their economic experiences and to share their strengths and resources to sustain their livelihoods.
Key concepts: Informal traders, informal economy, single mothers, sustainable livelihoods