Investing in Enterprise: Women Entrepreneurs in Colonial ‘South Africa’

2020 ◽  
pp. 57-83
Author(s):  
Grietjie Verhoef
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs

Gendered Lending Practices: Enabling South African Women Entrepreneurs to Access Start-Up Capital

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (03) ◽  
pp. 313-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Derera ◽  
Pepukayi Chitakunye ◽  
Charles O'Neill ◽  
Amandeep Tarkhar-Lail
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Financial Institution ◽  
African Women ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Start Up ◽  
South African Women ◽  
Depth Interviews

This study explores gendered lending and marketing practices of start-up capital to women entrepreneurs in South Africa. A multi-method research design, comprising of 6 in-depth interviews with experts, and a survey of 50 women entrepreneurs was adopted using convenience and snowball sampling techniques, respectively. The findings revealed that women entrepreneurs are experiencing gendered discriminatory practices embedded in lending practices used by financial institutions, thereby discouraging them to venture into non-traditional industries. Whilst financial providers may know their products well, many emerging women entrepreneurs in South Africa may find it difficult and costly to obtain information on the thousands of financial products available. Hence, women entrepreneurs resort to taking greater risks than necessary in order to get their businesses off the ground. Educating women on financial matters is extremely important if South Africa is to benefit fully from the untapped entrepreneurial talent that women possess. The study adds voice to the discriminatory lending practices faced by women entrepreneurs in developing countries. Future research could explore the feasibility of establishing a financial institution which caters specifically for the needs of women.

scholarly journals Measuring the effectiveness of the women entrepreneurship programme on potential, start-up and established women entrepreneurs in South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melodi Botha ◽  
Gideon Niemann ◽  
Jurie Van Vuuren
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Management Training ◽  
Training Intervention ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Women Entrepreneurship ◽  
Entrepreneurial Skills ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Experimental Group

The Women Entrepreneurship Programme (WEP) was developed after a need had been identifiedfor such a training intervention. The WEP provides entrepreneurial and business management training to women entrepreneurs. This empirical paper measures the effectiveness of the WEP after the respondents had been through the training intervention. The sample consists of 180 women entrepreneurs, where 116 respondents form the experimental group and 64 respondents the control group. Factor analysis is presented and several statistical tests executed to present the statistically significant differences between the two groups in the sample. The findings highlight the WEP delegates’ acquisition of new entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. Furthermore, the respondents reported an increase in the number of employees, turnover, productivity and profit. It was statistically proven that the WEP is effective in training potential, start-up and established women entrepreneurs in South Africa.

scholarly journals An investigation into the financial barriers facing women entrepreneurs operating in SMMEs in Tshwane, South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Chiloane-Tsoka
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Small Business ◽  
South African ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
African Women ◽  
Small Enterprise ◽  
Policy Statement ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
And Gender ◽  
South African Women

The South African women emancipation policy statement and gender equality are critical tools established by government to eradicate poverty among entrepreneurs operating in small business. Khula was established to act as a financial wholesaler to emerging entrepreneurs who needed finance to start and grow businesses. The Small Enterprise Development Agency was established to provide training needs to small business operators. Lack of finance is a major stumbling block to women entrepreneurs reaching their full economic potential in South Africa. Financial collaterals are barriers for women operating in SMMEs in Tshwane. The objective of the study was to investigate the financial barriers facing women entrepreneurs in Tshwane when starting or growing businesses. In order to achieve the results a structured questionnaire and interviews were used as method of collecting data. A sample of 300 women operating SMMEs in six townships of the Tshwane metropolitan area was analysed per a quota of 50 businesses per township. The results indicate that women entrepreneurs lack the financial collateral that is demanded by financial institutions when applying for finance to start or grow their business.

The Impact of Gender on Start-up Capital: A Case of Women Entrepreneurs in South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Derera ◽  
Pepukayi Chitakunye ◽  
Charles O’Neill
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Start Up ◽  
The Impact

THE VIABILITY OF INFORMAL MICROENTERPRISE IN SOUTH AFRICA

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (01) ◽  
pp. 65-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
DOUGLAS WOODWARD ◽  
ROBERT ROLFE ◽  
ANDRÉ LIGTHELM ◽  
PAULO GUIMARÃES
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Strong Influence ◽  
Retail Trade ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Retail Sector ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Shopping Centers ◽  
Business Training ◽  
Initial Capital

This paper analyzes entrepreneurs in South Africa's informal sector. The aim is to determine the extent to which African informal retail trade spawns viable enterprises. To assess the prospects for South Africa's informal retail sector, we obtained questionnaires from owners of small-scale establishments in a random sample taken throughout the country in 2007. Owner's income and sales data provided a basis for investigating viability. Regression analysis tests hypotheses identified as crucial to higher income and sales, including startup capital, size, male/female ownership, business training and the proximity to shopping centers. Also tested is the influence of urbanization externalities on sales and owner's income. Initial capital and positive urban externalities have a strong influence on the ability to generate a sustainable livelihood for informal entrepreneurs. After controlling for startup capital, location and other factors, it appears women entrepreneurs face distinct difficulties in generating a viable income through informal retail trade.

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