Informal Women Traders Using Digital Technology in Esikhawini Township to Advance Their Businesses

This paper examines the motivations behind impoverished women's aspirations to launch informal businesses and engage in online commerce. The research also looks at their ability to conduct banking transactions using mobile technologies. Like other African nations, South Africa has a high unemployment rate. In and around their communities, many women launch modest, informal businesses. The study used a qualitative approach, with questionnaires used in the interview. The study looked at 10 informal traders who have businesses in Esikhawini Township. The study used a convenience sampling technique to select businesswomen for its qualitative research, which included structured interviews. The article was conceptualised using the Uses and Gratification Theory (UGT) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Prescriptive analysis was used to analyse the data. Prescriptive analytics are employed in this study to encourage informal traders to embrace technology. The findings demonstrate how informal traders successfully promote, advertise, and interact with clients via social media. Therefore, it helps to sustain and develop the business. The findings indicate that informal traders engage in digital communication with their clients and offer digital communication training to improve their enterprises over time. According to the findings, the city of King Cetshwayo District must offer informal traders digital development programmes. Through monetary investment and instruction in digital connectivity, these training initiatives would aid in advancing digital communication for informal businesses. The municipality should support and assist this informal sector.