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12 December 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Johan Roux
Refilwe Xaba
Refilwe Xaba’s thesis takes a deeper look into why women entrepreneurs in the informal sector are not thriving as they should.
Refilwe Xaba is not only a Senior Assistant Officer in Entrepreneurship Development at the University of the Free State’s Centre for Development Support. She is also the CEO of Glolooks, a Bloemfontein-based company which manufactures and supplies an organic natural hair product range. All this makes the journey to complete her Master’s of Commerce with specialisation in Business Management more than an academic journey. 

It was not an easy process for Xaba as she experienced a two-year-delay in her studies. “I registered in 2015 while I was a full-time student since I had not started working here and had not started my business,” she explained. Despite the detour, Xaba managed to get back on track and she finally graduated on 11 December 2019.

Sustained impact 

Xaba’s thesis on The Internal Factors Affecting the Performance of Women Entrepreneurs in the Informal Sector focuses on management, money and motherhood. Her research recommendations took into consideration the work-life balance that women have to contend with, in addition to other issues. “Women in pursuit of careers are still mothers and wives,” she said.

The study sampled 300 women entrepreneurs operating in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality’s Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, and Thaba’Nchu areas. Challenges experienced by the respondents ranged from having young children, a lack of formal business training, as well as access to human, financial and social capital, low levels of management and marketing skills, family-to-work conflict and work-to-family conflict. 
“This means informal women entrepreneurs have to find ways to ensure that their businesses survive in the absence of support such as basic infrastructure, financial assistance and learning opportunities,” added Xaba.

Hindering women’s performance cripples the economy

According to Xaba, the informal sector plays a vital role in the economic and social development of South Africans. “It is one of the strategies employed in alleviating unemployment and poverty,” she said.

Small-scale operations with relatively low-capital requirements, low-income generation, low-entry requirements with respect to education and skills, and labour-intensive production methods are as important to the economy as multinational corporations. Some of the recommendations Xaba made include prioritising education to equip entrepreneurs with cognitive skills to better identify and exploit entrepreneurial opportunities. Furthermore, mentorship surfaced as a necessary staple to the success formula. 

In addition, “families should find ways of incorporating their skills and knowledge into the running of their businesses”, Xaba advises. In order to mitigate the challenge of inadequate access to finance and low levels of start-up capital, South African banking institutions need to explore microfinancing as a possible funding model for women. 

News Archive

UFS hikers to Cape Town reflect on their journey
2014-05-26

 

For the four volunteers from the university who are currently on their way to the Cape on foot, every hour of every day is a victory.

It is three weeks since two employees from the University of the Free State (UFS), Adéle van Aswegen and Ntokozo Nkabinde, together with two other Bloemfontein residents, Nico Piedt and Ronel Warner, left Bloemfontein on fóót for the Cape, in order to highlight the problem of food insecurity among students.

On Sunday 18 May they crossed the halfway mark at Beaufort West and will conclude their journey on Tuesday 3 June in Cape Town.

This is what the hikers have to say after three weeks on the road:

Adéle van Aswegen
It isn’t only a physical journey, but rather an emotional journey you undertake. You learn what it means to be truly thankful for basic things like clothes, a place to sleep and food.

Nico Piedt
I know what it feels like to survive on only a glass of water in your stomach – a cup of weak tea if you’re lucky – for the whole day. If I can help (through the hike) to give someone a better chance in life, then it is worthwhile.

Ronel Warner
You think and grow simultaneously. As you plan every stride ahead of you, you also plan your life ahead.

Ntokozo Nkabinde
You don’t walk for yourself. You undertake this journey, maybe because you want to help someone, but this journey is actually in honour of something bigger and you just have to endure.”

These boots are made for walking ... to Cape Town (Article of 02 May 2014)
“Aren’t auntie and them hungry yet?” Country folk worried about NSH hikers (15 May 2014)

Daily updates:
(You can also follow us on @UFSweb for daily tweets)

Day 33: 2 June 2014
13:40
20 km
Sunset Beach, Cape Town

Day 32: 1 June 2014
16:05
26 km
Mervyn and Sanet Wessels, Belville

Day 31: 31 May 2014
16:31
39.6 km
Rhonell and Gavin Julain, Paarl

Day 30: 30 May 2014
14:00
16 km
Monte Rosa, Rawsonville

Day 29: 29 May 2014
13:16
31 km
The Habit, Worcester

Day 28: 28 May 2014
11:00
22.4 km
Monte Roza, De doorns

Day 27: 27 May 2014
17:00
21.1 km
Karoo Hotel

Day 26: 26 May 2014
18:27
43.3 km
Tows river

Day 25: 25 May 2014
12:18
Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein

Day 24: 24 May 2014
16:30
42 km
Laingsburg Country Lodge

Day 23: 23 May 2014
17:32
41.8 km
Vergenoeg

Day 22: 22 May 2014
16:42
43 km
Assendelft Lodge and Bush Camp, Prins Albert

Day 21: 21 May 2014
15:09
42 km
Leeu Gamka Hotel

Day 20: 20 May 2014
13:39
20 km
Alida, Springfontein

Day 19: 19 May 2014
12:31
27.6 km
Teri Moja Game Lodge

Day 18: 18 May 2014
First rest day
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 17: 17 May 2014
19:30
62.3 km
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 16: 16 May 2014
13:00
14 km
Taaibochfontein

Day 15: 15 May 2014
16:03
32 km
Travalia, Three Sisters

Day 14: 14 May 2014
18:33
43 km
Joalani Guest Farm

Day 13: 13 May 2014
17:30
33 km
Die Rondawels

Day 12: 12 May 2014
16:49
40 km
Aandrus B&B in Richmond

Day 11: 11 May 2014
39 km
Wortelfontein (Magdel and Christiaan)

Day 10: 10 May 2014
15:44
34 km
Hanover Lodge

Day 9: 09 May 2014
40.8 km
Camping between Colesberg and Hanover

Day 8: 08 May 2014
15:25
33.7 km
Colesberg, The Lighthouse Guesthouse

Day 7: 07 May 2014
15:08
23 km
Orange River Lodge

Day 6: 06 May 2014
15:57
51.06 km
Gariep Forever Resort

Day 5: 05 May 2014
12:18
28 km
Rondefontein

Day 4: 04 May 2014
15:27
35 km
Trompsburg: Fox Den

Day 3: 03 May 2014
17:30
46.74 km
Edenburg Country Lodge (Hotel)

Day 2: 02 May 2014
11:44 am
15.3 km
Tom's Place

Day 1: 01 May 2014
32 km
Leeuwberg

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