Determining entrepreneurial challenges among women entrepreneurs selling fruits in the Vhembe District

Abstract

While women entrepreneurs in South Africa are making progress in overcoming gender biases and establishing their enterprises, they still encounter several structural and social challenges, many of which have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. While past and current research has identified numerous challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, very few studies have focused exclusively on the specific challenges faced by rural women entrepreneurs or attempted to identify how these challenges affect women entrepreneurs. It is within this context that this study aimed to investigate the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs selling fruits in Vhembe District. This study was guided by the phenomenological research design and within the qualitative approach dictates. The convenience sampling technique was utilised to select the participants. The study interviewed 15 women entrepreneurs using face-to-face interviews guided by the structured interview guide. The collected data was transcribed using Microsoft Word and analysed using thematic analysis aided by ATLAS. ti. The findings will enrich the body of knowledge of the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.