Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)

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Assessing successful land claims and the pursuit of co-management in protected areas : a case of Tala Private Game Reserve
(2017-08) Qwatekana, Zikho; Sibiya, Nozipho P.; Mnguni, Mzobanzi Erasmus
The government of South Africa has justifiable aims to address the injustices of the past, by calling on people who were dispossessed of their land rights through racially discriminatory laws since June 1913 to reclaim their land. Consequently, the Land Claims Commission has reported 150 claims in protected areas of South Africa. This has led to an agreement between the Ministers of Environmental Affairs and Land Affairs to facilitate a national approach for settlement of all claims within protected areas: co-management. This study sought to explore land claims in South Africa’s protected areas by assessing the co-management model used by the government to resolve these claims. This qualitative study was conducted to assess the appropriateness of co-management as the only strategy for resolving land claims within protected areas. The research was guided by four research objectives: (1) To explore the tourism potential of game reserves to derive economic benefits for claimant communities; (2) To determine community attitudes towards co-management agreements employed at reserves; (3) To ascertain the level of co-operation amongst stakeholders to ensure that the co-management agreements employed at reserves remains successful; (4) To establish the extent to which co-management agreements address and protect community land rights. The study employed a case-study approach, using a resolved land Claim at Tala Private Game Reserve. The game reserve is owned by the Nkumbuleni Community Trust, which represents the 211household removed from this land in the 1970s. Following the success of their claim in 2011 a co-management agreement was signed giving the community 70 percent ownership of the game reserve.A purposive sample was selected from the claimant community and a saturation sample from the game reserve’s management. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to provide in-depth understanding of the phenomenon under study. The findings reflect that co-management may be a logical approach to involving local communities in protected area management. It remains inconsistent and flawed, however, as a model to address land claims through reconciling the needs of conservation for tourism with land rights. This study argued that co- management may be a logical approach to involving the Nkumbuleni community in the administration of the game reserve. Recommendations arising from the study include but are not limited to the following: • Processes aimed at redressing past injustice in disputes over conservation land, regardless of the approach adopted, must bring with them a strong commitment to building institutional and leadership capacities within communities, and pay serious attention to the ways in which equity and social justice can be fostered after the settlement of a land claim. • Government must recognize that sufficient time and resources are fundamental to the success of co-management projects, and ensure that commitment to and funding for such projects are in place, including adequate support structures and training facilities; • Where the feasibility of the settlement option chosen is in doubt, there should be an option for a review of this option after a stipulated period; • Government must support all available settlement options, since in some cases alternatives, like lease-back or financial compensation, could provide better alternatives for communities; and • The community must be advised that co-management does not provide immediate benefits but involves risk-taking and benefit-sharing for all parties involved.
Assessing the effectiveness of housing reconstruction and rehabilitation measures for disaster affected communities in KZN (uThukela District Municipality)
(2021) Phungula, Kwethemba Innocent; Reddy, Maliga
South Africa is experiencing the realities of climate change with the increasing intensity of disasters causing devastating impact to infrastructure, houses, roads and schools. Post disaster housing rehabilitation and reconstruction is one of the most challenging tasks confronting decision makers and disaster management practitioners in disaster affected areas and remains an under studied area. This triggered the interest of the researcher to understand the impact of the phenomenon and how communities recover from disasters. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of housing reconstruction and rehabilitation measures for disaster affected communities in KZN. The location of the study was Tholeni area in Alfred Duma Local Municipality, within uThukela District Municipality, because this area is highly vulnerable to natural hazards. This study used the philosophical worldview of pragmatism; a mixed research approach to solicit views, experiences and perspectives of affected communities, Disaster Management Practitioners and officials from Department of Human Settlements was used. Data was obtained through questionnaires and interviews. In order to achieve this, purposive sampling method was used as it helped to purposely select disaster management practitioners and officials from the Department of Human Settlements who could provide sufficient data for the purposes of completing the study. Descriptive statistical and content analysis was conducted from the analysis of emergent data. The qualitative results were triangulated to further test validity of empirical results. Data collected was computed by means of excel spread sheets and results were presented in the form of bar graphs, tables with descriptive analysis. The findings of the study showed that the affected communities were not satisfied with housing assistance post-disaster incidents. The findings sited that assistance takes longer and in some instance does not reach all affected communities. The other finding from affected communities was that government does not provide feedback to give an update of post disaster interventions. Findings from disaster management practitioners highlighted capacity constraints, poor planning, inadequate budget, and lack of close monitoring, which have a direct effect on delivery of houses post-disaster incidents. Findings from officials from the Department of Human Settlements sited long processes of verification of damages by National Disaster Management Centre and delays with approvals of disaster funding allocation by National Treasury which affects effective delivery of post-disaster housing. The other finding was the issue of inadequate internal budget and low level of preparedness by the Department of Human Settlements. The shortcomings were evident, including the existence of plans and policies exclusive of post-disaster housing information and linked to poor monitoring and coordination of projects by the Department of Human Settlements. The study proposed a guiding framework for post-disaster housing rehabilitation and reconstruction and also offered a number of recommendations that can assist the Department of Human Settlements and Municipalities to enhance disaster response and recovery. This includes recommendations to develop or review post-disaster housing policy in order to address some of the challenges which emerged from the study. The Department of Human Settlements, working with municipalities, should prioritise the land tenure security for affected communities in order to fast track post-disaster housing interventions.
