Women mini‐farmers in the South African tea industry

Abstract

Research on two South African tea estates provides information on the socio‐economic circumstances of contract pluckers, most of whom are women. The scheme under which these women are employed is considered with regard to corporate policy and to patriarchy. Developmental potential is perceived under prevailing tenurial arrangements, subject to certain conditions. Ultimately, the estates should be adapted to the labour‐supplying communities rather than the communities to the estates.

Notes

Senior Lecturer, Department of Sociology, University of Cape Town. The author's greatest debt of gratitude is to the subjects of this article for their good‐humoured and patient cooperation. He also thanks the tea company's officials and employees at all levels for their assistance and encouragement; his hosts during field trips for their generous hospitality; Nzeni Netshltomboni, Andrew Mokumo and PJ Fitzgerald for their valuable contributions to the research project; and the University of Cape Town's Research Committee for providing a grant for the research.