South Africa:
Ten Years of Growth
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Free societies breed free enterprise and South
Africa is no different. Entrepreneurs around the country are using
their new found freedom to create a future for themselves and their
families.
Government grants and trade assistance from international organizations like USAID and ECI help small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) establish themselves in both local and international markets.
In the far reaches of the Limpopo Province, African - owned businesses are taking advantage of the opportunity. True Recaps, a manufacturer of school desks and chairs, is a community-based project that provides much-needed jobs. In addition, they provide space for a local crafts/sewing cooperative, which makes traditional beadwork and modern school uniforms.
Limpopo Province
Western Cape Province
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Tsoga Environmental Resource Center in Cape Town
This renaissance is taking place all over the country, where ever there's opportunity. In the Cape Town township of Langa, the Tsoga Environmental Resource Center serves multiple purposes within the community.
The small recycling center collects paper, plastic and soda cans (steel, not aluminum) and sends them to larger facilities around Cape Town. Not only is this an important source of income, but it also helps reduce the amount of trash in the streets.
Biodegradable waste serves as mulch in the center's small vegetable garden. Vegetables are, in turn, sold in open market to raise funds for the center.
In addition, they have small gift shop so local artists can sell their wares to curious tourists. The ceramic work is particularly unique. Making everything from plates to cups to coffee pots, these artists offer a unique blend of urban realism and traditional spirituality that is truly remarkable.
In a country with an unemployment rate of 37% (2001 est.), these enterprises are of vital importance--providing both jobs and job training. In other parts of the country, people make their way in less conventional - albeit more traditional - ways.
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A Cape Town "Tuck Shop"
This "tuck shop" in Cape Town is pretty much just that: a shop tucked into a small neighborhood street. These mini markets sell soda, chips, candy, basic medicines, and just about any other small consumer good.
During the Apartheid era, Africans were confined to "townships" located just outside any given city. Although Africans were forbidden to own most types of business, many small enterprises popped up in the townships to serve the needs of the people. Among these are shebeens (neighborhood saloons) and "tuck shops".
Our two friends were only too happy mug it up for the camera!
Another tradition in Cape Town's Langa Township is the market. People sell everything in the market: fruit, vegetables, breads, beans, grains, clothes, DVDs, CDs...you name it (we saw more independent barbers & hairstylists than you would imagine!). This woman is preparing a traditional meat dish for the market. The sheep heads are cleaned and boiled for broth. It may not sound appetizing, but in a sustenance existence, you make do.
One of the biggest impediments to economic development in South Africa is the poor state of the townships. These were more prison than home and the South African government patrolled them as such since their inception in the 1950s. Basic services were never placed in most township neighborhoods and few, if any, resources were devoted to maintenance and repairs. Civil unrest during the late 1970s and 1980s turned the townships into war zones, many were nearly razed.
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An "upmarket" neighborhood of SowetoFortunately,
times change and neighborhoods grow. In Soweto, the Johannesburg
township known worldwide as one of the main focal points of the struggle
against apartheid is a perfect example.
With their newfound freedom, many Africans chose to remain in Soweto, improving their own homes rather than move into Johannesburg or one of its suburbs. As a result, communities like Orlando (the "Beverly Hills" of Soweto) have developed into nice, upscale neighborhoods.
To be sure, major hurdles remain along the road to South Africa's recovery. Unemployment remains unacceptably high at 35-40%. Moreover, two generations of talent were lost to Apartheid; as a result, there a significant lack of skilled workers. Nevertheless, the last 10 years have proven that with will and resources, people can make significant progress.