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University CHANGING MIGRANT SPACES AND LIVELIHOODS: HOSTELS AS COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL UNITS, KWAMASHU, KWAZULU NATAL SOUTH AFRICA By Nomkhosi Xulu Thesis Presented for the Degree of Town DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHYCape of in the Department of Sociology UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN University February, 2012 Table of Contents Table of Figures ......................................................................................................................... 4 List of Tables ............................................................................................................................. 5 CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................................... 6 Unveiling the Hostel’s Perplexity ........................................................................................... 6 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.1 Hostels as Spaces of Perplexity ....................................................................................... 8 1.2 Key Concepts ................................................................................................................. 28 1.3 Contribution of the Thesis ............................................................................................. 34 1.4 Outline of the Thesis ...................................................................................................... 39 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................... 41 Conceptual and Theoretical Frameworks and Research Methods and Methodology .... 41 2. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 41 2.1 From Dichotomization to Triangulation ........................................................................ 43 2.2 From Triangulation to Perplexity................................................................................... 55 2.3 The Production of Space ................................................................................................ 57 2.4 Rural-Urban Continuum ................................................................................................ 62 2.5 Feminist Theoretical Framework and Qualitative Research .......................................... 64 2.6 Research Methods and Methodology.............................................................................Town 67 2.6.1 Research Strategy........................................................................................................ 68 2.6.2 Research Questions ..................................................................................................... 68 2.6.3 Choosing Research Sites: KwaMashu Hostel, eShowe, eMpangeni, Nongoma, and Hlabisa ................................................................................................................................. 69 2.6.3.1 Urban Research Site: KwaMashu CRU/HostelCape ....................................................... 70 2.6.3.2 Rural Research Sites: eShowe, eMpangeni, Nongoma, and Hlabisa ....................... 71 2.7 Gaining Access ..............................................................................................................of 72 2.7.1 Gaining Access in the CRU ........................................................................................ 73 2.7.2 Gaining Access in the Rural Areas ............................................................................. 73 2.8 Sampling Methods ......................................................................................................... 74 2.9 Data Collection .............................................................................................................. 75 2.9.1 In-depth, Semi-Structured Interviews ......................................................................... 76 2.9.2 Life History Interviews ............................................................................................... 76 2.9.3 Focus Group Discussions ............................................................................................ 77 2.9.4 Participant ObservationUniversity ............................................................................................... 78 2.9.5 Secondary Data Collection ......................................................................................... 78 2.10 Qualitative Data Analysis ............................................................................................ 79 2.11 The Researcher-Participant Relations .......................................................................... 80 2.12 Ethical Considerations ................................................................................................. 81 2.12.1 Harm to Participants ................................................................................................. 82 2.12.2 Informed Consent...................................................................................................... 82 2.12.3 Deception .................................................................................................................. 82 2.12.4 Voluntary Participation ............................................................................................. 83 2.13 Limitations ................................................................................................................... 83 2.13.1 Disappointments ....................................................................................................... 84 2.14 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 87 CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................... 88 Overview: The World of Rural-Urban Connections .......................................................... 88 3. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 88 1 3.1 The Migrant Labour System in South Africa (1886) ..................................................... 90 3.2 The Hostel and the Compound System (1923) .............................................................. 92 3.3 The Commencement of the Apartheid Era (1948) ......................................................... 94 3.4 Establishment of KwaMashu Hostel (1958) .................................................................. 96 3.5 Informal Settlements at the Hostel (1980s) ................................................................... 99 3.6 Violence at the Hostels (late 1980s-1995) ................................................................... 107 3.7 The New South Africa (1994) and the Community Residential Units (2004/2006) ... 110 3.8 The Functioning of the Hostel (2011) .......................................................................... 115 3.8.1 Key Structures Existing at the Hostel ....................................................................... 116 3.8.2 Development Process (on-going) .............................................................................. 118 3.8.2.1 Development Process Challenges .......................................................................... 119 3.8.3 Allocation Process (on-going) .................................................................................. 122 3.9 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 126 CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................................ 128 Collapsing Livelihoods: Survival Strategies of Migrant Workers in the Rural-Urban Areas...................................................................................................................................... 128 4. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 128 4.1 Sexuality: Gifts and Sex............................................................................................... 132 4.2 Criminality ................................................................................................................... 137 4.3 Livelihood Struggles: Challenging Situations and Difficult Choices .......................... 141 4.3.1 Phili’s Situations and Choices ..................................................................................Town 141 4.3.2 Londiwe’s Situations and Choices ............................................................................ 142 4.3.3 Mam Nonhle Kheswa’s Situations and Choices ....................................................... 145 4.4 Unemployment ............................................................................................................. 146 4.4.1 Employment/Unemployment Dualism Disproved .................................................... 150 4.5 The