Abstract
The Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdowns have had a significant impact on businesses, individuals, families and the South African economy as a whole. This study explores the impact of Covid-19 and the national lockdowns on the livelihoods and businesses of Zimbabwean immigrant entrepreneurs residing and operating informal businesses in Mamelodi Township. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with immigrant entrepreneurs, this study explores how immigrant entrepreneurs experienced and perceived the impact of Covid-19 on their livelihoods, income, and businesses. The study shows that the exclusionary nature of the government’s Covid-19 relief package further disenfranchised immigrant entrepreneurs and worsened their vulnerability in the face of the pandemic. The findings show that immigrants’ nationality and lack of documentation played a major role in their exclusion from social support measures before and after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the absence of government relief and support, immigrant entrepreneurs turned to informal support structures to preserve their livelihoods and navigate the economic shock of the pandemic. The study also examines immigrant entrepreneurs’ views about their futures in Mamelodi Township, and their expectations of the South African government. While a few participants were of the view that the South African government was not concerned about their needs and therefore had few expectations of the state, the majority of participants believed the South African government could do more to assist them in getting their informal businesses registered. By focusing on the lived experiences of immigrant entrepreneurs, this study contributes to a growing body of knowledge concerning the impact of Covid-19 on the informal sector and immigrant entrepreneurs, in particular, as well as the pivotal role of informal support structures in a context of exclusionary (formal) social protection schemes. This thesis highlights the importance of the South African government recognising and embracing the role played by immigrant entrepreneurs and discusses the policies that could be enacted and implemented to better support immigrant entrepreneurs.
M.Phil. (Social Policy and Development)