Impact of Crime on Small Businesses Report 2008 - Gauteng Online

THE IMPACT OF CRIME ON SMALL BUSINESSESplied with the definition were included. As a result, the samples in most casescomprised ‘clusters,’ the broad locations <strong>of</strong> which were randomly distributed.It is important to stress that experience <strong>of</strong> crime was not used as a filtering criterion.2.1.1 Site <strong>of</strong> operationsThe majority <strong>of</strong> businesses included in the sample were located in an <strong>of</strong>fice blockor shopping centre. The remainder <strong>of</strong> the sample was comprised <strong>of</strong> informal traders,businesses operating from home, and small numbers <strong>of</strong> businesses in industrialparks, factories or free standing road-side structures. The majority <strong>of</strong> informal traderswere retailers <strong>of</strong> convenience items, sweets and groceries, and clothing. A smallnumber <strong>of</strong> personal services providers were also included in this sub-category.Over half the informal traders operated in townships and informal settlements,while just under a third worked in densely developed suburban areas, around shoppingmalls and <strong>of</strong>fice parks.Chart 1: Sample by business site1514Own housePart <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficeblock/shopping centreInformal traderIndustrial parkBusiness cluster/complex66OtherSample size: 446 businessesVariations in site <strong>of</strong> operations by location are illustrated in Chart 2.12