Eastern Cape Social & Economic

State of the Eastern Cape

A collection of 20 essays on the Eastern Cape will be published by the UKZN Press. It promises to be the first analysis of provincial level politics and economy in South Africa. The book is a collaborative effort with ECSECC and comes at a time when the role of provinces in the intergovernmental system is under critical scrutiny.
Editor: Greg Ruiters

Makana Research Group

ISER recently established a Makana Research Group (MRG) at Rhodes University, that aims to facilitate and strengthen research engagements between Rhodes University and the Makana Municipality. ISER will set up a resource centre where research conducted in the Makana municipal area will be housed.

The Makana Municipality has funded studies into four key local economic development sectors (Mining, Tourism, Agriculture and SMMEs) to inform their LED Strategy and these studies are currently being co-ordinated by the MRG. Opportunities and directions for future research forms part of the work carried out by the group.
Co-ordinators: Greg Ruiters

Energy demand requirements of SMMEs in the Eastern Cape

This project in partnership with the Fort Hare Institute of Social and Economic Research looked at ‘The Energy Demand Requirements of SMMEs in The Eastern Cape’. The research assessed the energy requirement and energy use patterns within small and survivalist SMME enterprises in the Eastern Cape. Some of the key findings were that regular power interruptions affected over 80% of the businesses in the study (prior to regular load shedding being introduced by Eskom early in 2008). It was found that many business owners preferred to use paraffin and there was also a general impression that paraffin is cheaper than electricity. Of the businesses surveyed, 86% had access to electricity, though largely via a pre-paid meter shared with other users.
Researchers: Nick Hamer (ISER) and (FHISER)

Public/private sector skills needs in the Eastern Cape labour market

ISER has partnered with the Community Agency for Social Enquiry (CASE) to investigate the skills needs of the Eastern Cape. The research will consider the critical skills requirements for both the public and private sectors and make recommendations to provincial government based on the findings.
Researchers: Nick Hamer, Greg Ruiters, Babalwa Magoqwana and Sandra Makwembere

Rural education in Makana Municipality

This study considers access to rural education since the revised rural education policy, land tenure rights and the restructuring of the agrarian economy, in particular the transition from commercial to game farming. Research shows that rural education is steadily being compromised with the closure of increasing numbers of farm schools. Changes in government policy as well as educators faced with housing and transportation difficulties are deemed probable causes for this decline. The proliferation of game farms in the area and the inevitable opening up of large expanses of farm land have made access to schooling particularly problematic for children whose main form of transportation is by foot.
Researchers: Katie Farrington (ISER) and Sinazo Krwalo (Sociology Department)

Popular illegalities in municipal services

This ongoing project, funded by NRF, investigates meanings and causes of popular illegalities in municipal services. Examples of popular illegalities are illegal connections and re-connections to water and electricity supply, as well as meter tampering and by-passing. Research will look at how municipalities struggle to negotiate compliance with the poor and the battles around the ‘culture’ of non-payment. Research has been completed in Mzunduzi, Khayalitsha, Durban and Grahamstown.
Researchers: Greg Ruiters, Julie Smith and Christopher McMichael (NRF funded)

Customer charters

As part of the expansion of ‘new public management’, citizens’ charters have been adopted in public services in South Africa. This SANPAD funded research compares customer charters in public sector municipal services in four cities. Researchers have completed interviews in Johannesburg, Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metro. The Transnational Institute has provided intellectual and financial support for this project.
Researchers: Greg Ruiters, Julie Smith, Sandra Makwembere, Sonwabo Stuurman and Babalwa Magoqwana