The assessment of disaster risk reduction strategies in dairy supply chains in Zimbabwe
(2017) Chari, Felix; Ngcamu, Bethuel Sibongiseni
Disasters are on the increase globally with devastating effects. The devastation caused by these disasters in various countries highlights the need for increased commitment and investment, by government and various stakeholders, in disaster risk reduction. This study investigated disaster risk reduction strategies in Zimbabwe’s dairy supply chains. The study was initiated on the premise that Zimbabwe is at high risk and vulnerable to natural and man-made hazards. The study is set in the backdrop of declining output across all agricultural sectors evident particularly in the dairy farming sector that has seen inadequate supply of raw milk and dairy products by local producers in Zimbabwe. This study therefore sought to assess the collaborative strategies by government, dairy organisations and dairy supply chain stakeholders to reduce disaster risks in the dairy industry. The study employed a mixed-method approach (qualitative and quantitative) to investigate collaborative disaster risk reduction strategies used by dairy supply chain stakeholders to avoid supply chain disruptions. The study used a sample size of 92 dairy farmers, from major milk producing regions of Zimbabwe, for the questionnaire. The Cronbach alpha test for reliability showed a reliable questionnaire. Furthermore, the study used information from key informants, 30 retailers and 20 dairy officers for one-on-one interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using STATA (version 13). OLS regression analysis was done and results were compared with those of the Tobit models as a test for robustness of the results. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis derived from observations and interviews and descriptive statistics presented in tables and bar charts. Notable in the literature reviewed is lack of coordination amongst stakeholders in strategies to reduce disaster risks in dairy supply chains in Zimbabwe. This study adopted a collaborative proactive framework and tested it as a strategy to reduce disaster risks in dairy supply chains. The study gives four major findings. Firstly, dairy supply chains in Zimbabwe were exposed to a number of risks which are: international competition, competition from local giants, financial risks, political risks, technological risks, environmental risks and production risks. Secondly, findings from regression analysis indicated that an overall index of disaster risks significantly influenced job losses, food security, milk productivity and growth of ventures in dairy businesses. Thirdly, there were isolated cases of planned coordination by stakeholders in the industry to reduce the negative effects of disasters across the supply chain. There was collaboration among dairy farmers, processors, NGOs, and government departments of agriculture and environment. Fourthly, an index of collaborative strategies regressed against dependent variables of variables of supply chain cost, lead time milk sales, and variety and quality of milk demonstrated that collaborative strategies in dairy supply chain significantly influenced supply chain costs and variety and quality of milk and milk products. It is expected that the study will assist government in the formulation of public policies for the dairy sector leading to improved access to high quality raw milk and milk products for consumers thus resulting in improved nutrition and food security for the people of Zimbabwe. Policy recommendations highlight that instead of the current maximum of the 5 year lease given to white commercial farmers, the government should consider issuing out long term leases in order to protect long-term investment in dairy projects. Government should, therefore, create an enabling environment for stakeholder partnerships in the dairy sector.
