Challenges faced by Cameroonian women operating informal businesses in selected Cape Metropole areas

Abstract

This study investigates the challenges faced by Cameroonian women operating informal businesses in selected areas in the Cape Metropole, South Africa. Modernisation, neo-Marxist and neoliberal theories were used to underpin the study. The study used a mixed method approach to collect and analyses the data. A survey questionnaire was used for quantitative research. Personal interviews and focus groups interviews were used as techniques within the qualitative paradigm to supplement the quantitative approach. The non-probability sampling technique of snowball sampling was used in this study to select the respondents. Questionnaires were sent to 104 Cameroonian immigrant entrepreneurs, and qualitative in-depth interviews with government authorities and business assistance groups were conducted. The quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), and a content analysis of the face-to-face interviews was performed. The study revealed that Cameroonian women in informal business are faced with crime, lack of financial support, and family responsibilities which they believe are big challenges that negatively impact their businesses. They are involved in different businesses activities ranging from hair salons, African Food Market and tailoring workshops using a little capital from their savings and networks like families and friends as well as communal saving societies. Empirical evidence from this study show that those engaged in informal business are between the ages of 20 to 60 years, with various levels of education. The major reason for immigrants of African origin to start their own enterprises soon after arriving in South Africa was a lack of job opportunities. Despite South Africa’s high unemployment rate and criminality, the main recommendations include and not limited to that the government should promote informal companies run by immigrant entrepreneurs, particularly women and should loosen and waive small businesses especially immigrant-owned businesses so as to promote their growth, profitability, and sustainability.