Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24)
Launch of Quality of Life 7 (2023/24)
The Quality of Life 7 (2023/24), themed as the Pulse of the Province, was launched on 22 October during an in-person and online event. An overview of key findings from QoL 7 (2023/24) was be presented by Rashid Seedat (Executive Director) and Graeme Gotz (Research Director), followed by a panel discussion that included the Honourable Premier of Gauteng Mr. Panyaza Lesufi, Ms Nosipho Hlatswayo, and Prof Edgar Pieterse.
The QoL 7 respondents generously opened their homes to fieldworkers and shared their time, thoughts, beliefs, concerns, and insights into their lives. They have entrusted us with deeply personal information to support efforts to improve the lives of people throughout the province.
Find out more about the survey results here.
QoL 7 (2023/24) Launch Presentation and Press release
Download the Launch Presentation here.
Read the official Press Release here.
Re-live the launch event and the panel discussion here.
QoL 7 (2023/24) Launch Data Briefs
GCRO Staff (2024) Overview: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 12, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/RCVR7700
Mushongera, D., Ndagurwa, P., Miles-Timotheus, S. and Hamann, C. (2024). Poverty and inequality: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 13, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/HBXF9126
Hamann, C. (2024). Basic Services: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 14, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/MIJQ3605
Götz, G. and Seedat, R. (2024). Government Performance and Satisfaction with Government: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 15, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/IWNL6856
Miles-Timotheus, S. and Mkhize, S.P. (2024). Healthcare access, satisfaction and depression risk: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 16, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/YUJT3888
Els, F., Naidoo, N. and Maree, G. (2024). COVID and vaccine hesitancy: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 17, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/PEUC6950
Mkhize, S.P., and Booysen, F. (2024). Experiences of violence, crime and safety: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 18, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/XRBF4904
Tsoriyo, W., Mosiane, N., Mkhize, S.P. and Khanyile, S. (2024). Community and social attitudes: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 19, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/JNDF6293
Modiba, M., Hassen, E-K, Labuschagne, H., Masinga, K., Radebe, M., Taldi, M., Erasmus, L., Nemavunde, M., Fani, N., Masango, B. and Machika, C. (2024). Inclusive Economies: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 20, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/BNCK6336
Mkhize, T. and Murahwa, B. (2024). Commuting and transport: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 21, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/CUGB2041
Khanyile, S., Maree, G. and Mahamuza, P. (2024). Environment, extreme events and disasters: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 22, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/DZYO7741
Maree, G. (2024). Hunger and food security: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 23, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/EDDD5612
Ballard, R., Hamann, C., Khanyile, S., Modiba, M., Mkhize, T. and Naidoo, Y. (2024). Migration and moving home: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 24, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/OEOU3518
Naidoo, Y., Mahamuza, P. and Naidoo, L. (2024). Quality of life and wellbeing: Findings from the GCRO's Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24). GCRO Data Brief 25, October 2024 https://doi.org/10.36634/PJCA9220
Generate your own results
The full dataset is available for download and use on the UCT DataFirst repository.
In the media
Bega, S. (2024). Over half of Gauteng residents fear water shortages as quality of life hits record low. Mail & Guardian. 22 October 2024.
Gotz, G. (2024). Interview on eNCA. 23 October 2024.
Haffajee, F. (2024). More than half of Gauteng people say South Africa is a failed state. Daily Maverick. 22 October 2024.
Hamann, C., Arnold, S. and Seedat, R. (2024). Quality of life continues to slide in South Africa’s key economic province, Gauteng – new survey The Conversation Africa. 23 October 2024.
Maree, G. (2024). Interview on Newzroom Afrika. 22 October 2024.
Masweneng, K. (2024). Quality of life in Gauteng at all-time low. Times Live. 22 October 2024.
Westerdale, J. (2024). Gauteng in state of ‘polycrisis’: 81% dissatisfied with government and 50% on grants. The Citizen. 22 October 2024.
Background to the Quality of Life Survey
The Quality of Life (QoL) survey, collected every two years, has become the GCRO’s flagship project. The survey measures the quality of life, socio-economic circumstances, perceptions of service delivery, psycho-social attitudes, value-base and other characteristics of residents in the Gauteng City-Region (GCR).
Since inception in 2009, the QoL survey has developed into one of the largest social surveys in South Africa and provides spatially fine-grained insights into the lives of the GCR residents. It has been recognised for providing high quality data at extremely low levels of geography. Furthermore, it represents an invaluable resource for provincial and local government in the province, as well as for numerous academic and non-profit research projects.
QoL survey data can be analysed at the provincial, municipal and ward levels, which provides particular value given the diverse population and extremely high levels of inequality in the GCR. Given the commitment of South Africa’s post-apartheid government to improving standards of living in the country, through the provision of basic services, QoL provides great value as a tracking tool and a rich information resource for policy makers and the public wanting to observe where progress has been made and where gaps remain.
The implementation of the GCRO’s QoL Survey, with six iterations to date, is an enormous undertaking. The preparations for the launch of the 7th survey iteration started in late 2021. Key preparatory activities included budgeting, tender advertisement and adjudication, determining project time frames, high-level stakeholder engagement, and questionnaire development which included the exploration of potential thematic focus areas for QoL 7.
