25-06-2025
No country for hustlers: why unleashing the informal sector is South Africa's missing revolution
In the bustling, chaotic heart of any South African township, rural and small town, and city centre, one can witness a vibrant ecosystem of survival. Much like the resilient characters navigating their destinies in Alan Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country — where individuals grapple with a society undergoing profound change — South Africa's informal economy is a testament to human ingenuity and perseverance. Yet, as Prof Haroon Bhorat articulated in a June 17 Business Day article, our national obsession with formalisation is stifling this vital sector, turning a potential economic powerhouse into a mere shadow of its true capacity...
