The Entrepreneurial Rhetoric: Perspectives from South Africans and African Immigrants Operating in the Informal Sector of South Africa

The entrepreneurial promotion in South Africa makes no distinction between South African and African immigrant entrepreneurs. The modality of starting a new venture, especially in the informal sector in South Africa accommodates both South Africans and non-South Africans. However, rhetorical emphasis on entrepreneurship poses some notions of self-reliance for non-South Africans living in South Africa. It is not yet clear or identified what characterises self-reliance despite the provisions of the law that accommodate both South Africans and non-South Africans to be involved in entrepreneurial activities. The purpose of this paper is to explore the rhetorical entrepreneurship in self-reliance among South African citizens particularly black and African immigrants living and conducting business in South Africa.