Table 2 Sources of income

Government social grant

“I don’t have any other reliable sources of income besides the [government social] grant money. I only get disability grant for being sick […] and child support for this three-year-old one [granddaughter]. It’s the only one” (Cathline, 51, Female).

Financial support from relatives

“I don’t even spend money. I am unemployed. Where do I get the money to spend? It’s the people here [neighbours]. Look, you see all the people and everyone here loves me. So here I’m having a lot of food from people around, I don’t worry” (Dayson, 34, Male).

Part-time jobs

“You work and work but sometimes they [employers] say, ‘No don’t come to work. We haven’t got a site [for work] yet’. And [then it] would take the whole week to get paid again while you sit and starve in the township with no pay” (Thobela, 39, Male).

Street vendor businesses

“After I’ve quit that job of looking after an old man, I’ve been selling pork meat ever since. It’s R350 ($20) to stock and the only profit I get is R150 (8$). Then I have to go buy more pork to sell again” (Bongiwe, 48, Female).

Renting out backyard spaces

“They [tenants] pay rent every month end and then they […] go buy their own electricity. Their rent money is separated from electricity because they will say I misuse their money. So I give each of them a slip to go buy electricity themselves and punch it in the box [electricity meter].” (Nomfundiso, 45, Female).

Household chores for neighbours

“If they want their washing [laundry] done they must buy me a cool drink. I won’t go to bed without food whereas there’s something that can feed me […] or just buy electricity. Maybe the others would even give me R50 ($3.5)” (Nolubabalo, 42, Female).

Informal lenders/Loan sharks

“I would borrow money from loan sharks […] say, I’m going to the clinic to fetch my treatment [ARVs]. I don’t want to go to this one [local clinic] here. So, it’s better to borrow [money for transport]” (Nwabisa, 29, Female).