| dc.description.abstract | The study was conducted in Soweto, South Africa. The objective of the study was to
determine the development and challenges of women entrepreneurs in Soweto, South
Africa and to identify possible opportunities and improvement of women's businesses.
In this study, the variables that were looked at were the motivational factors that
influence women entrepreneurs to establish their own ventures, the contribution of
women in the economic force of the country, the challenges that women entrepreneurs
are facing in businesses, the support and developmental needs; and the possible
opportunities for improvement. The key findings indicate that women were motivated
by pull and push factors to start up a business. The need for flexible schedules
appeared to be the factors to start up a business, followed by need for independence.
The other factor is that these women had a desire for wealth. Annual turnover was also
a factor, whilst difficult to ascertain with accuracy, provided a useful alternative
indicator of business size and sophistication, and possibly of potential for growth. The
challenges facing women in South Africa have been identified in this research as limited
access to obtain funding; high corruption in procurement offices; high interest rates
from banks, insufficient education and training, and difficulty to access market as well
as cash flow problem.
The above-mentioned challenges have priority over the women's businesses. The
developmental needs and support for women entrepreneurs were found to be clear
policies, organizations established in assisting women in businesses and the training
needs that are supporting women entrepreneurship. Early payments by customers
including Government should be facilitated and proper plans for enhancing
entrepreneurial women together with education and training should be continuous. | en_US |