Methodological feasibility study
As part of the preparations for the initial step to undertaking QoL 7, the GCRO conducted a feasibility study from late 2021 to early 2022. The study employed mixed methods to explore potential strategies to reduce the difficulty and cost of implementing a QoL survey. It involved secondary analysis of QoL 6 survey implementation metadata for an enhanced understanding of survey yield in different areas as well as the effectiveness of various approaches to negotiating access. More than 20 key informant interviews (KIIs) with gatekeepers, community and security groups, and ward councillors were conducted to better understand their preferences and experiences with providing access for survey teams.
Informed by the secondary analysis and KIIs, a small, in-field pilot of various modes of recruitment and interviews was conducted. The pilot study tested the feasibility of various modified in-person recruitment processes, as well as telephonic recruitment. Participants were offered the opportunity to complete the interview in a range of different ways - in person with an interviewer, on their own using a study tablet, on their own on a web interface, over the phone, or via a zoom interview.
The feasibility study provided valuable lessons to support the process of securing access and community buy-in for survey implementation in challenging areas. Results suggest that the QoL survey will need to continue operating on a largely in-person basis, although there is some evidence that supports the use of telephonic recruitment and interviews in areas where physical access challenges are particularly severe. The feasibility study report is available for download here.
Questionnaire
GCRO conducted a consultative process to develop the questionnaire for the QoL 7 survey. This involved a highly productive engagement with GCRO staff and key partners, including the reduction of the questionnaire's length, the submission of content proposals for new questions, a staff-wide workshop to deliberate on new content, and two pilot sessions to test new questions and the overall questionnaire.
Throughout this comprehensive process, various modules were integrated into the QoL 7 questionnaire. These modules include Administrative, Demographics, Core services, Environment/Sustainability, Governance, Health, Social mobility, Economic, Social cohesion, Community attitudes, Transport, Experiences of violence, Life satisfaction, Crime and Safety, and Migration. The careful development of QoL questionnaires ensures that they accurately capture the data that provides insights into residents’ quality of life in Gauteng.
Download the questionnaire here.
Tender and appointment of service provider
The GCRO, through Wits Procurement, undertook a very rigorous selection process to appoint a service provider to conduct the QoL 7 survey. During this thorough evaluation, the GCRO initially considered over 10 bidders, and ultimately shortlisted only six for the subsequent assessment. In this selection procedure, the GCRO employed a standardised yet exhaustive rubric, which resulted in the appointment of Geospace International, who met all the specified requirements. GeoSpace International is a Pretoria-based organisation with extensive local and international experience in conducting household-based interviews both in-person and telephonically.
Training and pilot
In late August 2023, GeoSpace International, in collaboration with GCRO, conducted one-week training sessions for fieldworkers to prepare them for the data collection of the QoL 7 survey. This training provided fieldworkers with the necessary skills required for various tasks related to data collection, including sample point selection for interviews, a comprehensive understanding of each question in the questionnaire, sensitivity towards respondents, and the entire interview process.
GeoSpace International’s project manager trains fieldworkers for QoL 7 survey. Photo by GeoSpace International
Following training, GeoSpace International conducted a pilot phase to assess whether fieldworkers were adequately trained and prepared to commence full-scale data collection. The thorough fieldworker training and pilot phase equipped fieldworkers with the necessary skills to conduct interviews effectively and professionally. Together, these preparatory processes laid a strong foundation for the fieldwork, ensuring the collection of high-quality data.
Fieldwork
The fieldwork for QoL 7 Survey began on 11 September 2023 and was completed 19 April 2024. The GCRO, through GeoSpace International's fieldwork capacity, conducted 13 795 successful and QA-approved interviews with randomly selected adult respondents (18+ years) at their homes.
Fieldworkers prepare for QoL 7 Survey data collection on 11 September 2023. Photo by GeoSpace International
Technical documentation
Quality of Life 7 Survey (2023/24) Questionnaire.
Mkhize, SP., Ndagurwa, P., & Miles-Timotheus, S. (2024). Quality of Life 7 (2023/24): Data Report. Johannesburg: Gauteng City-Region Observatory.
De Fortier, E. & Loots, H. (2024). Quality of Life 7 Survey (2020/21): Fieldwork Report. Johannesburg: Gauteng City-Region Observatory
Naidoo, L., Hamann, C., & Naidoo, Y. (2024). Quality of Life 7 (2023/24): Sampling Report. Johannesburg: Gauteng City-Region Observatory.
Neethling, A. (2024). Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24): Weighting Report. Johannesburg: Gauteng City-Region Observatory.
Neethling, A. (2024). GCRO Quality of Life Survey: Guide to weighted analysis. Johannesburg: Gauteng City-Region Observatory.
Naidoo, Y., & de Kadt, J. (2024). Quality of Life Survey 7 (2023/24): Quality of Life Index methodology. Johannesburg: Gauteng City-Region Observatory.
Past Quality of Life surveys
All Quality of Life survey data is made freely available under a CC BY 4.0 license. The datasets can be accessed via the DataFirst service based at UCT, or on request from the GCRO.
Overview of the Quality of Life Survey
Quality of Life 10 year review
Quality of Life Survey 6 (2020/21)
Quality of Life Survey IV (2015/16)
Quality of Life Survey III (2013/14)
Quality of Life Survey II (2011)
Quality of life Survey I (2009)
Last updated: 21 October 2024.