The Centre for Social Sciences Research (CSSR) and the  Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa  (IDCPPA) at the University of Cape Town invite you to join us for a lunchtime seminar on 22 October 2024 at 12:45pm. The seminar will be presented by Justin Verity.

About the Seminar:

Understanding the lived experiences of informality and social protection in Urban Cape Town and Rural Limpopo

This is a presentation of preliminary findings on the social protection of informal produce traders in urban Cape Town and rural Limpopo. Within this study 15 interviews were conducted in both urban Cape Town and in rural Limpopo, and has been coupled with naturalistic non-participant observation.

By doing this, the research aims to add to the growing literature on the informal sector by qualitatively investigating the characteristics of the informal traders, the risks associated with their environment and the various ways they mitigate risks.

Using descriptive thematic analysis and symbolic interactionism theory, this research found that many participants lacked basic necessities, leaving their products susceptible to the elements and potential income loss. Despite these potential losses, many in the informal find various ways to absorb or deter these risks associated with their products and income through informal social protection mechanisms and utilising their environments to suit their needs.

Speakers

Justin Verity is a passionate Sociology PhD research fellow, under the IDCPPA and the Harry Crossley Foundation, at the University of Cape Town. He has a Master's degree in Sociology from the University of Pretoria. At present his main research focus at present entails social protection for informal produce traders in South Africa and Botswana.

 22 October 2024
 12:45 - 14:00 SAST
  CSSR Seminar Room, 4.29 Robert Leslie Social Science Building, UCT

Hosted by the Centre for Social Science Research and the Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa