Family members' experiences of living with people who consume home-brewed alcohol (spayoni) in Oakley Village, Enhlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province : a social work perspective

Abstract

The study was aimed at exploring the family member‟s experiences of living with people who consume home brewed alcohol (spayoni) in Oakley. Oakley is a village based in Ehlanzeni district, Mpumalanga province. The researcher looked into the financial management, balancing of the work-family nexus and the manner in which people that consume spayoni deal with and conduct themselves in violent situations. A qualitative research approach was used by the researcher through an exploratory design. A total number of nine (9) respondents took part in the study. They were identified by the use of a purposive and snowball sampling method. Furthermore, the researcher used a semi-structured interview to collect data which was analysed by a thematic analysis structure. Data obtained from the study reveals that people that consume spayoni spend less time with family members as they are either out at work or drinking spayoni throughout the day. They leave home very early in the morning and come back late at night. Family roles and relationships are negatively affected by their routines. The people that consume spayoni mostly rely in piece jobs hence they don‟t have stable income. Nonetheless, the little money that they get is spent solely on the purchase of spayoni. They do not prioritise financial contribution towards household needs. The study also identified that people that consume spayoni are generally disrespectful when drunk but refrain from violent situations. In order to combat the challenges faced by the family members, internal and external measures should be put in place. The use of community awareness campaigns is one method which can help in reducing the demand of spayoni in Oakley village. Involvement of monitoring bodies such as the Liquor control boards and the local traditional authorities will assist the community to have regulations governing the supply of home brewed alcohol. Family members should also develop platforms of open communication between each other to avoid misunderstandings and build a more positive family environment.