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HSRC Annual Report 2016/17
the Monte Carlo simulation technique. The study aims to understand population mobility and its implications for the
provision of shelter for migrants.
An immediate focus is on the interaction between migration, land and housing within the Platinum Belt.
Qualitative surveys show that migrants face major challenges in accessing adequate housing, resulting in the proliferation
of informal settlements. The problems are compounded by the land tenure system and ownership by landlords with
diverse and contradictory interests, including mining companies, the Royal Bafokeng Kingdom and municipalities.
Research impact
Innovation Partnership for Rural Development Programme
The DST collaborates with science councils and universities to develop and demonstrate newwater, sanitation and smart
geyser technologies aimed at improving basic services to targeted rural communities. EPD has been monitoring and
evaluating all facets of this intervention and sharing the findings with municipal stakeholders through learning forums.
Municipal Maturity Index
Basic services
Demonstration
Share knowledge
Measurement
The intention is to increase the capabilities of officials to learn, innovate and share knowledge about these innovations.
These outcomes are measured via a Municipal Maturity Index, along with the impact of technology demonstrations on
rural communities. This research enhances knowledge about the potential of STI to address pressing service delivery
challenges, including the role of different spheres and agencies of government. Another imperative is to understand
how the capabilities of rural councils to learn, innovate and collaborate can be enhanced.
Creating Jobs for Young People
To contribute to the employment of young people, the EPD team has invested time in understanding what kinds of
employers are most likely to recruit young people. This is a vital question for policies aimed at cuttingmass unemployment
among the youth.
This EPD study used new administrative tax data, made available by SARS, to identify the characteristics of firms that
employ relatively large numbers of young people. The study was sponsored by UNU-WIDER and the National Treasury,
and assists in the task of identifying firms for the design and targeting of interventions, such as the youth wage subsidy
and the employment tax incentive.
The study found that older firms, high output growth firms, high profit-making firms and exporters are less likely to
employ young people than firms with low labour costs, importers, and those registered with SETAs for learnerships.
PART B: Performance Overview