Intimate crimes: heroin and the rise of amaphara in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-79
Author(s):  
Mark Hunter
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
Drug Policy ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Public Culture ◽  
National Context ◽  
Heroin Users ◽  
Unemployment Rates

ABSTRACTThe term ‘amaphara’, possibly derived from ‘parasites’, burst into South African public culture in the 2010s to refer to petty thieves addicted to a heroin-based drug locally called whoonga/nyaope. Drawing on ethnography and media sources to interrogate the rise of ‘amaphara’, this paper argues that South Africa's heroin epidemic magnifies the attention – criticism but also sympathy – directed toward marginalised black men who have few prospects for social mobility. It locates amaphara in the national context where drug policy is largely punitive and youth unemployment rates are painfully high, but gives particular attention to families’ and communities’ experiences with intimate crimes, especially petty thefts. It further shows that amaphara is a contested term: heroin users are brothers, sons and grandchildren and they gain most of their income not from crime but by undertaking useful piece work in communities.

scholarly journals “You Mix Up the Thinking, and then You Look at the Journey”: ‘Pausing’ to Reflect on Masculinities in a South African Township

2020 ◽  
pp. 1097184X2092587
Author(s):  
Antonella (Toni) Pyke
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
South African ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Democratic Governance ◽  
Minority Literature ◽  
South African Township ◽  
Gender Change ◽  
Men And Masculinity

Changes in political, social, and economic structures in South Africa during the transition from apartheid to democratic governance in 1994 have put men and masculinity/ies under public and scholarly scrutiny. Attention has generally focused on the links between masculinity and violence, particularly among black men from low-income backgrounds, in attempts to understand the widespread levels of sexual violence throughout the country. Together, but in tension with the focus on men and violence, has been a literature that documents gender change in South Africa. This literature argues for example, that men are embracing fatherhood and becoming more engaged in childcare. Nevertheless this is a minority literature that is overshadowed by a focus on men and violence. In this article, I reflect on the lives of a group of men living in Alexandra township in Johannesburg, who are exploring what it means to be a man in a contemporary township setting, and the issues and challenges they face in attempts to transition their masculine identities.

scholarly journals “For better or worse”? A frame analysis of BRICS activities by digital journalists in South Africa

Lumina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-19
Author(s):  
Tshuma Lungile Augustine
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
South African ◽  
Frame Analysis ◽  
Constant Power ◽  
Good Opportunity ◽  
Unemployment Rates ◽  
High Unemployment ◽  
Trade Relations ◽  
News Websites

This paper seeks to examine the discourse on BRICS that are framed by digital journalists in South Africa. South Africa has been going through an uneasy economic path characterised by high unemployment rates, constant power cuts, and their economy relegated into a ‘junk status’. Against this background, BRICS presents a good opportunity for the country to negotiate and address some of its challenges/problems with other economic super-powers within the economic block. This paper comes against a background of silent research on BRICS yet the block has developed into an economic hub which other developing countries benefiting from it for the development of their economies. I therefore argue that South African digital journalists from the country’s leading news websites, News24 and Daily Maverick, are framing BRICS in a manner in which it reflects the socio-economic and political problems affecting the country.  Hence, the study had sought to find out the images of BRICS among the journalist and also information, events, and activities that are being prioritized in reference to South Africa’s challenges. Findings have shown that BRICS is benefiting South Africa. The benefit is seen through trade relations that are framed as having been improved while there are also other potential areas of cooperation that should be utilised.

scholarly journals South Africa’s Youth Unemployment Dilemma: Whose Baby is it anyway?

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natanya Meyer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Skills Development ◽  
Entrepreneurship Training ◽  
Perceived Employability ◽  
Perceptions Of Students ◽  
Realistic View

Youth unemployment is a major concern to various different countries, including South Africa, which ranked fourth-worst in the global youth unemployment ratings in 2013 and 2014reaching rates of more than 50 percent. Entrepreneurship development and increased employability through appropriate skills development have been considered as possible solutions to this growing problem. The aim of this study is to determine perceptions of students pertaining their entrepreneurial outlook and perceived employability. Validated Entrepreneurship- and Employability Scales were used to determine entrepreneurial outlook and perceived employability perception. A total of 293 students from a South African University participated in this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, histograms, Pearson correlation, MANOVA and ANOVA. The findingsof this studyshow that student’sperceptions indicated that if they haveamore entrepreneurial outlook, it could strongly increase their employability. They also do not think that after the completion of their degrees that they would be more employable. A significance difference was found between year level of study, race, age, and perception of entrepreneurial outlook and employability variables of the students.They seem to have a realistic view when it comes to the risk of possible unemployment for some time after graduation. Based on these findings, it is suggested that introducing entrepreneurship training and employability programs (skills development) to students during the completion of their higher education career, could assist in the reduction of youth unemployment in South Africa.

Factors that affect discouragement: A South African labour market analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-90
Author(s):  
Precious Mncayi ◽  
Jacques de Jongh
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
South African ◽  
Market Analysis ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Labour Markets ◽  
Employment Opportunities ◽  
Unemployment Rates ◽  
The World ◽  
Very High

Labour markets across the world have in recent years been characterised by instability and scare employment opportunities. Despite the fact that the 21st century has carried with it massive technological change and a rise in the significance of education for better employment prospects, it has moreover brought about expanded vulnerability which has neglected to ensure employment for work-searchers. For those who want to work, the inability to find employment has been a source of enormous adversities both personally and economically. This is not unique to South Africa as the country is plagued with very high unemployment rates across all age categories and continually rising numbers of discouraged work-seekers. Although unemployment indicators have to a great extent followed international standards, the failure to incorporate those who have abstained from searching has inadvertently contributed to a lack of understanding regarding the nature of discouragement in the labour market. Keywords: Employment, discouragement; work-seekers, labour markets, South Africa, unemployment.

scholarly journals South Africa's Youth Unemployment Dilemma: Whose Baby is it anyway?

