The research began with a review of the literature on the international and South African experiences of training women in the informal economy for enterprise development.
Publications gathered from library and Internet searches covered such areas as training, non-traditional skills development, the informal economy, adult basic education, poverty, women and development, and SMME promotion. Relevant pieces of South African legislation were also consulted.
After reviewing the literature, interviews were conducted with key informants, including staff at the head office for SEWU in Durban and training organisations such as Valley Trust and Khuphuka. These interviews were conducted in English, over the telephone and/or in person.
Although there are three other SEWU branches that have been trained in blockmaking, Vezi Khono in Ndwedwe was chosen as it is considered a 'success', and this research aims to highlight best practices. Although the research would have benefited from a comparative study of SEWU members from different branches who were trained in either blockmaking, electrical wiring (another traditionally male field of work), or a traditionally female skill such as sewing or baking, the research was limited due to the time
constraints of the master's dissertation.
After meeting the president of the Ndwedwe branch, Alexia Mashazi, permission was granted to conduct the research and a date was set for the initial visit to Ndwedwe.
Vezi Khono was visited 6 times between October 1999 and January 2000. A range of research techniques was used to gather information. Initial visits to Ndwedwe
established trust and focused on general information surrounding the blockmaking enterprise and the women in it. Details surrounding the exact production of the blocks were also gathered (including all inputs, middlemen, linkages, and competition).
Further trust was established during the individual interviews and the researcher and translator were housed in the area, in the home of the treasurer, Agnes Khuluse for 3 days. Although Agnes Mashazi is fluent in English, a translator was used to ensure
greater voice for the rest of the members and to encourage greater objectivity in the research.
The individual, in-depth interviews asked each of the 8 women: biographical details, skills levels and history of training, opposition they have faced because of their
involvement in a traditionally male skill, their position within their household and within the group, experiences in running a business, shocks that have occurred since they were part of this enterprise, and how they rank their relative wealth within the greater community of Ndwedwe. Only 8 of the 11 members of Vezi Khono could be interviewed as 3 were working on a Public Works project throughout the time the research was conducted. Interviews ranged from 45 minutes to 2 1/2 hours. Interviews did not
interrupt the enterprise's operation as rainy weather had already halted the production of blocks. The women interviewed were Ntobengezinye Ngithi, Zuzile Makhanye, Nozipho Assiline Khuluse, Ivy Manzi, Alexia Mashazi, Agnes Khuluse, Dora Khuluse, and
Bonangani Dlamuka.
The following visit used focus groups with the members of Vezi Khono. Focus groups were conducted using participatory rural assessment techniques. This meant that the research process relied extensively upon visual aids, as many of the women are illiterate. The researcher acted as a facilitator during the following four exercises:
1. Time Line
A time line is a visual aid used to chronologically detail the major events of the
enterprise, the history of the women as a group, and seasonality. Starting with the 'Iow talkers' each woman was asked to list 3 important events for Vezi Khono. These events were then chronologised on the time line. This exercise allowed for in-depth discussion surrounding events to occur.
2. Finances Chart
Using images of various expenses (such as tools, repairs, cement, truck hire, storage costs), the women assessed how much is spent on each. This was followed by a discussion of profits (how they have risen or fallen over the years) and ways of better competing against the local competitor (how much they could raise price of blocks while maintaining a good customer base).
3. Who Does What Work
This exercise, also known as 'pictures plus roles' used pictures of the women (taken on a previous visit) and assessed the roles each woman plays in the enterprise. Tasks were assigned to each woman according to: who buys the cement, who goes to the bank, who does the payroll, who takes the tools to be repaired, who deals with the customers, and who markets/advertises. This exercise established the democratic nature of the enterprise and whether the women wanted the tasks to be redistributed.
4. Where are We Going and How to Get There
A large bottomless triangle pointing upward to 'Vezi Khono 2010' was drawn. Pre-made 'future cards' with images that depicted what different members of the group want for the future of the enterprise (that had been mentioned on earlier visits). The women were asked to prioritise what would be best for the group in the future.
The next section of this exercise asked, "how do we get there?" Issues such as buying a truck, buying inputs in bulk, how to get capital, and the group's fears of loans were then discussed.
A final part of this research will include discussing the findings with members of SEWU and Vezi Khono. The input from this workshop is not included in the body of this dissertation.
This is a small study, done in a short period of time. The case study approach is not representative, but allows for detailed information to be gathered. There is currently a lack of research in the area of training in non-traditional skills in South Africa and the results will feed directly into the broader project on the informal economy at CSDS.