Vignettes

Intersections of intimate partner violence and food insecurity in Gauteng

This Vignette uses data from GCRO’s Quality of Life survey 6 (2020/21) (QoL) to explore the causal relationship between household food insecurity and intimate partner violence experienced by women in Gauteng. Academic literature shows a higher risk of IPV in households affected by poverty. Food insecurity is a proxy for poverty, but it also has a specific causal pathway leading to greater risk of IPV for women. QoL data provides evidence that seems to confirm this pathway, and also indicates a reverse feedback loop where IPV leads to a higher risk of household food insecurity.

Justice implications of household access to alternative water and electricity

In the context of the current electricity crisis and growing water insecurity, residents in the Gauteng City-Region are investing in alternative sources. This Vignette uses GCRO’s Quality of Life survey to explore the extent to which this is taking place and the dynamics around who is accessing alternative electricity and water sources and who is not.

Dynamics of entrepreneurship in the context of COVID-19

This Vignette explores dynamics of business ownership in Gauteng in light of the economic downturn over the COVID-19 period. It explores three aspects: 1) the proportion of Quality of Life Survey respondents owning businesses from QoL III (2013/14) to QoL 6 (2020/21); 2) business ownership amongst those impacted by the crisis; and 3) the capacity to start new businesses by race, sex and education levels. It should be read with Vignette 41 that explores patterns of new work under COVID-19.

Patterns of new work for those economically impacted during COVID-19

QoL 6 (2020/21) reveals the deep economic impacts of the COVID-19 period. Many lost jobs, had salary & working hours reduced, or permanently closed businesses. Encouragingly, not all who lost livelihoods stayed without work – 42% of those who lost jobs or closed businesses were working again at the time of interview – but the data also suggests that their new employment is much more tenuous than that of respondents who weren't impacted. Read this with Vignette 42 that explores dynamics of entrepreneurship during COVID-19.

Protection of LGBTQ+ rights across Africa

Africa remains the most queerphobic continent worldwide, but the landscape of rights for LGBTQ+ individuals is gradually changing. Since 1990, when the first LGBTQ+ Pride took place on the African continent, 10 countries have changed laws to allow LGBTQ+ individuals to publicly express their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Although this is a sign of hope, incidences of hate speech, violence, and prejudice are still rife. Celebrating October as LGBTQ+ Pride month, this Vignette uses the latest data from ILGA World and the Quality of Life survey to map protections for LGBTQ+ rights across Africa, and consider how attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals are shifting in Gauteng.

COVID-19 in children and adolescents in Gauteng - changes since December 2020

This Vignette follows up on that released in December 2020, and looks again at the impact of COVID-19 on children and adolescents in Gauteng, relative to other age groups. It shows that over five key periods across the pandemic the patterns of infection by age have changed markedly, and there has been a concerning increase in the proportion of total cases in the 0-19 age bracket since the new school year started in mid-February 2021. 

COVID-19 in children and adolescents in Gauteng

Globally, preliminary data on COVID-19 suggests that children and adolescents (0-19 years) typically comprise a small fraction of recorded cases, and are less likely to get seriously ill or die. Between 06 March and 27 October 2020, children and adolescents constituted 8% of all confirmed COVID-19 cases in Gauteng, with 17-19 year-olds contributing the largest share (29%) of cases among the 0-19 year-olds. The total number of COVID-19 cases amongst those aged 0-19 years is proportionately much lower than for the adult population. However, the proportion of child and adolescent cases increased from the end of lockdown level 3, suggesting an increasing risk as restrictions eased.

Quality of Life in Gauteng

Quality of life is a measure that moves beyond the idea of ‘standard of living’ and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) indicators, which are typically closely tied to income, and attempts to get a broader sense of well-being that takes both basic needs and psycho social components into account. GCRO’s Quality of Life index draws on 58 indicators from a range of questions measuring objective circumstances and subjective opinions. Indicators are grouped into 10 dimensions (each has a maximum score of 1). The dimension scores are added together to give a total Quality of Life score out of 10.

Satisfaction with local government by dwelling type

Satisfaction with local government differs significantly across dwelling types. People who live in a cluster house in a complex have the highest level of satisfaction, whereas people living in informal settlements have by far the lowest satisfaction with local government. Overall, respondents who live in formal dwellings are more satisfied with local government than those living informally. However levels of satisfaction with local government differ across municipalities. For example, a greater percentage of those in informal dwellings in Mogale City are satisfied with local government than those in formal dwellings in Emfuleni.

Government services 2 – Best rated services per municipality

This vignette, the second part of a double vignette, assesses how Gauteng residents perceive and value the government services they receive. It identifies the services that respondents in GCRO's Quality of Life IV (2015/16) survey had the highest satisfaction with, for each municipality in Gauteng, and those with which they had the highest level of dissatisfaction. It also highlights which services mattered the most to respondents, irrespective of their access to or satisfaction with that particular service.

