The persistence of the casual poor in Johannesburg

Abstract

This paper draws the attention of urban historians and historical geographers to the neglect of the casual poor in South Africa's cities, more particularly those in Johannesburg. Evidence is presented to show that the casual poor have been an ever-present constituent in the urban milieu. Their life-style and their modes of existence have so far received little attention. The occupations of the casual poor are those of the urban informal sector. It is suggested that the casual poor are squeezed out of one informal income niche only to reappear at a later time in an alternative informal occupation.