Black entrepreneural experience and practice in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Davies, William J
- Date: 1987
- Subjects: Africans -- Commerce Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- Commerce
- Language: English
- Type: Book , Text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2292 , vital:20273 , ISBN 086810163X
- Description: Black business development in South Africa has been restricted by discriminatory legislation, regulation and custom for many years. Black entrepreneurs have been deliberately and systematically excluded from access to economic opportunities which might have facilitated their participation in moulding the national economy. This situation stemmed from a widely-held White view that Blacks should not have a permanent stake in non- "homeland" South African towns and that the interests of White business should be protected (Hart, 1972). Given these circumstances, Black business has not developed and diversified with the growth of capitalism in South Africa. In fact, capitalism's predominant interest in the Black population has been as labour units, not as partners in economic ventures. Those Blacks in business who have grown, and have established relatively successful business ventures, have done so despite the obstacles devised by the system. The successful Black businessman, therefore, reflects a particular brand of entrepreneurship characterised by determination, tenacity and a capacity to adapt over and above that which is usually required for survival in a competitive environment. The nature and scale of businesses to which Blacks were allowed access was limited to those which provide the daily domestic necessities of urban Black communities; ie, mainly convenience retailing (Davies, 1972). Black businessmen were also denied the right to acquire land in urban areas and such businesses as were allowed had to be conducted from rented premises. Thus, Black experience of crucial elements of entrepreneural development (such as locational choice, market selection and capital formation through property ownership) has been minimal, and so conditional that the aspirations of all but the most determined businessmen have been severely inhibited. Even the most competent Black entrepreneur has not been able to stray very far from the mould of "trader", which has become the stereotype of Black business. Hence, most business ventures in urban Black townships are associated with convenience retailing and service activities, mainly of modest proportions and not necessarily a reflection of the individual's business choice. The underdeveloped status of Black entrepreneurship in South Africa is thus due entirely to their exclusion from opportunities to gain experience, to take risks and to compete. The view of Blacks as not having an interest in, or an aptitude for, business is little more than a transparent rationalisation for institutionalised racism. The apparent lack of competitiveness amongst Blacks is the result of a complex set of inequities imposed over decades of "relative deprivation in terms of upbringing, nutritional standards, education and training, medical services, entrepreneural and professional opportunities, and horizontal and vertical mobility" (Leatt et al, 1986). It is against this background that the situation of Black business in Port Elizabeth must be seen. , Digitised by Rhodes University Library on behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1987
- Authors: Davies, William J
- Date: 1987
- Subjects: Africans -- Commerce Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- Commerce
- Language: English
- Type: Book , Text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2292 , vital:20273 , ISBN 086810163X
- Description: Black business development in South Africa has been restricted by discriminatory legislation, regulation and custom for many years. Black entrepreneurs have been deliberately and systematically excluded from access to economic opportunities which might have facilitated their participation in moulding the national economy. This situation stemmed from a widely-held White view that Blacks should not have a permanent stake in non- "homeland" South African towns and that the interests of White business should be protected (Hart, 1972). Given these circumstances, Black business has not developed and diversified with the growth of capitalism in South Africa. In fact, capitalism's predominant interest in the Black population has been as labour units, not as partners in economic ventures. Those Blacks in business who have grown, and have established relatively successful business ventures, have done so despite the obstacles devised by the system. The successful Black businessman, therefore, reflects a particular brand of entrepreneurship characterised by determination, tenacity and a capacity to adapt over and above that which is usually required for survival in a competitive environment. The nature and scale of businesses to which Blacks were allowed access was limited to those which provide the daily domestic necessities of urban Black communities; ie, mainly convenience retailing (Davies, 1972). Black businessmen were also denied the right to acquire land in urban areas and such businesses as were allowed had to be conducted from rented premises. Thus, Black experience of crucial elements of entrepreneural development (such as locational choice, market selection and capital formation through property ownership) has been minimal, and so conditional that the aspirations of all but the most determined businessmen have been severely inhibited. Even the most competent Black entrepreneur has not been able to stray very far from the mould of "trader", which has become the stereotype of Black business. Hence, most business ventures in urban Black townships are associated with convenience retailing and service activities, mainly of modest proportions and not necessarily a reflection of the individual's business choice. The underdeveloped status of Black entrepreneurship in South Africa is thus due entirely to their exclusion from opportunities to gain experience, to take risks and to compete. The view of Blacks as not having an interest in, or an aptitude for, business is little more than a transparent rationalisation for institutionalised racism. The apparent lack of competitiveness amongst Blacks is the result of a complex set of inequities imposed over decades of "relative deprivation in terms of upbringing, nutritional standards, education and training, medical services, entrepreneural and professional opportunities, and horizontal and vertical mobility" (Leatt et al, 1986). It is against this background that the situation of Black business in Port Elizabeth must be seen. , Digitised by Rhodes University Library on behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1987
The demand for skilled labour in the Border, Ciskei, Southern Transkei regional economy
- Authors: McCartan, P J
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Working class -- South Africa Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) -- Economic conditions Good hope plan Border (Eastern Cape, South Africa) Ciskei (South Africa) -- Economic conditions Transkei (South Africa) -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Book , Text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2112 , vital:20256 , ISBN 0868100587
- Description: The aim of the study is to broadly assess the demand for skilled and semi-skilled labour in the existing industries in that part of Region D of the Good Hope Plan comprising the Border corridor, the Ciskei and southern Transkei (hereafter referred to as the survey region). This survey region was chosen as the target area, since firstly, all of Region D's growth points are located within it and, secondly, technical training facilities in the survey region are recognised as being inadequate. This study does not aim to specify the type of technical training institution that should be established in the survey region; rather it analyses the demand-side of the regional labour market in order to identify the nature and extent of the perceived need for skilled labour. , Digitised by Rhodes University Library on behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1983
- Authors: McCartan, P J
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Working class -- South Africa Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) -- Economic conditions Good hope plan Border (Eastern Cape, South Africa) Ciskei (South Africa) -- Economic conditions Transkei (South Africa) -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Book , Text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2112 , vital:20256 , ISBN 0868100587
- Description: The aim of the study is to broadly assess the demand for skilled and semi-skilled labour in the existing industries in that part of Region D of the Good Hope Plan comprising the Border corridor, the Ciskei and southern Transkei (hereafter referred to as the survey region). This survey region was chosen as the target area, since firstly, all of Region D's growth points are located within it and, secondly, technical training facilities in the survey region are recognised as being inadequate. This study does not aim to specify the type of technical training institution that should be established in the survey region; rather it analyses the demand-side of the regional labour market in order to identify the nature and extent of the perceived need for skilled labour. , Digitised by Rhodes University Library on behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1983
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