Young people make up half of South Africa's workers but face the worst job problems. People aged 15 to 24 struggle most to find work. Most live where poor families crowd together outside big cities. Researcher Hannah Dawson studied how young men survive at Zandspruit settlement near Johannesburg.
Zandspruit holds 50,000 people across 14 land pieces since the 1990s. The area sits close to airports, shopping centers and rich neighborhoods. Young people move there from farms and other African countries seeking better lives. Its location helps residents reach city jobs and business chances.
Dawson followed young men for ten years and learned how they make money without regular jobs. Many turn down low-paying work that treats them badly. They choose to rent rooms, run car washes or lend money instead. These activities give them more control over their daily lives.
People at Zandspruit divide between insiders and outsiders based on property ownership. Long-time residents rent rooms to newcomers and immigrants who depend on cheap jobs. These differences decide who belongs and who benefits from local business opportunities. Social connections determine access to better money-making chances.
Zandspruit holds 50,000 people across 14 land pieces since the 1990s. The area sits close to airports, shopping centers and rich neighborhoods. Young people move there from farms and other African countries seeking better lives. Its location helps residents reach city jobs and business chances.
Dawson followed young men for ten years and learned how they make money without regular jobs. Many turn down low-paying work that treats them badly. They choose to rent rooms, run car washes or lend money instead. These activities give them more control over their daily lives.
People at Zandspruit divide between insiders and outsiders based on property ownership. Long-time residents rent rooms to newcomers and immigrants who depend on cheap jobs. These differences decide who belongs and who benefits from local business opportunities. Social connections determine access to better money-making chances.
