Part Three Page 7

3.7. FOCUS GROUP AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS ISSUES

The group consisted of 24 females and 2 males, and their age ranged between 23 and 66 years. They represented households of which the sizes ranged form 2 to 15 with an average of 10 people per household.

1. Ranking perceived needs according to priorities and this was done as follows:

1st Jobs and Projects
2nd Water
3rd Roads
4th Crèches
5th Orphanages
6th Secondary Schools and Old age homes
7th Pension points
8th tarred roads

2. Ranking of perceived problems in the community was done as follows:

1st Crime
2nd HIV/AIDS
3rd Raping of children and old ladies

3. Asked how they know that people die of HIV/AIDS?
They mentioned the following signs and symptoms: Sores, coughing, vomiting and loss of weight. They said they were taught this at the clinics. It was indicated that sick people visit the following places to seek healing; Hospitals, traditional healers, "prophets"/Zionists and some live in isolation without consulting anybody and some commit suicide.

4. There is scarcity of land for cultivating. Only 27% of the group indicated that they have access to land.

5. 50% of the group rely on remittances form the close relatives whereas the other 50% have no regular income.

6. The entire group indicated that they only have two meals a day since they can't afford to eat 3 times a day.

7. If the community was stratified into 4 categories of wealth, this is how the richest are perceived: a) Houses are roofed with tiles instead of grass or corrugated iron, b) There is more than one vehicle in the family, c) They eat meat regularly, d) Their children attend school in town, d) They wear the latest clothes, e) Their school children have cell phones, f) They have domestic workers.

The poorest are perceived as follows: a) They don't have shelter, b) Their children do not go to school, c) They wear rags and are dirty and filthy, d) They go about begging for food.

There is a feeling that the child grant is obtained by those who are well off (who do not need it in reality) but those who are poor do not have access because the parents do not know the procedures for applying for it or do not have the birth certificates. It is indicated that there are many discrepancies regarding the grants where the mother continues to get the grant even if the child is dead. The misuse of grants ranges form buying liquor in some instances to buying one own clothes by parents whilst the child does not have food.

8. Time allocation (the clock) Women: form 6h00 to 10h00 make breakfast, prepare children for school and cleaning of the house and yard. 10h00 to 14h00 they fetch water, mending clothes, crocheting and preparing food. 14h00 to 18h00 they rest and visit friends and prepare food.

Men: 6h00 to 10h00 they do general maintenance and breakfast. 10h00 to 17h00 they socialise.

9. 46% have no access to Televisions (TV). 15% have neither access to TV nor a radio. 38% have access to a radio.

10. Seasonality issues. The most difficult months financially are January and February due to school requirements (fees and uniforms). As regards health the months May and September are regarded as worst and they ascribe this to change of seasons. Regarding availability of food it is plenty form January to April.

11. Asked about cultural practices they indicated that wife inheritance is no longer practiced and the cleansing ritual after death is no longer practiced. The rite of passage for girls into womanhood is still practiced and this takes close to 3 months from June to August every year.

12. Livestock ownership in the group is as follows:
Only 4% have cattle. 19 % have pigs. 35% have more than 15 chickens whilst 23% have less than 15 Chickens.

13. The level of education amongst the group is as follows: Only 12% have passed grade 12. 35%have educational background ranging from grade 8 to 11. 23% have educational background ranging from grade 4 to 7.

14. The organizations known to be operating in the community are as follows: Masoyi Home Based Care, Inhlelento youth sewing club, ANC youth and women's league. 6 burial societies, at least 20 church denominations. 31% of people in the group indicated that although they would like to belong to a burial society they cannot afford to pay the monthly contribution of R50.00

15. There are money lenders (Loan sharks) in the community who charge between 25% and 50% of interest per month.

16. They were highly concerned about bottle stores (liquor stores) which are situated next to schools because they provide easy access for school children to liquor and this has detrimental effects on their behaviour. The group recommends closure of such liquor stores. They also raised a concern about the use of drugs namely "Dagga" by school children, which is on the increase even amongst girls.