Building peace through land access and food security in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda
(2017) Turyamureeba, Robert; Kaye, Sylvia; Harris, Geoffrey Thomas
This study was conducted between November 2015 and March 2016 in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, one of the oldest and largest refugee settlements in Africa. The objectives of the study were to determine the forms and causes of land conflicts in the refugee settlement; to establish the relationship between land conflicts and food security in the Settlement; to identify the strategies refugees adopt to cope with land shortage and food insecurity problems in the Settlement; to establish the residents’ perceptions of the effectiveness of interventions aimed at mitigating land conflicts and enhancing food security in the Settlement and its host communities. Interest in the study arose out of the reported persistence of food insecurity and land conflicts despite efforts to ensure food security and restore peace and security in the refugee settlement and the host communities. The study used exploratory, analytical and descriptive research designs to obtain qualitative primary data. Secondary data was obtained through documentary review. Primary data was collected using interviews, focus group discussion and observation. The study found that land conflicts involve the destruction of crops, livestock and even human lives and they sometimes culminate in costly legal battles in courts of law. They pit the Settlement Commandant against Ugandans in the Settlement, pastoralists against cultivators, pastoralists against pastoralists, cultivators against cultivators, refugees against Ugandans and refugees against refugees. The conflicts also oppose host communities against refugees, conservationists against encroachers on protected land and Ugandans in the Settlement against the government. The study also found the causes to be land-grabbing and fraudulent acquisition of, or claims on, land by unscrupulous people, encroachment on others’ land and protected land, high population growth, the presence of vacant land in the Settlement, competition over increasingly scarce land by cultivators and pastoralists, ambiguous settlement boundaries, contested land ownership, jealousy and antipathy. The study further established that there is a strong positive relationship between land conflicts and food insecurity. Violent land conflicts lead to the maiming and death of farmers, destruction of crops and livestock and deterrence of potential agricultural investors from investing in agriculture, thus lowering food production and increasing food insecurity. Land conflicts also render disputed land idle and therefore unproductive, leading to reduced food production; and, within families, land conflicts lead to land fragmentation which leads to reduced food production and increased food scarcity. Regarding refugee coping mechanisms, the study found that refugees in Nakivale resorted to both positive and negative coping mechanisms. Positive coping mechanisms include establishing small businesses, rural-urban migration, farming, education and resettlement, intermarriage, paid employment, and psychosocial support. Others were: borrowing money, casual labour, networking, remittances, spirituality and religion. Negative mechanisms include: cheating the system and self-integration, prostitution, early marriage, drug abuse, theft and robbery. The study also found that interventions in land conflicts in the Settlement were unsuccessful due to corruption and limited involvement of the beneficiaries. The challenges of implementing refugee policy in the Settlement were identified as limited funding, inadequate coordination and consultation between the district and settlement authorities, xenophobia and an increasing refugee population with insatiable demands. The study recommends the following: demarcation of the boundaries of the Settlement; relocation of some refugees to other settlements in the country; housing scheme for both refugees and nationals in the Settlement to enable everyone to live decently; affordable loans for both refugees and Nationals in the Settlement; introduction of plot numbers to resolve land conflicts among refugees; a structural plan for the Settlement; mechanization of agriculture in the Settlement and increased provision of farming inputs, such as fertilisers to all farmers in the Settlement; coordinated and participatory planning between settlement and district authorities, involving refugees and Nationals.
Child support grant and poverty alleviation in Jika Joe informal settlement
(2023-04) Xaba, Ntombizonke Maureen; Fagbadebo, Omololu M.
Evidence found in the literature suggests that Child Support Grant is among the most important programmes to alleviate poverty in South Africa. Findings from previous studies suggest that the Child Support Grant is an important tool of social protection in South Africa, reaching over 17 million South African children each month. However, the impact and extent of its effectiveness thereof has not been adequately explored and are still debated. Previous studies tended to focus more on the Child Support Grant as a tool to provide for the basic need of the child rather than its impact on both the beneficiary and the child. This research examined the Child Support Grant and poverty alleviation at Jika Joe Informal Settlement. The objectives of this study were to examine the development programmes other than cash transfer designed for the Child Support Grant beneficiaries at Jika Joe informal settlement, to identify the challenges that hinder the realisation of the government’s objectives in poverty alleviation at Jika Joe informal settlement and to examine the effectiveness of the poverty alleviation component of Child Support Grant. Using a qualitative method approach, this study collected data from South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) management at Pietermaritzburg Local Office, also known as “Mbilakhahlela” and Jika Joe Informal settlement residents, in which the said SASSA office provides Social Grants to qualifying residents. This study is conceptualized within the framework of understanding poverty, high unemployment rate, inadequate infrastructure, zero hunger and corruption from the premise that poverty remains largely a challenge unmet! The study conducted an in-depth interview with the research participants to gain a better understanding of Child Support Grant more specifically the obstacles that might hamper the government’s objectives in alleviating poverty. The study also examined whether there are developmental programs provided by the Government to demonstrate positive marks. The focus of the study was to examine the contribution of the Child Support Grant to poverty alleviation at the Jika Joe Informal Settlement. The analysis of data showed that Jika Joe residents perceive the Child Support Grant as an effective tool to provide for the basic needs of the child. This is, however, compromised by the fact that the very same grant is commonly shared by the entire family in the area. Another reported problem was the lack of beneficiary empowerment as manifested in general skills shortage which disadvantaged Jika Joe residents from competitively participating in the job market. The conclusions of the study were based on the findings. Some of the findings revealed the effectiveness of the Child Support Grant, even though this is vitiated by the prevalence of the utilisation of the grant by entire households. The findings also revealed that the government does have development programmes, but the question of whether they are relevant to the community of Jika Joe Informal Settlement remains indeterminate. The study also points to the need for the Government to seriously consider the introduction of the Basic Income Grant; the relocation of the Jika Joe residents to more decent housing like the newly built flats that they had been promised.
Development of an extension framework for smallholder farming in the Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa
(2018-12) Sebopetsa, Mohale Peter; Bayat, Mohamed Saheed
ABSTRACT Despite the role of extension being that of improving farming efficiency, public sector extension services is perceived to be ineffective and inadequate in improving sustainable smallholder farming. Several attempts have been made to improve the agricultural extension sector of the South African economy. However, there is still a growing concern for provision of effective and sustainable agricultural extension services to the majority of resource poor farmers who are involved in the bulk of agricultural production. The importance of the agricultural extension system therefore, remains that of a support service to enhance the ability of farming communities to respond to historic challenges and to exploit new opportunities. The aim of this study was to formulate an extension framework for smallholder farming in the Western Cape Province. The objectives of the study were to determine the effectiveness of government extension services, to assess the factors that could influence the linkages between smallholder farmers and extension services, to examine factors that could be perceived by public extension officers as challenges in smallholder farming, to evaluate the usefulness of new innovations introduced through the extension service department and to develop a framework for extension service delivery in the Western Cape in order to improve the effectiveness of this service. The study used an explanatory research design which involves both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The study consisted of a randomly selected sample size of 213 smallholder farmers and the sampling technique was non-probability sampling such as typical case purposive sampling. The study revealed through descriptive analysis that the gender representation in the sample was more skewed towards the female (68.08%) majority. The age difference within the sample was also skewed towards youth and economically active smallholder farmers with the majority of respondents being illiterate and semi-illiterate in their educational profiles. Hence, 83.57% of these farmers benefited from short learning government agricultural training. Furthermore, the study revealed that in a less complex environment, sufficient agricultural advice, expert linkage and usage of video have significant impact on the effectiveness of government extension services with regards to smallholder farmers. In a more complex situation the evidence suggests that an increase in expert linkages and usage of videos are the most influential factors to drive the effectiveness of government extension services in these types of farmers. In addition, the findings indicate that at lower levels of educational achievement both male and female smallholder farmers view expert linkages as the most effective factor that could improve government extension service followed by the provision of sufficient agricultural advice and usage of video. The rankings amongst both male and female educated smallholder farmers suggest that the usage of video and expert linkage are the most effective instrument that could improve government extension services. The results further indicate that contacts, capacity building and demonstration have higher impact on the linkages between smallholder farmers and extension officers when network, communication and coordination were held constant. These imply that in an ideal situation, contacts, capacity building and demonstration have a higher degree of impact in determining the incremental and sustainable linkages for these stakeholders. However, poorly educated male smallholder farmers suggest that demonstration was more important in linking them with extension service whilst the female counterparts think that frequency of contacts was the most likely factor that could have linked them to this service. Higher educated smallholder farmers suggested that capacity building and demonstration were the most likely factors that could link them to extension services regardless of their gender differences. The results for the factors that could determine challenges and perceptions of extension services revealed that lack of financial access could significantly reduce the likelihood of extension services to be perceived positively whilst technology access was viewed to be significant in increasing the likelihood of extension services to be perceived as positive. Furthermore, access to technology is viewed by both male and female smallholder farmers as the key challenge to the image of the public extension officers with the lack of finance being regarded as the most challenge for male who have TVET and degree qualifications. The findings regarding the effectiveness of government extension point out that the extension service in Western Cape Province still require significant and sufficient linkages, advice and usage of videos to be effective. The study revealed that it was almost impossible to develop a one-size fit all approach, but suggested some key elements for such a framework to be able to respond to the needs of smallholder farmers. Regarding the linkages between farmers and extension services, the study has uncovered that there are varying linkages which point out that high impact linkages could be established through frequency of contacts, capacity building and demonstration. Furthermore, it is also evident that the challenges and the perception in the extension services still exist despite various initiatives and to avert such challenges and perception, financial and technical technology access is suggested to be essential.
The effect of pelletised and powdered lime on soil Ph, crop yield and crop quality on Richards Bay KZN soil
(2019-11) Naidoo, Veloshni; Singh, Shalini
In the 20th century, food security was constrained due to the increase in population and the pressure it placed on food demand. By 2050 further strain is going to be placed on food security as the population is anticipated to double. Land and natural resources are scarce, and soil acidity is a major concern in most parts of the world. A solution to treat acidic soil to increase its fertility to obtain better crop yields and quality is the treatment of lime together with gypsum. Lime is found in two forms pelletised and powdered; however, there lacks practical evidence to support; which is the best form to obtain optimised crop yields and crop quality. Therefore this study was conducted to determine the effect of each lime form together with gypsum on soil pH stabilisation, crop yield and crop quality on a peanut harvest. A quantitative research paradigm and an experimental research strategy were adopted. The pilot study found that the dosage range for pelletised lime being 3 tons/hectare plus 20%vol/lime gypsum and powdered lime was 5 tons/hectare plus 20%vol/lime gypsum. These dosage rates resulted in optimised crop yield and crop quality of peanuts. To ascertain the effects of elevated dosage rates the main study found the effect of both powdered and pelletised lime at two times and three times the optimised dosage range on soil pH stabilisation, crop yield and crop quality. Experimental error was minimised with the use of replicate samples, and a control (the untreated soil) was used as a reference. The optimum dosage range of pelletised lime resulted in a higher crop yield, and 100% of the crop met the quality standard as all peanuts yielded filled the shell cavity. However, the optimum dosage range for powdered lime resulted in a lower crop yield Furthermore, only 65% of the crop met the quality standard. It was found that less pelletised lime is required to stabilise soil pH than powdered lime over a period. Soil treated with pelletised lime had an increased crop yield and quality of peanuts over the use of powdered lime. Despite the above findings, it was evident that overtreatment of both pelletised and powdered lime alone and together with gypsum did not result in a better crop yield or quality. The overtreatment of either pelletised lime or powdered lime and gypsum showed a decrease in crop yield and quality once the optimised dose was exceeded. Consequently the overtreatment of either lime form or gypsum possibly had a toxic effect and inhibited crop yield and crop quality.
