Socio-economic impacts of working horses in urban and peri-urban areas of the Cape Flats, South Africa.
Abstract: In the Cape Flats townships, Cape Town, South Africa, there are more than 250 working cart horses. They serve the community with scrap metal and garden refuse removal, human transport and the selling of goods. A questionnaire was undertaken to understand the social and economic impacts of a horse and cart in the Cape Flats on individual owners and/or drivers, their households and the community. A mixture of classical quantitative questions combined with qualitative participatory technique questions were used. A total of 100 participants took part in the questionnaire, who cart with 163 horses between them. The majority (89%) identified the cart horse income as their primary income source. Apart from the participants, an additional 716 people were supported financially through this income, where the mean number of children supported was 2.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: ±0.42) per interviewed participant. Scrap metal transportation was the most common work and the season (winter) had a negative impact on their ability to work. The spatial extent to which a cart horses work was determined and related back to the impact on the horse and participant of the survey. It was demonstrated that the cart horse industry had an impact not only on those who worked in the industry, but also on the surrounding residents, either through their work or through supporting others with their income. This study revealed that the concepts of 'One Health' and 'Health in Social-Ecological Systems', in action as horse and human health within the Cape Flats are closely intertwined.
Publication Date: 2020-04-16 PubMed ID: 32370530PubMed Central: PMC7203185DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v91i0.2009Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper discusses the social and economic implications of working horses in the Cape Flats region of South Africa, emphasizing their vital role in scrap metal transportation as well as the local economy and community welfare.
Research Methodology
The researchers relied heavily on a questionnaire survey to gather qualitative and quantitative data concerning the socio-economic impacts of these working horses. The questionnaire was designed with a mix of traditional numeric questions and participatory qualitative inquiries to acquire an in-depth understanding of the topic. The survey was administered to 100 participants who work with a total of 163 horses.
Main Findings
- The survey results indicated that the income from cart horse operations accounted for the primary source of income for a significant 89% of the respondents. This income didn’t only benefit the individual operators but extended to their households and other dependents. The study noted that an additional 716 people financially relied on the income generated from these operations, with about 2.9 children supported per participating individual.
- The working horses were largely employed in the transportation of scrap metal, with the changing seasons, notably winter, significantly impacting the work capacity. Hence, there were seasonal fluctuations in the outcomes of these operations.
- The spatial extent of the working horses’ operations was also examined to understand the related impacts on both the horse and the human participant. It was established that the cart horse industry had widespread impacts beyond the direct workers, affecting nearby residents either through their work or by boosting others with their income.
- In line with the concepts of ‘One Health’ and ‘Health in Social-Ecological Systems’, the research further disclosed a strong interconnection between horse and human health within the Cape Flats community. Both the working horses and their operators impact each other’s well-being, making this a multi-layered socio-economic relationship rather than just a utilitarian one.
Significance of the Study
The study underscores the sometimes overlooked yet fundamental role working horses play in socio-economic and ecological systems, particularly in under-resourced regions. It also highlights the intertwined health and well-being of both the working horses and their human caretakers. The research propels critical thoughts about sustainable practices and social support systems that consider these interconnections. Furthermore, the study opens a window to further research regarding the welfare of working animals and their socio-economic importance in similar regions worldwide.
Cite This Article
APA
De Klerk JN, Quan M, Grewar JD.
(2020).
Socio-economic impacts of working horses in urban and peri-urban areas of the Cape Flats, South Africa.
J S Afr Vet Assoc, 91, e1-e11.
https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v91i0.2009 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; and, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa. johardyvet@gmail.com.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Horses
- Male
- Socioeconomic Factors
- South Africa
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Urban Population / statistics & numerical data
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that no competing interest exists. They have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.
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Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Cameron A, Freeman SL, Wild I, Burridge J, Burrell K. Scoping Review of the Socioeconomic Value of Working Equids, and the Impact of Educational Interventions Aimed at Improving Their Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2026 Jan 7;16(2).
- Desta TT. The Miserable Lives of Abandoned Cart Horses. Vet Med Sci 2026 Jan;12(1):e70804.
- Schmeyers L, Thomschke S, Mende LV, Stichel G, Schiller D, Fleßa S. Economic methods and spatial scales in One Health: Results from a scoping review. One Health 2025 Dec;21:101115.
- Asteraye GB, Pinchbeck G, Knight-Jones T, Saville K, Temesgen W, Hailemariam A, Rushton J. Population, distribution, biomass, and economic value of Equids in Ethiopia. PLoS One 2024;19(3):e0295388.
- Bonsi M, Anderson NE, Carder G. The Socioeconomic Impact of Diseases of Working Equids in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Critical Review. Animals (Basel) 2023 Dec 15;13(24).
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