Youth Entrepreneurs in Esikhawini Township, Richards Bay
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Dreams come true: Youth Entrepreneurs in eSikhawini Township, Richards Bay By Ayanda Manqoyi Supervisor: Dr. Divine. Fuh Co-supervisor: Dr. Jennifer. Broadhurst and Prof. Jean-Paul Franzidis University of Cape Town A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Cape Town The copyright of this thesis vests in the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgement of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or non- commercial research purposes only. Published by the University of Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. University of Cape Town Abstract This research project examines the emergence of youth entrepreneurs in the moments just before mining and industrial activities develop within a community. It focuses on how young people engage with the hopes and promise of opportunities engendered by the expansion of mines and industry within a particular place. Using ethnography as methodology, it looks at how young people’s dreams and desires in eSikhawini, a township in the Richards Bay area within the uMhlathuze Municipality, are activated by the coming of mining activities and how they use these to create entrepreneurs. In the context of mining and industrial expansion, young people use the promise of opportunity and the pursuit of dreams and desires to create particular kinds of entrepreneurs who attempt to stabilize their lives and that of their community in the face of precarity. It argues that the interrelations emergent in the daily enterprise of creating a stable future are key resources and insurance against uncertainty that sustain “community” in the context of eSikhawini. Overall, the thesis attempts to demonstrate that by recognising and strengthening youth entrepreneurs’ capacity to aspire and realise their dreams can entrepreneurship interventions and programmes foster and sustain empowering relationships amongst marginalized people living in areas affected by mining and mineral beneficiation. i | P a g e Plagiarism Declaration This work has not been previously submitted in whole, or in part, for the award of any degree. It is my own work. Each significant contribution to, and quotation in, this dissertation from the work, or works, of other people has been attributed, and has been cited and referenced. Ayanda Manqoyi, Signature: ______________ _______ Date: _______________ ii | P a g e iii | P a g e Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor, friend and mentor, Divine Fuh, for his unrelenting belief and patience in me. I’m particularly grateful for the many important conversations to reassure me of the progress during the thesis process. It is his energetic positive style of supervision that has taught me more about motivation and dreaming. At this point I would like to extend full gratitude to my co-supervisor, Jennifer Broadhurst. Even though working across disciplines, it was her willingness to learn about ethnography and the massive support she provided that made the field visits possible. I have also learnt a great deal from her honest conversations and not to forget the soulful laughter. As an extension to the Minerals to Metal Group in Chemical Engineering, it was from J-P Franzidis’s warm welcome that made me feel at home. A special thank you goes to Harro Von Blottnitz for always checking in and making sure that I had sufficient support. Even though I got to meet her later on into my research journey, Dee Bradshaw provided an immediate light and energy to the group. I appreciate her words of encouragement. Included as both my family and friends, is the 2014 cohort. With a special thank you to Takunda Chitaka who has never hesitated to assist in many new projects and programmes expected by the department. She has been a pillar, my sister and close friend throughout the journey. The journey would not have happened without the generosity of KwaZulu Natal Department Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. From the department, I would like to single out Mr Sihle Mkhize for the amazing support he provided in the form of contacts during my visits in Richards Bay. I would also like to thank Stephen Bullock from Anglo Platinum for making it possible to conduct interviews with individuals it would not have been possible to secure appointments with. The few weeks stimulated great conversations and better prepared me for the fieldwork. I would like to acknowledge funding received from KwaZulu Natal Department Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs; Minerals to Metals Initiative. Above all, I’m eternally grateful to my main participants that also became respectable friends. These words cannot capture the respect and admiration I have for all of you. They allowed a complete stranger into their lives. These people remained gracious by sharing intimate stories and allowing me into their homes and businesses. It has been in the presence of these educators that has completely altered my understanding of youth entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in marginalised societies. iv | P a g e Table of Contents Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... i Plagiarism Declaration ............................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ........................................................................................................................ viii List of Tables ......................................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Motivation ................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Research Question ....................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Research Problem/Justification ................................................................................... 5 1.4 Theory and Conceptualisation ..................................................................................... 7 1.4.1 Agency ................................................................................................................. 7 1.4.2 Aspirations, Dignity and Respectability ............................................................ 13 1.4.3 Entrepreneurship ................................................................................................ 16 1.4.4 Gender Politics of Entrepreneurship .................................................................. 18 1.5 Structure/Organisation of Dissertation ...................................................................... 19 Chapter 2 Methods: Ethnography as entrepreneurship....................................................... 22 2.1 Research Design – Ethnography ............................................................................... 22 2.2 The Field Site ............................................................................................................ 24 2.3 Methods, Tools and Techniques................................................................................ 29 2.4 Scope of the project ................................................................................................... 30 2.5 Roadmap.................................................................................................................... 30 v | P a g e 2.6 Time scales ................................................................................................................ 30 2.7 Participant observation .............................................................................................. 31 2.8 Study Participant: Finding Youth Entrepreneurs ...................................................... 32 2.8.1 Broad demographics .......................................................................................... 32 2.9 Positionality ............................................................................................................... 35 2.10 Life histories .......................................................................................................... 36 2.11 Field-notes ............................................................................................................. 37 2.12 Photographs ........................................................................................................... 37 2.13 Data Analyses ........................................................................................................ 37 2.13.1 Transcription ...................................................................................................... 38 2.14 Ethical Dilemmas .................................................................................................. 38 2.15 Conclusion ............................................................................................................