Evaluating the provision of basic services in rural settlements : the case study of Maswazini rural area
(2020-05) Mabizela, Hlengiwe Nomzamo; Matsiliza, Noluthando S.
The aim of the study was to critically examine the challenges of service delivery experienced by the community of Maswazini in Okhahlamba Local Municipality. The study seeks to explore the impact of isolation from basic services and the challenges faced by the Maswazini community in relation to the provision of basic services. The services that were surveyed at Maswazini rural areas include basic housing, electricity, water and sanitation. Many scholars and rural communities in different areas reported that Municipalities experience challenges in providing adequate services despite the efforts and the support gained from national, provincial government and other external stakeholders (Makale, 2015:1). Thus, the study further seek to determine the methods and strategies used to provide basic services, assess the availability of quality services in Maswazini and ascertain the engagement of the people of Maswazini area in the provision of services, and recommend approaches to improve service delivery. A case study design was employed to plan and conduct this study. A mixed method research was adopted in the collection and analysis of data, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The data was collected using unstructured interviews and questionnaires while the analysis was done utilizing the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 25.0. A purposive sampling technique and snowball sampling was followed to select the 235 respondents comprising of 200 Maswazini residents, 20 Okhahlamba Municipal officials and 15 employees from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. The university’s ethics committee ethically cleared the study. Participants’ permission to participate in the study was obtained and they were ensured of their protection from harm, and the confidentiality of the information they provided through signing consent form. This study revealed that the municipality is not complying with various policies that mandate them on how they should provide basic services to communities. The dissatisfaction of community members of Maswazini indicates that there is moral disengagement between them and the municipal officials, and the communities have lost trust in government and municipal officials at Maswazini. Challenges revealed by this study include limited resources, lack of municipal autonomy in decision-making, political interference and insufficient capacity. Therefore, this study recommends that local government review and devise methods and strategies to enforce compliance with its policies and legal requirements while taking into account the needs and interests of the people. Also, to promote the involvement of people in service delivery matters on a regular basis in order to immediately address challenges in rural areas and thereby ensure good governance.
Exploring the underlying causes of the volatility of sugarcane productivity on land reform farms in King Cetshwayo District – KwaZulu-Natal
(2021-03) Ndebele, Mbongiseni Cleopas; Mpehle, Zwelibanzi
Land reform or agrarian reform has been a bone of contention in many countries in a quest to deal with skewed ownership of land through a market-led approach or a stateled approach, while in most instances, it had only been able to address the restoration of land to the dispossessed groups, but failed to improve agricultural productivity. It is important to restore agricultural productivity and be able to meet the world’s energy requirements and to feed the population estimated will be over 9 billion people by 2050. Historically, native (black) South Africans were forcefully removed from productive agricultural land under the Natives Land Act of 1913. Post 1994, the South African government launched three pillars of the land reform programme, (land tenure reform, land restitution and land redistribution) and injected funds to equitably restore land back to the rightful owners, and to sustain agricultural productivity, which have become a paradox, as most of the redistributed agricultural land became unproductive and abandoned immediately after being restored to the previously disadvantaged groups. The target population for this mixed-methods research study were the 51 active land reform sugarcane farmers in King Cetshwayo District. A purposive sample of six farmers was selected for semi-structured face-to-face interviews and 41 participated in a survey, while the remainder was excluded from the main study as they took part in a pilot study. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected concurrently with both research instruments given equal attention. Despite the salient effects of climate change on agricultural productivity, the study found that there are some institutional, social and technical aspects that lead to the diminishing sugarcane productivity. Equally so, non-conformance with pieces of legislation such as the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) No.75 of 1997 and Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) No.85 of 1993 was found to have contributed immensely to the volatility of sugarcane productivity. The study concluded that compliance with OHSA and the acquiescence with sustainable farming practices outlined in the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) No. 107 of 1998, which was lacking in most of the farms that took part in the study, could improve sugarcane productivity on land reform farms in King Cetshwayo District.
