220 The Pterocarpus angolensis DC. based woodcraft industry in the Bushbuckridge districtVendors are generally female. They purchase their goods from intermediate
traders or directly from producers, selecting home carver products and imports
from neighbouring countries, especially Zimbabwe and Swaziland. Local
woodcarvings compose some 20% of stock. Most vendors were previously
employed and have been vending for between two and eight years (Steenkamp
1999a). Eighty percent express high job satisfaction (Steenkamp 1999a), their
economic independence (from men) being an important contributing factor.
Many of the carvers indicated they were ‘tired’ of selling to the women
vendors because they pay such poor prices—usually about one quarter of the
asking price (Table 5). But few can afford to pay more: their profits are marginal
and cash flow is limited. Some carvers sell unfinished goods at lower prices to
vendors, who then do the finishing. There is a similar arrangement with the
shopkeeper at Kruger Gate. A number of retailers interviewed mentioned that
they cannot compete with the prices charged by informal vendors and are
unable to put a high mark-up on locally produced carvings. This reduces their
interest in stocking local goods. Part of the problem is that the end consumer
still expects to pay very little for locally produced craft products, especially if
sold in the informal sector. The result is that producers and traders, because
they operate on what is effectively a subsistence level, are at the mercy of
the market and are frequently forced to accept unrealistic prices in order to
earn sufficient money to pay the taxi fare home and to provide food for their
families (Bristow-Bovey 1998) (Table 4).
Most carvers are now also marketing their goods through the Skukuza
Alliance outlets. Prices are better (Table 5), but goods are sold on consignment
and it can take months before producers receive any income. Nonetheless this
market has been identified as one of the more positive developments in the
industry over the last few years. Finances to run the outlets are generated by
deducting 10% from the sale of each item. Although these markets appear to
be functioning, there are some problems. These include the undercutting of
prices by producers selling on the roadside (Moloi 1999a; SANP 2000), the fact
that tourist bus drivers must be bribed before they will stop, selective support
by the KNP administration (e.g., it declined an appeal by the alliance to allow
the sale of drinks and snacks), and the lack of facilities to accept credit cards
and to package and export goods for overseas buyers.CURRENT POLICIES, SUPPORT AND INTERVENTIONS
At the time of the original study there was virtually no external support for
the woodcraft industry. Now, various agencies are investigating ways in which
the industry can be developed, whilst simultaneously ensuring conservation
of the resource base (Steenkamp 1999b).
Generally, in South Africa, government is paying more attention to
stimulating the informal sector than it did in the past. The Department of
Arts, Culture, Science and Technology recently adopted a plan to promote job
creation and growth in four areas: crafts, music, publishing and film (Duncan
1999). This plan proposes the establishment of a Cultural Industry Development
Agency (Moloi 1999b). There is also considerably more effort to encourage
community–private sector partnerships in a range of sectors including crafts,12SAwoodcarving.p65 220 22/12/2004, 11:05