African family life in South Africa’s post-apartheid context is shaped by the socio-political history
of the country. Despite various attempts to address the remnants of poverty, unequal distribution of
resources and the lack of livelihood services still exist. African families from resource poor areas of
townships in South Africa are still faced with poverty and deprivation. Black African women, often
with minimum schooling, suffer the most from these scourges. This article aims to explore the everyday
life narratives of precarity at various levels and the manner in which women from Mangaung
Township in Bloemfontein cope with this. They talk about the fragile relationships within the family,
about the gendered dynamics of the household, and about the importance of support networks