Government services 1 – Inadequate access to services

Household infrastructure services like water or sanitation, and public services such as parks or roads, lie at the interface between government and society. This vignette, the first part of a double vignette, considers the government delivery side of the equation. It examines lingering gaps in access to key services across Gauteng's municipalities, asking what proportion of respondents in GCRO's Quality of Life IV (2015/16) survey (i) used bucket toilets for sanitation, (ii) collected water more than 200m away, and (iii) had no stormwater drains.

The 1%

October 2017 marks the 100 year anniversary of Russia's October revolution, that overthrew the Tsarist elite. Today, 'the 1%' is colloquially used to refer to a group of elite earners whose income outstrips that of most of the population. According to GCRO’s QoL IV (2015/16) survey, households earning a monthly income of R76 801 and above constitute the top 1.35% of income earners in the GCR. Although they account for a tiny proportion of the population, the 1% take home nearly 1/3 of all monthly income. Their assets and outlooks suggest considerable privilege relative to the 99%.

#FeesMustFall 1 – multiple axes of inequality

In this vignette we consider two axes of inequality at issue in the #FeesMustFall protests. First, calls for ‘decolonisation’ give voice to a deeply felt sense of disadvantage by many students relative to their historically more privileged peers. Is this perception of inequality – of structural violence by the academy itself – valid? Second, to call for free higher education is to demand dramatic re-prioritisation of limited public resources. Is it legitimate to stake this claim given the current social position and future opportunities of those benefiting from higher-education, as well as the many unmet development needs of the poorest?

For another take on #FeesMustFall see Vignette 32.

#FeesMustFall 2 – the missing middle and the top 2%

This vignette provides a breakdown of students in Gauteng by income*. It shows that only 2% of students are from households earning above R600 000 a year. About 20% of students belong to the so-called ‘missing middle’, while three quarters are eligible for NSFAS funding. Whereas the top 2% are generally better off than all other students (e.g. less likely to have debt or be worried), the missing middle have much in common with NSFAS-eligible students. Students from the missing middle are the least likely to have participated in protests.

For another take on #FeesMustFall see Vignette 31.

Youth and transport in the GCR

Youth in Gauteng rely more heavily on non-motorised and public transport than those over 35 years of age. This reflects relatively higher unemployment and lower income when compared with older residents. Racial disparities are starkly reflected within the 18-34 age bracket: 73% of African youth use public transport to get to work compared to just 6% of white youth. Two conclusions flow from this. First, providing access to a ordable and e cient public transport is crucial to reducing socio-economic exclusion of youth, particularly for work-seekers and students. Second, investing in and promoting public and non-motorised transport may mitigate a shift to private modes of transport once young peoples' socio-economic conditions improve later in life, and in turn help achieve a society less reliant on cars.

Making a life in informal dwellings in Gauteng

Although migrants into Gauteng hope for improved services and economic opportunities, some 18% of Gauteng residents live in informal dwellings (StatsSA 2016). People living informally are more likely to be under 35 years and to live alone than those living in formal accommodation. Not only are they unable to secure adequate accommodation; they also struggle to penetrate the formal job market, and are more likely to be unemployed. Government grants help to sustain livelihoods for informal dwellers, but most make a living through provisional means, temporary work, or the informal sector. This vignette explores aspects of the life and livelihoods of Gauteng residents living informally, using 2015 Quality of Life Survey data.

The quality of education in Gauteng

Vignette 28 provides a breakdown of the matric pass rates by school type. It demonstrates that public no-fee schools have lower pass rates than other categories, and shows that districts with low pass rates, such as Johannesburg Central, have high proportions of no-fee public schools.

Transforming Transport in the Gauteng City-Region

As part of research undertaken by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) into mobility patterns in the Gauteng City-Region, an online survey was conducted to gauge people's opinions and experiences of the EcoMobility Festival that took place in the Sandton CBD (Johannesburg) during October 2015. The results reveal a shift in commuting patterns, suggesting that there may be opportunities to cultivate a public transport culture, particularly among private car users. However, they also show that significantly more work is needed to improve public transport infrastructure and shift public perceptions.

As part of research undertaken by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) into mobility patterns in the Gauteng City-Region, an online survey was conducted to gauge people's opinions and experiences of the EcoMobility Festival that took place in the Sandton CBD (Johannesburg) during October 2015. The results reveal a shift in commuting patterns, suggesting that there may be opportunities to cultivate a public transport culture, particularly among private car users. However, they also show that significantly more work is needed to improve public transport infrastructure and shift public perceptions.

Informal sector cross border trade spending in Gauteng

In 2014 GCRO conducted an in-depth survey with 1,270 informal sector cross border traders who travel to Gauteng to buy goods for their businesses in their home countries. SA Tourism counted nearly 7 million arrivals from Africa through South Africa’s land-borders in 2014. Over 7.5% were for shopping for businesses in their home countries.