Food-related health challenges of children and the role of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 in regulating unhealthy food advertising
(2023) Hlongwane, Minenhle; Reddy, Karunanidhi
This research has shown that the heavy advertising of unhealthy food products and beverages is a likely causal factor in weight gain and obesity. Advertisers are using various techniques to exploit and target children-consumers under the age of twelve years old. As a result of consuming unhealthy foods products, children are victims of non-communicable diseases (NCD’s), which are medical conditions that result in serious health challenges, are non-infectious and cannot be passed from person to person (The Obesity policy coalition 2011: 10). The marketing of unhealthy food products has a destructive influence on children’s food choices and health. It has been established and acknowledged that there is a link between NCD’s and unhealthy food product consumption and this needs to be addressed. The aim of this study is to investigate the food-related health challenges of children and the role of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 in addressing these challenges. The research design adopted for this study was quantitative in nature. The study’s questionnaire will consist mainly of closed-ended questions with a few openended ones, it was designed to assess the role of awareness of children-consumers; and the food-related health challenges experienced by children and the role of the CPA and other commensurate legislation in regulating unhealthy food product advertising. through the regulation of unhealthy food product advertising. Convenience sample is used, the results cannot be generalized to the whole population. The data was obtained from 377 respondents in the Mpophomeni Township area, the findings of this study will benefit those disadvantaged areas. The gap analysis revealed that the respondents confirmed that their children suffered from health challenges and that their lacked the maturity to understand such harmful effects of advertising. These negative gaps indicated that the regulation of unhealthy food product advertisement aimed at children was below the expectations of the respondents. This implied that the government had to do something to assist the children-consumers and ensure that these food industries complied with the provisions of the CPA. Disadvantaged areas such as Mpophomeni are encouraged to take steps to ensure the regulation of advertisement of unhealthy food product aimed at children. The dissertation provides some recommendations as to how to achieve the possible measures to protect children from unhealthy food product advertising.
Fortification of food products : a consumer perspective
(2019-04) Serubugo, Ayub; Penceliah, Darry S.
The prevalence of malnutrition and hidden hunger in developed but largely in developing countries, has led to the introduction of mandatory food fortification for the purpose of overcoming micro-nutrients malnutrition. Consumers have inadequate knowledge and are not aware of the relevance of food fortification. It is important for consumers to be conversant with fortified food products in order to make healthy food choices in a bid to overcome the phenomenon of micro-nutrient deficiency. The purpose of the study was to assess consumers’ level of awareness of food fortification in South Africa. A sample of n=400 consumers in the Durban central region was selected to participate in the survey. Non-probability convenience sampling was applied to nominate the participants in the study. The positivist cross-sectional study was undertaken using a quantitative paradigm to assess the various factors responsible for consumers’ inadequate knowledge of fortification. The measuring instrument was a five-point Likert scale questionnaire that constituted twenty-five questions and one open ended question. The results were captured on excel spreadsheet and analysed using SPSS version 25.0 software package. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were utilised to summarise and analyse the results respectively. The study established that most of the consumers are not familiar with food fortification and its importance. The findings indicate further that there is a positive relationship 𝑝 < 0.05 between knowledge of the benefits of fortified products and motivation to buy fortified food products. On the other hand, it was also found that, there is a significant relationship between the shortcomings of food fortification and barriers for fortified food purchase intention. Therefore, there is a need to develop intervention strategies that can create awareness of food fortification basing on the findings of the study.
The incidence of malnutrition and the identification of determinants affecting the nutritional status of rural black children aged 0 to 24 months in Umbumbulu, Kwa-Zulu Natal
(2004) Naicker, Ashika
This study examines the incidence of malnutrition and the factors influencing malnutrition amongst rural black children aged 0 to 24 months in Umbumbulu, Kwa-Zulu Natal so as to formulate guidelines for the development of a nutrition intervention education programme.
