Abstract
M.Com. (Business Management)
Street trading plays a significant role in the informal economy; this economy has grown worldwide given worsening economic conditions in many countries (Willemse, 2011). Over the years, the informal economy has created jobs for many South Africans, and taking into consideration the high rate of joblessness in South Africa, the informal sector continue to improve the lives of many people especially for a lot of people from disadvantaged communities.
The primary objective of the research was to identify the factors influencing street trading in the Tshwane Central Business District. The secondary objectives for this research included determining the characteristics of informal street traders operating in the Tshwane CBD; to investigate the survival challenges that informal street traders face in the Tshwane CBD; to investigate if street traders are aware of street trading policies; to identify if street traders are licensed to operate; to determine how the street traders view their relationship with the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and Municipal Officials; and finally to make recommendations on actions that the municipality can adopt to effectively manage the informal street trading sector in the Tshwane region.
The literature review gives a detailed summary on the topic through the use of secondary data. It provided a conceptualisation of street trading, characteristics of the informal street trading sector and challenges facing street trading. It also tackled the main drivers influencing street trading activities, and finally the benefits accruing from street trading activities.
A total of thirty (30) street traders were interviewed. The main themes that emerged from the interviews with regard to the factors influencing street trading in the Tshwane CBD, were unemployment, migration and urbanisation, poverty, entrepreneurial ambitions and for survival. The views and perspectives of the participants of the study during the data collection process in addition to the literature review was used as a base...