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1(J)) ◽  
pp. 56-68
Author(s):  
Natanya Meyer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Skills Development ◽  
Entrepreneurship Training ◽  
Perceived Employability ◽  
Perceptions Of Students ◽  
Realistic View

Youth unemployment is a major concern to various different countries, including South Africa, which ranked fourth-worst in the global youth unemployment ratings in 2013 and 2014reaching rates of more than 50 percent. Entrepreneurship development and increased employability through appropriate skills development have been considered as possible solutions to this growing problem. The aim of this study is to determine perceptions of students pertaining their entrepreneurial outlook and perceived employability. Validated Entrepreneurship- and Employability Scales were used to determine entrepreneurial outlook and perceived employability perception. A total of 293 students from a South African University participated in this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, histograms, Pearson correlation, MANOVA and ANOVA. The findingsof this studyshow that student’sperceptions indicated that if they haveamore entrepreneurial outlook, it could strongly increase their employability. They also do not think that after the completion of their degrees that they would be more employable. A significance difference was found between year level of study, race, age, and perception of entrepreneurial outlook and employability variables of the students.They seem to have a realistic view when it comes to the risk of possible unemployment for some time after graduation. Based on these findings, it is suggested that introducing entrepreneurship training and employability programs (skills development) to students during the completion of their higher education career, could assist in the reduction of youth unemployment in South Africa.

scholarly journals South African University students' intentions to establish social Enterprises

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzette Viviers ◽  
Chanel Venter ◽  
Goosain Solomon
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
University Students ◽  
South African ◽  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Environmental Challenges ◽  
Social Mission ◽  
Significant Difference

<p>Stimulating social entrepreneurship in South Africa has the potential to address not only the high youth unemployment rate in the country, but also other pressing social and environmental challenges. This study was conducted as part of the 2011 Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students’ Survey and focused on South African university students’ intentions to start social enterprises. The findings, based on 673 responses to an online questionnaire, reveal that the majority of respondents had such an intention. However, less than half of this group mentioned the specific type of environmental or social mission that they would like to pursue. Despite more males than females being currently engaged in social entrepreneurship activities in South Africa, no statistically significant difference was found in this study between the intentions of male and female respondents in starting a social enterprise. African language speakers and students enrolled for qualifications in the social sciences were, however, statistically more likely to start social enterprises. Education is a critical factor in achieving increased levels of social entrepreneurship activity; however, fundamental interventions in the education system are required to achieve this objective.</p><strong>KEYWORDS:</strong> Entrepreneurship education; Environmental challenges; Generation Y; HIV and AIDS; Social challenges; Social entrepreneurship; Social enterprises; South Africa; Youth unemployment

The Unwieldy Fetish

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Blom Hansen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
New Economy ◽  
The Other ◽  
The Real ◽  
Roots Tourism ◽  
The Village

This chapter looks at the new economy of diasporic imagination that hit South Africa after 1994. It begins by examining a range of narratives of roots tourism whereby thousands of South African Indians each year travel to India in search of the village of their ancestors and for shopping and/or spiritual purification. These journeys are often complex discoveries of both the real and the imaginary India, and are almost invariably linked to desires for purification and “proper” Indianness and “culture,” which, in their turn, are spawned by social mobility and ambition. The other side of this new fascination with India's past and its emerging power as a nation is an intense interest in Bollywood films and their songs, stars, and aesthetics.

Deproletarianization in the Peri-Urban Interface: Transforming Labor Relations in Polokwane, South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 44-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Smith
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Labor Relations ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Unemployment Rates ◽  
High Unemployment ◽  
Surplus Labor ◽  
Job Opportunities ◽  
Persistent Unemployment

High unemployment rates and the search for job opportunities are defining characteristics of the modern day South African economy. As apartheid era labor and land controls continue to break down, many households find themselves searching for work in an economy characterized by surplus labor. Examining high unemployment rates through the theoretical lens of deproletarianization provides an explanation of persistent unemployment and poverty more complex and complete than others. Research conducted in Polokwane, South Africa demonstrates increasing peri-urbanization as a physical manifestation of these changing labor relations. 1In an era dominated by global capitalism, theoretical engagements help explain household poverty, the failure of South Africa's economy to absorb excess labor, and how persistent unemployment contributes to a recon-figuration of space in South Africa's urban and peri-urban areas. The research team used a combination of qualitative semi-structured interviews and quantitative surveys to gain insight into household livelihoods and individual experiences. The deproletarianization argument applied here asserts that labor has become unfree in South Africa and represents a new form of labor discipline. Through the deproletarianization thesis, the labor market can be better understood to inform future unemployment and poverty research in South Africa.

A Politics of the Emergent

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 263-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Nuttall
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Popular Culture ◽  
Cultural Studies ◽  
South African ◽  
Public Culture ◽  
Public Intellectual ◽  
Reference Points

This essay attempts to track the changing shape of cultural studies in South Africa, drawing on both local and global reference points. In the first part of the essay, I account for the preoccupations of South African cultural studies from the late 1980s to the late 1990s. In the second part, I reflect on further shifts since 2000. Here I argue for a politics of the emergent, an increasing turn towards the negotiation of the possible, the drawing in of trans-national frames, and the reformulation of theories of race in the aftermath of resistance politics. Studies of popular culture during this period increasingly come to be superseded by a focus on public culture and on circulation. The essay concludes by considering current contests in cultural studies in South Africa and with a reflection on its current place within a reconstituted public intellectual space.

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