Exploring the opportunities and challenges encountered by immigrant entrepreneurs in Eastern Cape Province Towns

Abstract

This research offers a comprehensive examination of immigrant entrepreneurship within Eastern Cape Province towns, with a specific focus on Sterkspruit and Aliwal-North The purpose of this was to investigate the opportunities and challenges faced by immigrant entrepreneurs within towns in the Eastern Cape Province. The qualitative research approach which followed a phenomenological research philosophy was adopted. The non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select 10 immigrant entrepreneurs. Thereafter, in-depth interviews were employed in gathering primary data from the selected sample which is African and Asian immigrant entrepreneurs operating in the selected towns (Aliwal-North and Sterkspruit) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The results of the study indicate that immigrant entrepreneurs enjoy some opportunities and also are faced with challenges in doing business in these towns. The results furthermore indicate that immigrant entrepreneurs know the causes of their challenges as they explain them. The results also indicate the possible ways the challenges can be managed or overcome. The study, therefore, concluded that some of the opportunities and challenges identified by the interviewed participants were of South African government policies and regulations. It was therefore recommended that as a way of improving the handling of business engagement, immigrant entrepreneurs attend business workshops and exposes.  

Keywords: {'name': 'Immigrant Entrepreneurship, Eastern Cape Province, Economic Opportunities, Challenges, South African towns'}

Authors & affiliations

Jane Akusoba
Affiliation not supplied

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

Agada, J. T., & Zeb-Obipi, I. (2018). Workplace social infrastructure and employee commitment: A literature review. International Journal of Human Resources Management (IJHRM), 7(2), 1-12.

DOI: 10.4102/hts.v76i3.6095

Ball, N. (2014). Security and economy in the Third World (Vol. 937). Princeton University Press.

DOI: 10.1111/gove.12281

Beinart, W., & Delius, P. (2018). Smallholders and land reform: A realistic perspective.

DOI: 10.4324/9780203078624

DOI: 10.1080/08985626.2017.1364787

DOI: 10.1186/s40991-016-0004-6

DOI: 10.2307/j.ctvh8r45r.6

DOI: 10.2307/j.ctvh8r08d

DOI: 10.2307/j.ctvh8r07x

Desiderio, M. V. (2014). Policies to support immigrant entrepreneurship. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute and Transatlantic Council on Migration, 1-24.

Embassy of the Republic of South Africa-Portugal. (2008). South Africa: open for business. Retrieved August 20, 2020 from https://www.embaixada-africadosul.pt/index.php/en/about-southafrica/investing-in-sa/business-environment

DOI: 10.18488/journal.62/2016.3.8/62.8.103.112

DOI: 10.1111/jsbm.12376

DOI: 10.1080/09765239.2013.11884968

DOI: 10.1057/9781137379344_2

DOI: 10.1023/A:1011132102464

Garg, A. K., & Phayane, N. (2014). Impact of small businesses owned by immigrant entrepreneurs on the local community of Brits. Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development, 2(2), 57-85.

Goldstuck, A. (2015). SME survey 2015, World Wide Worx: SME Survey (Pty) Ltd http://www.smesurvey.co.za/research.html

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n9p701

DOI: 10.1111/1540-8520.00029

DOI: 10.1007/s10843-017-0209-0

DOI: 10.4324/9781315582092

DOI: 10.3920/JIFF2015.0091

DOI: 10.1177/0266242614555877

DOI: 10.1002/ijfe.1702

DOI: 10.4102/sajems.v13i4.91

DOI: 10.1080/13511610.2017.1419336

DOI: 10.15185/izawol.8

DOI: 10.1111/emre.12105

DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780197518298.003.0005

DOI: 10.4324/9780203789056-2

DOI: 10.1111/imre.12074

Manzano, G., Ayala, J., Castresana, J., & Parras, M. (2012). Factors Affecting the Growth of New Firms: A Multidisciplinary Perspective. University of La Rioja, 46.

DOI: 10.4102/sajesbm.v14i1.440

DOI: 10.4102/td.v15i1.556

DOI: 10.4102/sajbm.v49i1.10

DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2019.09.001

DOI: 10.19030/iber.v16i2.9885

Rebecca, L. (2014). OECD-South Africa investment policy dialogue-Self-assessment of South Africa’s.

[Record #3 is using a reference type undefined in this output style.]

Schumpeter, J. A. (2008). The theory of economic development.

DOI: 10.1177/2393957516684451

Statistics South Africa. (2019). Economic growth. www.statssa.gov.za

DOI: 10.1111/1468-4446.12357

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n2p109

DOI: 10.3390/su9081396

DOI: 10.1007/s40821-016-0065-1

DOI: 10.1177/0921374005061991

DOI: 10.1007/s10843-016-0197-5

Wadhwa, S., & Madan, S. (2017). Employee retention: A much needed strategy in global work environment. International Journal of Engineering and Management Research (IJEMR), 7(4), 201-205.

DOI: 10.1007/s10843-017-0221-4