The tools used in this study required immediate analysis and follow up questions that could only be done by the researcher. A qualified bilingual (IsiZulu and English) research assistant could not be hired and trained due to financial constraints. For this reason, the tools had to be applied in English, which necessitated that research participants be English first language speakers. All traders approached along Church Street, Retief and Pietermaritz Street were IsiZulu first language speakers.
The African Council of Hawkers and Informal Business (ACHIB) is the dominant trader organisation in Pietermaritzburg. According to reports, ACHIB coerces traders to become members, once traders become members, they can only purchase supplies from ACHIB affiliates (Baijoo, 2007). It is possible that traders in the city centre were afraid to participate for fear of chastisement from this organisation.
After scouting other locations such as Failsworth and Manchester Road, Raisethorpe was evaluated in terms of its racial profile and the infrastructure street traders had access to.
Traders in Raisethorpe were willing to leave their sites for three to five hours and be interviewed at a local office and willing to disclose the income gained each month and how they used this cash to meet family needs. Of approximately 25 traders of mixed race, 17 agreed to participate in the study. During data collection five decided not to participate and the study was left with a sample of twelve traders (two African and ten Indian).
Admittedly, this case study sample is small but the nature of the investigation required in- depth interviews and relationship building to develop trust with respondents in order to understand the coping strategy elements that typical survey research is not able to achieve.
(Sewduth, 2004). The association lacks an organisational structure and strong leadership.
Traders mentioned that to be considered a legitimate trader one had to register with this authority. No traders approached stated that they needed permission from the organisation to participate in the study.
Research guidelines on how to approach participants and secure collaboration was adopted from Bouma and Atkinson (1995: 215-6). The traders were approached at the beginning of November 2004 by the researcher and informed briefly of the aims of the study and asked whether they would be able to share their experiences. They were informed the purpose of the study was to analyse street trading as a food security coping strategy. To facilitate understanding language used in initial meetings was simple and technical terms were avoided (Casely & Kumar, 1988:15).
Many traders were suspicious of the intentions of the researcher. Some feared that the results of the study would be used to enforce rent payments for trading sites while others feared that pension payments would cease. The researcher convinced traders that the results would not be used to harm them but instead would provide them with much needed exposure to air their problems.
Traders were carefully briefed about using pseudonyms and were told they could use pseudonyms if they feared disclosing personal information such as financial status (Bouma & Atkinson, 1995: 215). Permission was sought to use their real names and pictures in the thesis and all participating street traders granted permission to use their real names and photos in the thesis. They were told that the results of the study would be published in a journal and in a leading newspaper. When newspaper articles required names and pictures, the researcher went to all participating street traders and sought permission to have their information and pictures published. After consultation, three traders agreed to have their pictures and personal information published in local newspapers. Three newspaper articles were published on the constraints street traders faced in plying their trade, one of which focussed on the potential contribution of street
An accidental sampling technique was used in this study. A profile was drawn beforehand as a guideline in the introductory process and participants were chosen on the basis of the criteria as presented in table 5.1 (Casely & Kumar, 1988: 62). Accidental sampling was the most appropriate method to use as participants had to meet particular criteria and also the most appropriate method to use in a case study in which few subjects are required and the interaction between themes can be studied in detail (Peil, 1982: 28).
On every visit more traders were recruited. A veteran trader who supported the aims of the research helped recruit traders and ease the suspicion over frequent visits.
Table 5.1 Criteria guiding sample selection for this study
Age 25-60 years.
Education No tertiary education.
Monthly income from trading Unspecified.
Previous employment Lacks formal work experience.
Years trading At least 1 year.
Hours spent trading Full/part-time.
Formal employment status Formally unemployed.
A letter printed on official University of KwaZulu-Natal letterhead outlining the aims of the research; why the research was being conducted; and how it was going to benefit participants was handed to prospective participants. Each letter was personalised with the name of the trader. The contact numbers of the researcher were given to trader participants. An example of the letter can be found in appendix D.
The researcher and the participant agreed on dates and times for the research session.
Each research session lasted about three and half to four hours. Research sessions were conducted in the home office of the researcher. Trader participants were paid a nominal amount for their participation to compensate for time lost from the site.
Each visit assisted in building trust with the street traders as they realised the researcher was not seeking negative information or finding reasons to have them removed. Many traders expressed interest in learning how to separate their household economy from the business economy and how they could record business information (stock taking, profit/loss) on a daily basis.