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Dynamism in Rural Households’ Income Sources, Food Preference, Daily Activities and Investment Strategies: Insights from Ndabakazi Villages in Butterworth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

ABSTRACT Understanding dynamics within rural households’ socio-economic behaviour is a prerequisite for effective design of intervention programmes targeting rural communities. This article seeks to understand how rural households’ lifestyles and livelihood strategies have changed over time regarding four key factors: income sources, food preferences, daily activities and investment strategies. A case study of Ndabakazi—a cluster of villages in Butterworth—is explored using a representative sample of 20 households in each village, drawn randomly from the four selected villages of the study. A questionnaire administered face-to-face using a local language was supplemented with focus group discussions. To achieve the study objectives, we took a retrospective and circumspective approach combined with thematic and descriptive analyses. The results show a change in rural households’ lifestyles, and this change can be linked to the rural development policies. First, we observed a change in income sources confirming the existing literature. Second, regarding food preference, traditional food is still preferred by household heads, although it is not consumed much. Due to improved basic services, daily activities have changed, implying less drudgery for women and children. We also observed a change in investment strategies away from farming to building decent homesteads and buying luxury furniture. Besides the change in income sources, the other key factors discussed in this article have received less attention in the literature, so this article extends the literature in this respect. Finally, the herein identified changes have implications for initiatives concerned with improving rural sociological aspects.