The persistence of the casual poor in Johannesburg.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Hierdie artikel vestig die aandag van stedelike geskiedskrywers en historiese geograwe op die verwaarlosing van die geleentheidsarmes in Suid-Afrika se stedelike gebiede, veral dié in Johannesburg. Die skrywers wys daarop dat die verskynsel van geleentheidsarmes van oudsher in die stedelike opset voorkom, maar dat daar tot dusver weinig navorsing oor die lewenspatroon en bestaanswyse van hierdie groep gedoen is. Die beroepe wat die geleentheidsarmes beoefen, val in die informele arbeidsektor. Histories wil dit voorkom of die geleentheidsarmes wanneer hulle gedwing word om ʼn bepaalde beroep te staak, op ʼn later tydstip weer in ʼn ander informele beroep tereg kom.

• Summary: This paper draws the attention of urban historians and historical geographers to the neglect of the casual poor in South Africa's cities, more particularly those in Johannesburg. Evidence is presented to show that the casual poor have been an ever-present constituent in the urban milieu. Their life-style and their modes of existence have so far received little attention. The occupations of the casual poor are those of the urban informal sector. It is suggested that the casual poor are squeezed out of one informal income niche only to reappear at a later time in an alternative informal occupation.