JOINT RESEARCH INITIATIVE A THRIVING SUCCESS
A joint research initiative by UKZN and the eThekwini Municipality into the training needs of the formal and informal business sectors in Cato Manor has created short-term enumerator jobs for unemployed matriculants from this area.
The matriculants recently attended a research training meeting at the Howard College campus during which they alsoprovided valuable insight on the community of Cato Manor.
‘We opted for matric students to help in this study to give them training and employment opportunities and to utilise their local knowledge of the area and the people,’ said UKZN’s Dr Sylvia Kaye, who chaired the development of the study.
She said students had already suggested useful questions and alternative ways of phrasing the questions during the training and pilot phase.’ They wanted to be sure they understood the question well enough so that when they went into the community they would be comfortable talking to people.’
eThekwini Municipality Cato Manor ABM Local Economic Development Officer, MrNathiZondi, said the research aimed to identify the type of training received by the businesses in Cato Manor and what impact it had on the growth of businesses.
‘We will be identifying the key social constraints that face the community of Cato Manor on a daily basis and look at the future needs of the businesses as well.’
Three Masters Students in population studies are also involved in the capturing of data, stemming from the research fieldwork and in compiling the final research report.
According to Kaye, the University students’ knowledge of research, their facilitation skills and their ability to speak in isiZulu has been helpful in ensuring that the enumerators understood their role.
Masters student Ms ThandekaDladla highlighted the importance of the study. ‘I believe this study will assist in identifying small businesses and assisting them. It will also help in identifying the skills gap within the Cato Manor community and assist the Municipality in addressing the skills issue.’
The findings of the three-month research will be presented at the Cato Manor Local Economic Development Forum.
Please contact Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer () to facilitate an interview withDr Sylvia Kaye.
Issued by NomondeMbadi
Executive Director: Corporate Relations
University of KwaZulu-Natal