Learning and adaptive management mechanisms in implementing development programs in Zaka district, Zimbabwe
(2022) Mapfumo, Trust; Govender, Ivan Gunass
The aim of the study was to investigate the application and importance of Learning and Adaptive Management by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MWACSMED) and beneficiaries when implementing development programs in Zaka district. The study investigated the objectives of the programs implemented by MWACSMED in Zaka district, the extent to which learning, risk management and adaptive management mechanisms are used by MWACSMED Zaka district are effective. The study also examined the challenges faced MWACSMED and beneficiaries with development programs in Zaka district. The study also aimed at developing a model for learning, risk management, adaptive management, monitoring, and evaluation for the efficient and effective implementation of development programs and the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, Adaptive and Risk Management model (MELARM) was developed. The researcher chose to conduct his research in this area because Zaka district is one of the districts in the country that is heavily reliant on subsistence farming, with farmers lacking adequate rain and inputs. Furthermore, there is no other industry or activity in the district that contributes to people's well-being. According to Chingarande and Matondi (2020:3), Zaka district is in a province that is reliant on activities such as livestock production, irrigated farming, wildlife conservation and smallholder agricultural production to support its population. Zimbabwe, where Zaka district is in the province of Masvingo used to be one of Southern Africa’s most vibrant, productive, and resilient countries, but the country has been facing economic and political challenges for close to two decades linked to decades of poor governance and corruption. Approximately 63% of Zimbabwean households are living in poverty and 16% in extreme poverty (USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategy 2016-2021:4). Given the above challenges in Zimbabwe, it is important to investigate whether decisionmakers are investing in long-term management approaches such as Adaptive Management. Decision-makers tend to be reluctant to invest in long-term management approaches which cover the concept of Adaptive Management and choose small-scale experiments instead. Moreover, they do not utilize opportunities to adjust and make improvements in their approach to management. Managers have often been making decisions based on funding opportunities that are short-term and political requests, rather than using the actual objectives of a program. The study used the quantitative approach in the form of a questionnaire that was designed using Google forms and shared through a link that was send to research participants through emails and WhatsApp. The sample population for the research questionnaire was 10 officials from MWACSMED and 7 beneficiaries of the programs managed by the Ministry in Zaka district. As shown by the study, the Ministry has not yet fully recognized the use of Learning and Adaptive Management to address the complexity and uncertainty of development programs. The Ministry has been managing programs through traditional monitoring and evaluation systems. The results of the study show that the Ministry was not using Adaptive Management approaches or learning thorough monitoring and evaluation systems, which may be because of socio-economic and political reasons. The introduction of adaptive programming and management calls for using information and learning to inform adjustments during implementation, which requires monitoring and evaluation systems that go beyond reporting on pre-specified indicators The study made recommendations for Learning and Adaptive Management mechanisms that are essential for development projects. The study also drafted a model known as the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, Adaptive and Risk Management Framework (MELARM). These recommendations are all based on the findings of the study. In general, government departments should avoid traditional thinking about program cycles, and they should merge program design, implementation, and evaluation through Learning and Adaptive Management. Government departments/agencies should also identify and document how procurement, contracting, work planning, reporting and risk management can foster adaptive programming and management to achieve intended development goals.
The level of financial literacy of agribusiness entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe
(2023) Gumbo, Lilian; Vengesai, Edson; Marimuthu, Ferina
Agribusiness is the cornerstone of the Zimbabwean economy as most people survive on agricultural related activities, and it is regarded as the first step to fighting poverty among the rural population. However, the sector has not been performing well in terms of productivity due to various factors, which include poor management of borrowed funds, higher loan defaults, and financial exclusion. The study sought to assess the level of financial knowledge, financial behaviours, and financial attitudes of agribusiness entrepreneurs. Pragmatism research philosophy guided this research. The study made use of the mixed method approach and sequential mixed method research design. Quantitative data was first collected using a questionnaire, followed by interviews that were conducted to build upon quantitative results. Multistage cluster sampling and convenience sampling were used to select research participants. The study also sought to determine the major factors affecting the financial literacy of agribusiness entrepreneurs and the nature of financial products demanded by agribusiness entrepreneurs. Research findings established that agribusiness entrepreneurs: (1) have low financial knowledge, (2) exhibit poor financial behaviours, and (3) have good financial attitudes except for diverting a portion of business loans for personal use. The general level of financial literacy was very low among agribusiness entrepreneurs but extremely low among women, lowincome earners, those with low levels of education, and those living with several dependants below 18 years. Most smallholder agribusiness entrepreneurs earned very low incomes of less than US$500 per month due to lower yields and, therefore, could not afford bank loans usually charged at very high interest rates. Agribusiness entrepreneurs usually relied on non-financial products like rotational savings (mukando in Shona), selling something owned and family and friends to make ends meet. There was a disassociation between financial products needed by agribusiness entrepreneurs and the products offered by financial institutions. The study developed and recommended a financial literacy operationalisation model for agribusiness entrepreneurs for consideration by policy makers.
