Research Publications (Arts and Design)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/214

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Automaticity in reading isiZulu
(AOSIS OpenJournals, 2016-06-02) Land, Sandra
Automaticity, or instant recognition of combinations of letters as units of language, is essential for proficient reading in any language. The article explores automaticity amongst competent adult first-language readers of isiZulu, and the factors associated with it or its opposite - active decoding. Whilst the transparent spelling patterns of isiZulu aid learner readers, some of its orthographical features may militate against their gaining automaticity. These features are agglutination; a conjoined writing system; comparatively long, complex words; and a high rate of recurring strings of particular letters. This implies that optimal strategies for teaching reading in orthographically opaque languages such as English should not be assumed to apply to languages with dissimilar orthographies.
Christians’ perceptions of HIV prevention in Benin City, Nigeria : implications for HIV/AIDS communication
(Cogent OA, 2019-08-23) Usadolo, Sam Erevbenagie
Christians’ perceptions of HIV prevention and the extent to which their perceptions influence communication about the different options for HIV prevention in Benin City is examined in order to suggest possible HIV-communication strategies. Qualitative data collected from 85 participants in Benin City, Nigeria, through unstructured interviews are analyzed. Analysis of the qualitative data collected reveals a prevailing belief among Christian leaders and members of their churches that being a Christian insulates one against HIV. The analysis also reveals the characterisation of HIV/AIDS as a disease of sinners or people with loose morals and HIV is regarded as a divine punishment by some of the participants and mostly a problem of homosexuals. The study provides the grounds for developing health communication intervention practices, using one of the key community influencers such as pastors to reach communities in efforts to stem the tide of HIV infections in Africa. The findings identify the views of Christians that can be used in considering HIV communication in the city studied.
Developing an index on male partner involvement for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Zimbabwe
(2021-12) Chibango, Vimbai; Potgieter, Cheryl
Measuring male partner involvement (MPI) for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV remains a challenge as there is no universal instrument to measure this concept. The study underpinned by the Gender and Development theory (GAD), utilised a mixed method design aimed at developing the first index for measuring MPI in PMTCT in Zimbabwe. Eight focus group discussions with men and women from diverse community groups were conducted. In addition, seven key informant interviews were conducted with managers from institutions providing PMTCT services. A ten-item tool was administered to a separate 331 respondents. Using factor analysis, seven items were extracted from a list of ten binary questions which described various activities linked to MPI in PMTCT programmes. The index, which is seen as a work in progress has strength in its inclusion of items that addressed antenatal and postnatal activities, which are crucial for the prevention of paediatric HIV.
An exploration of the progression policy and its effects on learner achievement in KwaZulu-Natal
(Eurasian Publications, 2021-08-02) Nkosi, Thandi Priscillia; Adebayo, Rufus Olufemi
This article examines the Progression Policy and its effects on learner achievement in the Further Education and Training Phase (Grades 10 to 12) amongst five underperforming public secondary schools in Pinetown. Since the adoption of the Progression Policy, the pass rate noticeable declined between 2014 and 2016. Thus, the Progression Policy is used in this study as an analytical framework, whilst the qualitative research design was used to gather data. The faceto-face semi-structured interviews, as well as focus group discussions with educators and principals, served as data collection methods. This study emphasized challenges attributed to the implementation of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement and the Progression Policy in the Pinetown District. The study further revealed that the South African education system, from the Foundation Phase level all the way up, is plagued by serious challenges. The identified challenges include a lack of parental support, learner absenteeism, learner indiscipline, learner demotivation, resource allocation, and teacher-learner ratios. The results also revealed that the socioeconomic environment contributes to a dysfunctional condition in schools, which has a negative influence on the teaching and learning experience amongst educators and learners. Thus, the study proposes the reconfiguration of the Progression Policy alongside practicable and relatable recommendations inconsonance to study.
If bronze, why not wood? a case for the repatriation of the Yoruba Ere Ibeji
(Durban University of Technology, 2022) Adewumi, Kehinde Christopher
In light of the current trend of repatriation of illegally acquired African art which are scattered all over galleries and museums in Europe and the Americas, consideration should also be given to the Ere Ibeji of the Yoruba. These figures are not mere objects of curiosity for Western fascination, but they are strongly tied to the birth and death of twins in Yoruba culture. This paper seeks to revisit this tradition based on literature, in line with its resultant art forms in a bid to contribute to the gamut of existing knowledge on the Yoruba twin tradition, as well as to (re)generate contemporary understanding(s) of the subject matter. Perhaps, this will aid the understanding of the significance of Ere Ibeji to the Yoruba; thereby contributing to the call for their return. The paper recommends that local preparation for the return of these artefacts should include training and re-training of the museum custodians of the cultural objects, construction, and renovation of structures to house the artefacts, and the reinforcement of legal frameworks to protect the cultural objects from illegal displacement. The paper concludes with a note that the return of looted artefacts should not begin and end with the bronzes of Benin and Ife alone, these wooden effigies from the western part of Nigeria also matter.
