Street trading in Transkei—a struggle against poverty, persecution, and prosecution

Abstract

This paper discusses the socioeconomic position of hawkers in Transkei and the specific relationship between hawkers, big business and the state in Umtata. The study is placed theoretically in the context of an “integrated approach” to the informal sector. Empirically, the paper shows that hawkers can be differentiated along lines of capital ownership and skill, but nevertheless occupy the lowest rungs of the economic ladder. Furthermore, the police oppression of hawkers is argued to be symptomatic of a wider struggle between the small wholesalers/cafes (who supply the hawkers) and the supermarket.