Abstract
The Department of Economic Development (DED) within the City of Johannesburg
(C0J) implemented two policy projects linked, to its proposed second economy policy.
This study evaluated whether in its attempt to formalise the second economy the CoJ
second economy policy empowered or further disempowered the participants of the
security and green economy sectors of the second/informal economy.
Empowerment in the context of this dissertation was based on the Alsop, Bertelsen and
Holland's (2006:15) methodology which states that tracking the differences in
capabilities that disallow individuals or groups the ability to make transforming choices
enables social research to measure how the environment (policy measures, by—laws
etc.) can either empower or disempower the actors.
A literature review of the second economy provided background both in South Africa
and the rest of the world. The review also addressed how the definition of the second
economy varies as policy makers often define it according to the state of the informal
economy in their policy landscape. The debate regarding the use of the word "second"
as opposed to "informal" was relooked, it was concluded that the terms could be used
interchangeably as they were both based on the "dualistic" approach that is prevalent in
all economies. Chapter two also highlighted the advantages of the second economy
regards to job creation and, economic growth.
The results from the green economy waste pickers and car guard security
questionnaires were used to measure whether the policy interventions that were
developed by the CoJ for each sector empowered or disempowered the participants of
the sector. In total; 10 waste pickers were interviewed, including 5 from the
Johannesburg CBD (Carr Street) and 5 from the Waterval district which is where the
separation at source programme was piloted. In the car guarding sector 5 respondents
were interviewed before and after the implementation of the ACE parking system pilot in
Braamfontein....
M.A. (Public Management and Governance)