Public perceptions for the acceptability of recycled wastewater usage in households
(2023) Gul, Samiya; Govender, Ivan Gunass
South Africa is a water-stressed country as there is an imbalance between the demand and the supply of potable water. Wastewater reuse is one of the several vital strategies to find the delicate balance between water supply and demand. Reclaimed wastewater not only protects the release of pollutants into the environment but it adds to the supply of potable and non-potable water. However, reclaimed wastewater faces obstacles in sustainable implementation. Many studies have been conducted so far to identify the underlying factors behind the acceptability of wastewater reuse. Public acceptance is the primary threat to the acceptability of these programs or schemes. A noticeable resistance from the communities of different countries has been identified. Given these issues, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate socio-demographic variables including; gender, age, education, religion, marital status and income level on the willingness to use and participate in a reuse plan, to assess the role of knowledge on public acceptance of the recycled water, to identify and study the problems faced by the public towards the acceptability of recycled wastewater usage and to develop a framework to understand the behaviour of the people towards the reuse of wastewater. The study adapted well-structured questionnaires to collect the data. Proportionate random sampling was used with a sample size of 298 responses. The data were analysed through MS Excel, SPSS v 22.0 and AMOS v 24.0 to yield descriptive and inferential statistics. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to provide estimates and test the hypothesised relationships. The study identifies the critical antecedents of the behaviour of wastewater reuse, namely, trust, past experience, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, attitude and intention and tests the relationships using SEM. It further suggests that a significant relationship exists between the variables and the acceptability of wastewater reuse. The other findings were that flushing toilets are mostly accepted (90%), followed by watering gardens (86%), washing clothes (68%) and washing dishes (60%). The acceptance for favourable applications among participants from all religions is highest for toilet flushing, followed by watering gardens, washing clothes, washing dishes, growing food crops, swimming, and at last drinking. Financial incentives and reduced monthly costs on the recycled water were found to help accept the wastewater reuse. The study presents a broad and integrated framework of behaviour towards the acceptability of wastewater. Therefore, the study is an essential contribution toward the acceptability of wastewater reuse, and water stakeholders may use the study's implications to increase public acceptance and alleviate challenges for water reuse. The study recommends that the public should be provided with the education and information on recycling wastewater reuse benefits and risks to achieve both environmental protection and sustainable development.
The quality of selected food products containing nanosilica additive (E551) in South Africa
(2017) Thakur, Rookmoney; Singh, Shalini
The proliferation of nanotechnology, whilst perceived to be positive for human advancement, introduces potential risks when applied to food. Silicon Dioxide (E551), a common food additive made up of particles in the nano-range, is found in spices, salt, sweets and some frozen foods and functions as an anti-caking agent to allow these food products to flow and mix evenly. According to Codex Alimentarius, E551 is generally regarded as safe (GRAS), provided that food manufacturers apply good manufacturing practice (GMP) principles and use the lowest possible amounts necessary. Smaller nanoparticles are more readily taken up by the human body than larger sized particles and could be injurious to human health. While the use of E551 is strictly regulated in some countries, there is growing debate regarding the health and safety implications for consumers and the quality of food. This study examined the quality of selected food products containing E551 (nanosilica) in South Africa (SA). A mixed method paradigm (qualitative and quantitative) and an experimental research strategy were adopted. Respondents were purposefully selected, their participation in this study was voluntary and confidentiality was maintained. Pilot studies were conducted for the semi-structured interviews and the survey, with a sample size of one food expert and three food technologists, respectively. The main study consisted of interviews, a survey and experimental work. The interviews, conducted with five food experts, were recorded and transcribed to ensure credibility. The results were interpreted and analysed against existing literature using thematic content analysis. The findings suggest that it was critical for food manufacturers to demonstrate the safe use of products without posing any safety risks to the consumer and the environment; and for the South African government to address and regulate the application of nanomaterials in food either by legislation or guidelines. The survey was conducted with a sample population of thirty food technologists who reported that public awareness of nanotechnology was limited as many consumers were not familiar with this technology. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data. Content validity ensured that the survey focused on concepts and constructs that emerged from the review of literature on the application of nanotechnology in food products. Cronbach’s alpha index was used to assess the reliability of the surveys and found α = 0.862 and α = 0.809 for food additives awareness and nanosilica safety in food, respectively. Different characterisation methods, such as Fourier Spectra Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), were used to determine the type and form of silica, and its levels in selected food brands available in SA. This was compared against similar products manufactured and packed in the European Union (EU) and Asia. This study benchmarked against the EU standard because of its more stringent guidelines in the field of nanotechnology and regulations. The results indicate that while the comparative EU food sample conformed to the European Food Safety Association (EFSA) permissible level of 1 %, the South African sample levels were higher. Even though the regulatory standards are different in both countries, the potential health effects remain the same. Significantly, the most prominent finding of this study is that the form of silica in some of the South African and Asian products were crystalline in nature, rather than synthetic amorphous silica (SAS), which is indicative of E551. Thus, it stands to reason that the generalised limit set by Codex Alimentarius was inadequate to regulate and control the quantity and type of E551 used as it varied from each of the selected samples. The identification of traces of crystalline silica is of concern since studies in literature showed that exposure to and ingestion of crystalline silica that was not food grade, is likely to induce perilous health effects such as cancer and fibrosis in humans. In light of this finding on the crystalline nature of silica in the studied brands, it is therefore imperative that specific limits and regulations be put in place and enforceable in SA to ensure that products sold are in line with acceptable standards as found in some developed countries like the United States of America (US) and EU. In view of the above, and to ensure proper monitoring and minimal risk exposure, a risk management framework, a ‘Hazard identification, Access the risks, Control the risks’ (HAC) model, was developed and recommended to ensure that the correct form and type, and limits of silica is used and the associated risk controls applied.