Mawelela, Anele2023-01-182023-01-182022https://hdl.handle.net/10539/34121A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters ofArchitecture (Professional)‘Vuk’ uphande!’ a South African slang word that means ‘wake up and hustle’, commonly used by those that identify as hustlers. Informal traders are an expression of this term as they are individuals that trade in the streets for survival means. This research report intends to study the issue of informal businesses and use the positive socio-economic aspects of such businesses in the township of Bekkersdal, west region of Gauteng, South Africa, by creating appropriate infrastructure and allow for skills development that will help uplift and enhance the community’s growth. In South Africa, informal businesses play a signifi cant role in creating jobs (Stats SA reported 754,000 jobs gained through informal employment) and ensuring that those who are less privileged in society are able to generate income. Through their engagement in business in the informal sector, they are able to survive and strive when a country is facing economic recession. According to Survey of Employers and Self-Employed (SESE), it estimated about 70% population of people is employed in the informal sector due to lack of formal employment. The research will be conducted through interviews, mapping and literature reviews by analysing and studying of good-trading value chains that is knowledgeable by small scale traders in Bekkersdal township. The expected outcomes of this study is to bring forth an architectural proposal that will help uplift and enhance the existing trading activities and as well present new functions of skills development and learning to support a greater context of Bekkersdal informal traders.enThesis