This survey takes a look at educational, economic as well as non-economic activities of young people in South Africa. To download the full release, visit http://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1854&PPN=P0212&SCH=6991

1. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Survey of Activities of
Young People, 2015
Dr Pali Lehohla
Statistician-General
#StatsSA

2. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
What is SAYP
The survey collects data on educational activities, economic
activities, non-economic activities, health and safety issues,
and household tasks of individuals aged 7–17 years who live
in South Africa.

3. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
SAYP
The survey helps:
• To understand the extent of children’s involvement in economic activities
• To analyse the demographic and socio economic characteristics and their extent to contributing
towards their involvement in economic activities
• To update and expand the existing statistical data on working children
• Identify specific areas that needs intervention to reduce children involvement in hazardous
activities.
•
• To provide information for the formulation of an informed policy to combat child labour within the
country; and
• To monitor the South African Child Labour Action Program (CLAP) and Sustainable Development
Goals( SDG’s).

4. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
NDP
Vision
• The NDP vision is that everyone has access to education
at a high standard, regardless of who they are and where
they live.

5. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
SDG Goal 4
By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free,
equitable and quality primary and secondary education
leading to relevant and Goal-4 effective learning outcomes
Target 4.1:
Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced
labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and
secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of
child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers,
and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms
Target 8.7:

6. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Profile of
South Africa’s
Children

7. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Profile of South Africa’s children aged, 7 – 17 years old
Demographics
50,0%50,0%
2015 2015
+0,1 from 2010-0,1 from 2010
of the total
South African
population in 2015
20,5%
Children aged 7 to
17 years made up
Total
population
Childrenaged7–17yearsold

8. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Provincial distribution of South Africa’s children aged 7 – 17 years old
South Africa
20,5%
NC
2,3%
(+0,2)
WC
10,2%
(+0,8)
EC
15,0%
(-0,3)
NW
7,2%
(-)
MP
9,0%
(-0,2)
KZN
22,9%
(-0,4)
FS
4,6%
(-0,7)
LP
12,5%
(+0,4)
The biggest proportion of
children were found in
KwaZulu-Natal followed by
Gauteng.
The North West is the only
province that did not
experience any change
between 2010 and 2015.
Highest change was
observed in Western Cape
at 0,8 percentage point.
GP
16,3%
(+0,3)

9. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
37,3%
7 – 10 years old
35,2%
11 – 14 years old
27,5%
15 – 17 years old
+2,2 from 2010 -2,2 from 2010
unchanged
Profile of South Africa’s children aged, 7 – 17 years old
Age

10. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Indian/Asian
1,9%
White
5,5%
-0,2
Coloured
8,8%
Black/African
83,9%
+0,3
4 in 5 children in
South Africa
are Black African
Profile of South Africa’s children aged, 7 – 17 years old
Race

11. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Parental survival

12. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children by Parental survival
74,8%
Both parents
alive
-2,7 from 2010
14,3%
Only mother
alive
+0,4 from 2010
7,3%
Neither parent
alive
+2,0 from 2010
Only 29% of black African children lived with both parents in the
household compared to the 75,6% among whites and 74,8%
among Indian/Asian in 2015
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Parents not
alive
Both parents not
household
members but
alive
Both parents
household
member
Only father
household
member
Only mother
household
member
Black/African Coloured Indian/Asian White All population groups
3,6%
Only father
alive
+0,3 from 2010
Presence of parents in the household by population group

13. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Presence of grandparents in the household among children aged 7 – 17 years old
whose parents were not household members
In 2015 fewer children whose
parents were not household
members lived with their
grandparents compared to
2010

14. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children educational
characteristics

15. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Proportions of children aged 7–17 years old not attending school
South Africa
1,6%
-0,5
(compared to
2010)
NC
2,9%
(+0,4)
WC
1,7%
(-1,1)
EC
2,1%
(-1,3)
NW
2,7%
(+0,5)
MP
2,1%
(+1,1)
KZN
1,1%
(-0,9)
FS
2,3%
(+0,1)
LP
1,2%
(-0,6)
GP
0,9%
(-0,4)
Overall there was a
drop in the proportion of
children not attending
school between 2010
and 2015.
Mpumalanga recorded
the biggest increase in
non-attendance at 1,1
percentage points

16. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children with no parents alive or only father present in household member
were more likely not to attend school.
Non school attendance increased among children in father only households
Parent survival and member of the household by school non-attendance
Neither
parents alive
3,5%
(-0,1)
Only father
household
member
2,1%
(+0,6)
Neither
parents
household
member
1,9%
(-0,7)
Only mother
household
member
1,5%
(-0,4)
Both parents
household
member
1,1%
(-0,8)

17. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
School attendance of children aged 7 – 17 years old whose parents were not
household members by presence of grandparents in the household
Grandparents presence in the household where parents
were not household members increased the likelihood of
children attending school
1,7%
(-)
Grandparent
part of
household
3,1%
(-1,2)
Grandparent
not part of
household

18. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children engaged in
economic activity

19. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Economic activity
Specifically contributing or available to contribute to the production of goods
and services according to the United Nations System of National Accounts
(SNA,1993).
This includes:
• work for pay or in-kind;
• unpaid work in a family business
• domestic work in households
• Production for own consumption

20. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children aged 7 – 17 years old engaged in economic activity by sex in 2015
Children aged 16 to17 years were more likely to be
involved in child labour
21% of all children aged 7-17 years were involved in economic activities, and this was a
decrease of 2,6 percentage points from 2010
In 2015 more boys were engaged in economic activity (22,3%) compared with girls
(20,9%), both sexes experienced decreases with the largest among girls at 3,6 percentage
points.
23,6%
22,3%
2010 2015
Male
24,8%
20,9%
2010 2015
Female

21. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
24,2%
30,5%
28,2%
15,0%
21,6%
29,7%
22,7%
14,7%
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Total
15 - 17 years old
11 - 14 years old
7 - 10 years old
2015 2010
Children aged 7 – 17 years old engaged in economic activity by age
The 15-17 year old had the highest proportion among those engaged in economic
activity. Older ages were more likely to be involved in economic activities
Those aged 11–14 year old their proportion decreased with 5,6 percentage points, the
highest change when compared with the other age group.

22. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
24,2%
28,4%
5,6%
3,3%
1,5%
21,6%
25,2%
0,5%
3,9%
1,7%
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Total
Black/African
Indian/Asian
Colooured
White
2015 2010
Children aged 7 – 17 years old engaged in economic activity by race
Black children were more likely to be involved in economic activities (which included
production for own consumption) compared to the other races among children involved in
economic activities

23. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children aged 7 – 17 years old engaged in economic activity by school
attendance
24,2%
21,6%
2010 2015
Overall children involvement in economic
activities declined in 2015
Children involved in economic activities were
more likely not to attend school
All children
35,7%
29,2%
2010 2015
Children not
attending school
23,9%
21,5%
2010 2015
Children
attending school

24. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
97,4% of girls were involved in
production for own consumption
only, slightly more than the
95,6% of boys.
More boys were engaged in
economic activity for both
market and own production
than girls.
Boys were also more likely to
have participated in market
activity only.
96,5%
2,0%
1,5%
+0,8 from 2010
-0,2 from 2010
-0,6 from 2010
Involvement by type of economic activity
Involvement in economic activities by sex
&
Children 7 – 17 years old engaged in economic activity by type of economic activity

25. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children aged 7 – 17 years old engaged in economic activity by industry in 2015
Involvement of children in economic activities was high in the trade industry in both
2010 and 2015, though the share decreased by 8,8 percentage points.
58,1%
12,0%
29,9%
49,3%
16,5%
34,2%
Trade Private households other
2010 2015

26. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children aged 7 – 17 years old engaged in economic activity by occupation
The majority of children who engaged in economic activities were in Elementary, followed
by Sales and Services
65,6%
18,3%
16,0%
68,8%
11,9%
19,3%
Elementary Sales and services Other
2010 2015

27. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children engaged in economic activity by industry and hours of work per week
More than 60% of children engaged in economic activity, worked for less than 14 hours per week.
Children who worked in agriculture and services were more likely to work more than 14 hours per week in 2015.
The share of children who worked more than 14 hours per week in the transport industry declined 16,5%
Less than
14 hours
per week
More than
14 hours
per week
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2010 2015
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2010 2015

28. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Widespread decreases in children aged 7–17 years involved in most activities – except for
those who only studied and those who both studied and engaged in household chores, where
the proportions increased.
Children aged 7 – 17 years old by activities
+ +
+
Household chores & study
Economic activity, household
chores & study
Study only
57,6%
56,4%
2015
2010
20,5%
22,7%%
2015
2010
19,7%
18,1%
2015
2010

29. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children who lived in a household with no parent present but had at least one grandparent in the
household, were more likely to be involved in only studying compared to those who had no parents
or grandparent in the household.
Children aged 7 – 17 years activities by presence of grandparents where the
parents were not household members.
+
Household chores & study
+ +
Economic activity, household
chores & study
Study only
Grandparent part
of household
Grandparent not
part of household
51,6%
(-0,3)
54,5%
(-0,1)
Grandparent part
of household
Grandparent not
part of household
32,2%
(-1,3)
28,8%
(+0,2)
Grandparent part
of household
Grandparent not
part of household
14,0%
(+2,3)
12,9%
(+1,8)

30. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Reasons of children aged 7-17 years for doing economic work
43,3%
25,9%
20,3%
10,3%
55,4%
22,2%
15,7%
6,7%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Pocket money Assist family with money Duty to the family Other reasons
The main reasons why children worked was for pocket money, and this reason
increased with 8,8 percentage points in 2015
2010 2015

31. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Household chores

32. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children aged 7-17years involved in at least one household chore by province
NC
72,4%
(-3,9)
WC
74,7%
(-3,5)
EC
81,2%
(-9,0)
NW
79,7%
(-5,9)
MP
80,7%
(+1,4)
KZN
85,6%
(+3,3)
FS
82,5%
(-3,3)
LP
81,6%
(+3,5)
GP
68,7%
(-1,0,)
Involvement of children in at
least one household chore
was more than 65% among
all children in all the
provinces
South Africa
79,3%
-1,3
(compared to 2010)

33. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children involved in at least one household chore by presence of parents in the
household
82,4%
83,6%
74,6%
86,7%
80,6%80,6%
81,5%
73,0%
85,6%
79,3%
Only mother household
member
Only father household
member
Both parents household
member
Neither parents household
member
Total
2010 2015
Children with no parents in the household or staying with the father only were more likely to be
involved in at least one chore in the household

34. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Number of hours per week spent on household chores by age group
The number of hours worked by children increased with their ages, children aged 15-17 years
reported the highest percentage to be working more than 15 hours per week in 2015,
7-10yrs 11-14yrs 15-17yrs Total
15 hrs+ 11-14hrs 4-6 hrs 0-3 hrs
2010
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
7-10yrs 11-14yrs 15-17yrs Total
15 hrs+ 11-14hrs 4-6 hrs 0-3 hrs
2015

35. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children involved in household chores by type of activity and sex
Cleaning or sweeping or going to the shops were household chores which were performed by
most children who were involved in performing household chores.
Girls were more likely to be involved in household chores compared to boys, while boys were
more involved in going to the shops and repairing of household equipment.
60,4%
Cleaning/sweeping
Male Female
67,4%53,3%
60,1%
Going to the shops
Male Female
59,9%60,2%
42,0%
Washing clothes
Male Female
47,9%36,1%
48,0%
Cooking
Male Female
56,4%39,6%
10,3%
Caring for children
Male Female
13,3%7,3%
2,5%
Repairing household
equipment
Male Female
1,5%3,5%
1,2%
other
Male Female
1,1%1,3%

36. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Chores at school

37. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Most children were involved in the sweeping/cleaning of schools.
At school, boys were more likely work in the garden.
Children involved in chores at school by type of activity and sex
29,7 %
Cleaning/sweeping
Male Female
31,6 %27,7 %
0,1%
Other
Male Female
0,1%0,1%
5,8%
Maintenance of
walls, floors etc
Male Female
6,6%4,9%
4,5%
Helping teacher
with marking
Male Female
5,1%3,9%
2,1%
Working in school
garden
Male Female
1,3%2,8%
0,3%
Helping teacher with
his/her house
Male Female
0,4%0,2%

38. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Number of hours per week spent by learners on chores at school
More than 55% of learners spend 1 hour per week on school chores
1%
13%
17%
57%
12%
7 hours or more per week
3 to 6 hrs/week
2 Hours per week
1 Hour per week
Less than 1 hour per week

39. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Child labour

40. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Difference between activities (economic,
school chores and household chores) and
child labour
• Not all work affects children’s development negatively;
activities such as helping around the house and earning pocket
money outside school hours can equip children with skills and
capabilities that would enable them to be productive in their
adult life. (E.g selling sweets at school for pocket money).This
type of work is not regarded as being involved in child labour.
• On the other hand child labour is work that affects children’s
health, personal development and interferes with their
schooling and has a negative impact on children’s well-being

41. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Child Labour Action Programme
Definition: Work by children under 18 which is exploitative,
hazardous or otherwise inappropriate for their age, detrimental to
their schooling, or social, physical, mental, spiritual or moral
development.
Monitoring: To monitor its progress, a set of indicators were
established which could be measured through the use of surveys
such as the SAYP. Any child who is rated as being vulnerable in
respect of any one of the indicators is counted as being in child
labour.

42. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Child labour indicators
• Where a child appeared to be doing work prohibited by
Basic Employment Act
• Where a child appeared to have worked long hours for
their age on all types of work combined
• Where a child was doing ‘market’ that interfered with
schooling
• Where a child appeared to be absent from school or
experienced difficulties at school because of work-
related activities
• Where a child was doing hazardous work

43. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Child labour composite indicators as defined in the
(Child Labour Action Plan)
Child labour composite indicator 2010 2015
Changes
(2010-2015)
Where a child appeared to be
doing work prohibited by Basic
Employment Act
122 000 81 000 -41 000
Where a child appeared to have worked
long hours for their age on all types of
work combined
417 000 349 000 -68 000
Where a child was doing ‘market’ that
interfered with schooling
11 000 1 000 -10 000
Where a child appeared to be absent
from school or experienced difficulties at
school because of work-related activities
35 000 4 000 -31 000
Where a child was
Doing hazardous work
291 000 203 000 -88 000
Overall
(at least one of the options in the
indicators)
779 000 577 000 -202 000
Child labour
declined with an
estimated 202 000
from 779 000 in
2010 to 577 000 in
2015

44. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children aged 7 – 17 years old engaged in child labour by sex
Children aged 16 to17 years were more likely to be
involved in child labour
5,3% of boys were engaged in child labour, slightly higher than girls
at 5,0%
6,7%
5,3%
2010 2015
Male
7,4%
5,0%
2010 2015
Female

45. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children aged 7 – 17 years old engaged in child labour by age group
9,8%
7,4%
4,4%
8,8%
5,2%
2,7%
16-17 yrs 10-15 yrs 7-9 yrs
In 2015 Child labour declined in all age groups, although children aged 16-17
years were more likely to be engaged in child labour
2010 2015

46. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children aged 7 – 17 years old engaged in child labour by race
8,0%
4,0%
2,6%
1,3%
5,9%
0,4%
1,6% 1,6%
Black/African Indian/Asian Colooured White
2010 2015
The highest proportion of children engaged in child labour was recorded among Black African
population. While whites were the only race to experience an increase (0,5 percentage point)
in child labour in 2015

47. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children aged 7 – 17 years old engaged in child labour by province
NC
1,2%
(-1,4)
WC
1,5%
(-1,1)
EC
4,8%
(-10,4)
NW
1,5%
(-1,4)
MP
7,4%
(+2,8)
KZN
10,0%
(-2,9)
FS
1,4%
(-1,5)
LP
7,1%
(+4,3)
GP
1,5%
(-0,2)
The proportion of
children engaged in
child labour in South
Africa declined from
7,0% in 2010 to
5,2%
in 2015
Child labour was higher
among children in
KwaZulu-Natal, although
it declined in 2015.
Mpumalanga and
Limpopo were only
provinces to report
increases in Child labour
in 2015

48. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Exposure to hazardous
working conditions

49. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Hazardous work could include any of the following:
• Work environment which is very hot, dusty or cold;
• Work done in bad light or work done close to or with dangerous
machinery or tools;
• Work which has caused injury or illness or which made illness worse;
• Doing heavy physical work or working for long hours;
• Doing tiring or noisy work;
• Working in an environment where the child experiences fear that a
person may hurt him or her; and
• Working with or near dangerous or poisonous substances or with
dangerous animals.

50. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Exposure to hazardous working conditions
41,8% 41,6%
39,9%
51,5%
34,2% 33,9%
37,0%
53,8%
All economic activities Production for own
consumption only
Market activity only Both market and own
production
2010 2015
Overall exposure of children to at least one hazardous working condition
declined; more so among children who were involved in production for own consumption.
While children who were in both market and own production their exposure to hazardous conditions
increased.

51. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Exposure to hazardous working conditions
Production for
own
consumption
only
Market activity
only
Both market
and own
production
All economic
activities
2010 2015
0,0
10,0
20,0
30,0
40,0
50,0
60,0
70,0
Market activity
only
Production for
own
consumption
only
Both market
and own
production
All economic
activities
Male Female
Boys were more likely to be exposed to at least one hazardous working conditions compared to girls, and
the exposure for boys working in market activity only and both market and own production increased with
more than 9 percentage points.

52. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Children injured while involved in economic activity
Market activity only
The number of children injured while involved in market
activity only decreased from 5 000 incidents in 2010 to
4 000 in 2015
Production for
own consumption only
The number of children injured while involved in
production for own consumption decreased from 81 000
incidents in 2010 to 72 000 in 2015
+
Both market and
own production
The number of children injured while involved in
market activity and own consumption saw an
increase from 5 000 incidents in 2010 to 8 000 in
2015

53. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
Highlights

54. Source: Survey of Activities of Young People, 2015
• Total number of children aged 7-17 years increased with 127 000 between 2010 and 2015
• Black children had higher proportions compared to other races among children with mother
only household member.
• School non-attendance among children is declining which makes the NDP vision 2030 of
universal education possible.
• 24,2% of children were involved in economic activity, and boys were more likely to be
involved in economic activity compared to girls.
• Around 80% of children are involved in at least one household chores
• Child labour declined with 202 000 children in 2015.
• 5,2% of children were involved in child labour in 2015.
• Children aged 16-17 years were more likely to be engaged in child labour.
• Child labour is largely concentrated in rural areas.