The modus operandi of perpetrators for credit card fraud in the Vaal Region, South Africa
(Informa UK Limited, 2021-01-01) Maluleke, Witness; Motseki, Moses Morero; Mokwena, Rakgetse John; Dlamini, Siyanda
Card payments in South Africa continue to be a predominant part of the National Payments System in an evolving payments ecosystem. Due to the growing volume of electronic payments, the monetary strain of credit card fraud is turning into a substantial challenge for financial institutions and service providers, thus forcing them to continuously improve their fraud detection systems. This article attempts to explain the Modus Operandi (MO) of perpetrators of credit card fraud in the Vaal Region in South Africa. The article begins with an examination of the extent of the challenge and response by the relevant stakeholders, especially the Criminal Justice System (CJS). This study was carried out utilising a qualitative research approach with a convenience, purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Thirtynine (39) interviews were conducted to solicit the views of the participants and police investigators from Vanderbijlpark, Sebokeng, Sharpeville and Vereeniging police stations, members of the community, and victims of credit card fraud were interviewed. These interviews were analysed according to the phenomenological approach, aided with the inductive Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) to identify the participants’ responses and themes. The findings indicated that the extent of credit card fraud in Vaal region is reaching alarming rates. Based on the findings, the authors provided recommendations such as: police investigators being taken for regular workshops and training on how to investigate sophisticated methods used by perpetrators such as technology, awareness in the society about credit card fraud should be prioritised and enhanced.
Names of sport stadiums in South Africa : location, sponsors and politics
(NISC (Pty) Ltd, 2018) Neethling, Bertie
South Africa is a competitive sporting nation. Many South African individuals as well as team efforts have had great success over many years competing at home as well as all across the world. There are many sport varieties. Many of the sports, like rugby, soccer and cricket, are team sports, with teams competing against one another in sport stadiums. These are toponyms and they all carry names. The acquisition of a name usually comes about shortly after the inauguration of the playing stadium. Initially the location, i.e. where it is situated, plays a major role, but later on the name of an individual is often commemorated whether deceased or still alive at the time. Such an individual usually had a significant role to play in promoting the particular type of sport he supported (it is usually a male) or is acknowledged for the political role he played in the country. Sponsors have also emerged, adding their names to existing stadium names. Over the years as political and economic circumstances change, many cases were argued in favour of a name change and they were effected. It is an ongoing process. The purpose of this contribution is to outline the context and factors that contributed to a sporting stadium acquiring a name, and then changing its name due to economic or political reasons.
A reflection on ethical and methodological challenges of using separate interviews with adolescent-older carer dyads in rural South Africa.
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2019-07-08) Gumede, Dumile; Ngwenya, Nothando B.; Namukwaya, Stella; Bernays, Sarah; Seeley, Janet
This article discusses our reflections on ethical and methodological challenges when conducting separate interviews with individuals in dyads in the uMkhanyakude district, South Africa. Our work is embedded in an ethnographic study exploring care relationships between adolescents and their older carers in the context of a large-donor funded HIV programme. We use these reflections to discuss some of the challenges and present possible management strategies that may be adopted in conducting dyadic health research in resource-poor settings.
Methods
Drawing from the relational agency, three rounds of separate interviews and participant observation were undertaken with dyads of adolescents aged between 13 and 19 and their older carers aged 50+ from October 2017 to September 2018. A reflexive journal was kept to record the interviewer's experiences of the whole research process. We identified methodological and ethical challenges from these data during the thematic analysis.
Results
A total of 36 separate interviews were conducted with six pairs of adolescent-older carer dyads (n = 12 participants). Five themes emerged: recruitment of dyads, consenting dyads, confidentiality, conducting separate interviews with adolescents and older carers, and interviewer-dyad interaction. We also illustrated how we dealt with these challenges.
Conclusions
Results from this study can guide the recruitment, consenting and collecting data for health studies that employ a similar form of enquiry in LMICs. However, ethical and methodological challenges should be recognised as features of the relationships between cross-generation dyads rather than weaknesses of the method.
Social dynamics of suicide in South Africa : a theoretical perspective
(AJPHERD, 2012-09) Netshiombo, Kenneth; Mashamba, Tshilidzi
Suicide rates in South Africa are on the increase, particularly amongst the youth. What are the complexities of modern life which are driving the increase? The suicidal act of self-destruction signals society’s failure to provide good support systems and meaningful psycho-social well-being for its members. With its impressive Reconstruction and Developmental Programme (RDP), South Africa has not yet succeeded in extending the equivalent reconstruction of people’s minds and thought processes. In some instances the art of negotiating one’s existence on a daily basis is compromised by hostile socio-economic and political realities. The collective consciousness that once glued society has lost its bonding effect. Traditional systems of social support need to be revisited. The aim of this study is therefore to give a theoretical view of social dynamics of suicide in South Africa.
Societal factors impacting young Black men in South Africa
(Emerald, 2023) Ntsanwisi, Samuel
Purpose: This study employs the social ecology model to comprehensively explore the complex challenges young Black men face in South Africa and aims to highlight the importance of collaboration in addressing these multifaceted issues.Design/methodology/approachA multidisciplinary approach combines insights from sociology, education and the health literature with regard to government reports and academic data, and provides a holistic analysis of challenges faced by young Black men. Furthermore, it emphasises formal and informal learning, social and environmental influences and health disparities.FindingsYoung Black men in South Africa encounter complex challenges throughout their developmental journey, including limited family support, educational barriers, financial constraints, societal expectations and health disparities. Therefore, collaboration among stakeholders is essential for creating an equitable and inclusive environment that supports their development.Originality/valueThis research provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by young Black men in South Africa by emphasising the interconnectedness of informal education, economic empowerment and healthcare. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies, cultural influences and international comparisons, informing evidence-based interventions for a more equitable society.

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