Xenophobic attacks - are migrants the only victims?

Based on a GCRO survey of 1 567 cross border migrant and South African entrepreneurs in the informal sector Vignette 25 asks whether cross border migrants are the only victims of xenophobic attacks.

LGBTI attitudes in the GCR

Vignette 24 provides an insight into attitudes towards LGBTI people in the GCR and the correlation between levels of education and tolerance towards LGBTI people.

Social isolation in the GCR

Using an Index of Social Isolation derived from GCRO’s third Quality of Life survey, this vignette provides interesting insights into some of the forces shaping social isolation in the GCR. It should be read together with the January 2015 Map of the Month.

Getting to work in the GCR

This vignette, prepared for October transport month, looks at trip start times for commuters using different transport modes. It should be read together with the October 2014 Map of the Month and Interactive Visualisation.

Social attitudes in the GCR

This vignette looks at the results of the Quality of Life survey which asked whether blacks and whites will ever trust each other.

Informal sector activity in the GCR

The informal sector plays an important role in the lives of Gauteng residents. This vignette looks at various aspects of informal sector economic activity including employment, entrepreneurship and attitudes to street trading.

Gauteng's bread and butter

Along with basic services, increasing food security is critical to meet the needs of a growing population and to reduce poverty. This vignette looks at understanding food insecurity in the GCR

Marginalisation in the GCR

GCRO uses various multivariate statistical techniques to generate an index that measures ‘marginalisation’ of respondents in our ‘Quality of Life’ surveys. The Marginalisation Index includes variables such as anomie, alienation, social capital and extreme views such as racism and xenophobia.

Non-Motorised Transport

Non-motorised transport (NMT) plays a vital role in building social cohesion, achieving a low carbon city-region and reducing transport costs, but is currently not a preferred mode of transport for commuters. This vignette provides more information.

Backyard housing in the GCR

Between 2001 and 2011 there was a 9% decline in households living in informal settlements. This vignette looks at what this may mean.

Living solo in Gauteng

An analysis of single person households reveals that there are both challenges and opportunities associated with this type of lifestyle.

International wage differentials for primary school teachers

Recent UBS data on earning for primary school teachers in 72 cities across the world show significant disparities in wages in this employment category.

Attitudes towards gender-based violence in the GCR

The GCRO 2011 Quality of Life survey explored attitudes towards spousal/partner abuse through questions about circumstances that may provoke gender-based violence in the Gauteng City-Region. This vignette unpacks some of these attitudes.

Fuel use behavior for households with electricity supply

This vignette uses a slice of data from the GCRO 2011 Quality of Life Survey to show household electrical supply options. Fuel use behaviour for cooking and lighting among household respondents connected to the grid, is categorised by household monthly income.

Quality of Life Survey II

On 23 July 2012 GCRO launched its second 'Quality of Life' survey. The findings across 56 different indicators showed a slight increase in the average score out of ten and that delivery alone may not resolve some of the more intangible challenges facing the province.

Geographic distribution of SARChI chairs

The Department of Science and Technology awards professorial chairs to candidates at public universities through its NRF-SARChI programme. This vignette questions what other possible criteria could be used for the awarding of research chairs.

Gauteng green assets and infrastructure

GCRO's research will attempt to value the economic contribution of green infrastructure and the cost savings and benefits of investing in natural infrastructure as opposed to traditional engineered systems.

FIFA 2010 economic legacy for micro-traders

This vignette highlights key findings from GCRO's two-year tracking study of micro-traders in Gauteng exploring the economic legacy of the 2010 World Cup.

Gauteng 2012 budget highlights

This month's vignette compares the share of the Gauteng's 2012 budget for social spending with that allocated towards infrastructure.

Gauteng's 50 Priority Wards

GCRO has developed an interactive viewer, allowing users to analyse the 50 priority wards across 18 indicators. This vignette contains a map of the priority wards and some examples of the indicators per ward.

OECD Territorial Review of the GCR

Under the leadership of the Gauteng Planning Commission the GCRO supported the OECD to conduct an 18 month research, peer-review and benchmarking exercise of the GCR.

Participation, civil society & religiosity

The last few months of any year are important for all the major religions. Data indicate that there is a positive relationship between participation in faith-based activities, and those of civil society more generally, and perceived quality of life in the Gauteng City-Region.

GDP data for Gauteng

On 29 November 2011, StatsSA released official GDP figures for provinces for 2010. This vignette gives an overview of the key data, highlights the surprising growth of the mining sector and discusses areas of concern.

Transformation in higher education in the GCR

Can the GCR become a knowledge-producer through engaging with multiple stakeholders such as government, business/industry and civil society?

Green Stats

This is the first of a series of 'vignettes' providing 'slices-of-life' perspectives on the GCR.