Informal Livelihoods and Governance in South Africa: The Hustle

This book explores the lives of the urban poor and marginalized in post-apartheid South Africa, critiquing the concept of informality and documenting the struggles and hopes of the Zama Zama community, raising questions about precarity, belonging, and governance in the country.

Format: Hardback
Length: 99 pages
Publication date: 14 September 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This open-access book provides a captivating account of everyday life, livelihoods, and governance in post-apartheid South Africa among the urban poor and marginalized, anchored in and through a critique of the concept of informality, or living outside of the state, its laws, services, and protection. Using a case study of the Zama Zama, loosely translated from the isiZulu as 'to hustle, or to strive, and colloquially used to refer to those working as informal artisanal miners on Johannesburg's numerous disused and abandoned gold mines, the book documents an ethnography of this community's everyday lives, struggles, and hopes. It provides an intimate account of a community, its social relations, and its political relationship to the state. The narratives of the Zama Zama are used to raise broader questions about precarity, belonging, and governance in post-apartheid South Africa and suggest that pervasive informality could risk the country's democratic order.

Introduction:
In post-apartheid South Africa, the urban poor and marginalized communities face significant challenges in their daily lives, livelihoods, and governance. The concept of informality, or living outside of the state, its laws, services, and protection, has become a pervasive feature of these communities. This book aims to provide a comprehensive account of these communities' experiences, struggles, and hopes, anchored in and through a critique of informality.

Case Study of the Zama Zama:
The book utilizes a case study of the Zama Zama, a community of informal artisanal miners in Johannesburg. The Zama Zama are a group of individuals who have been working in the disused and abandoned gold mines of Johannesburg for decades. Their lives are characterized by precarity, as they are often subjected to exploitation, discrimination, and lack of access to basic rights and services.

Ethnography of Everyday Lives:
Through an ethnography of the Zama Zama, the book provides an intimate account of the community's everyday lives, struggles, and hopes. It explores the challenges they face, such as poverty, unemployment, poor health, and limited access to education and healthcare. The book also highlights the resilience and creativity of the Zama Zama in navigating these challenges and maintaining their sense of community and identity.

Precarity, Belonging, and Governance:
The narratives of the Zama Zama are used to raise broader questions about precarity, belonging, and governance in post-apartheid South Africa. The book suggests that pervasive informality could risk the country's democratic order and undermine the social and economic development of these communities. It emphasizes the need for policies and initiatives that promote inclusivity, social protection, and sustainable livelihoods for all South Africans, regardless of their informal status.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this open-access book offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of everyday life, livelihoods, and governance in post-apartheid South Africa among the urban poor and marginalized. It provides a critical analysis of the concept of informality and its impact on these communities. The book's case study of the Zama Zama offers a poignant and insightful perspective on the challenges and hopes of these communities. By raising broader questions about precarity, belonging, and governance, the book contributes to the ongoing debate about the future of South Africa and the role of the state in promoting social and economic development.

Weight: 293g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031106941
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022