Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)

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Addressing bullying at a boy’s high school in Durban
(2023-04) Naidoo, Meedhaloshnie Ragoobathie; Hamlall, Vijay
This study aimed to explore the current status of bullying at a boys’ high school in urban KZN and the experiences and perceptions of bullying among the learners of this single sex, multicultural, multiracial school. The objective of the study was to investigate the nature, causes and consequences of bullying in this particular school. This study further proposed and implemented interventions that served to address bullying behaviour at the school. The study adopted the interpretivist paradigm and qualitative methods to answer the research questions. A participatory action research approach was used to conduct this study. The data collection methods were semi-structured individual interviews and focus group discussions. Content analysis was used to analyse the data. The non-purposive sampling method was used to select the target population, which consisted of five learners from the boarding establishment (a hostel for learners who choose to stay at school during the school term) and five from the day’ boys. Three educators were also interviewed: two males and one female. In total, this study comprised 13 participants. The data gathered from the interviews and focus group discussions with both the learners and educators indicated that bullying was highly prevalent at the school. Forms of both direct and indirect bullying were evident at the school. Direct bullying was both verbal and physical. Physical bullying took place more covertly in the form of boys using their body strength and size to punish and dominate the weaker boys. A considerable amount of verbal bullying took place at the school. This included acts of harassment, teasing, name-calling and ridiculing. Indirect bullying in the form of social exclusion involving ostracism, and the spread of rumours or gossip was also rife. Both forms of bullying targeted personal characteristics and generally constituted attacks on sexuality and appearance. The underlying themes for the causes of bullying behaviour were identified as boys subscribing to hegemonic forms of masculinity, power-seeking and peer expectation. Being in an environment in which there are predominantly male influences, the boys were expected to act like ‘real men’. They wanted to feel powerful and dominate the so called ‘weaker’ boys. This increased their social status in the eyes of their peers. Data generated from the interviews indicated that the consequences of bullying behaviour resulted in the victim experiencing a poor self-image and low self-esteem. Avoidance and absence from school, seclusion and isolation and an increase in violent behaviour were identified as major outcomes of being bullied. Participatory action was used to plan and implement an intervention programme for the whole school to tackle bullying. The aim was to create a safe, positive learning environment for the learners. The short-term outcomes of the programme were evaluated. The study recommends that it is imperative that the seriousness of bullying be recognised by all stakeholders in the school community for appropriate and effective measures to be implemented to reduce bullying in schools. It is not uncommon for school stakeholders to trivialise bullying that takes place in their schools. Many hold the view that bullying is part of growing up (e.g., boys will be boys) and should not be made an issue. Greater awareness of the problem of school bullying is required and a focus on prevention would ensure that schools create safer and more harmonious learning environments
Agritourism as an instrument of improving rural communities’ livelihood in Ghana : a case study of Adjeikrom community
(2023) Kwabiah, Alexander; Molokwane, R. W. S.
In spite of the tremendous potential of agritourism resources in these locations, rural farming communities in Ghana continue to be underdeveloped. Utilizing these agritourism resources can help the economy of these areas to become more diverse and improve the people's quality of life by lowering poverty levels. This research aims to provide answers to this topic as well as new information about the growth of agritourism and its effects on the enhancement of rural livelihood in Adjeikrom. This study took the form of a case study, mixed research design was adopted. A questionnaire and an interview guide were used to collect primary data from a sample of one hundred respondents based on multi-stage and simple random sampling techniques. The data was collected within the Adjeikrom community. The statistical programme, SPSS version 24.0 was used to analyse the data. The result of the study revealed that the local community in Adjeikrom has benefited from agritourism initiatives in that through tourism, the community has been empowered, boreholes have been provided and there have been cultural exchanges as a result of host-guest interactions. The study revealed that there was high start-up capital for the local people and stakeholders. With regards to measures towards improving the appropriate development of Agritourism in the area, the expectation is that there should be a commitment on the part of all stakeholders to the improvement of livelihood in the community so as to alleviate poverty. For agritourism to contribute more towards the creation of job opportunities, entrepreneurial skills and income generation, it is recommended that the government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture strengthens partnerships with the local business sector, the local community in general and all other stakeholders, as well as the policy-makers to ensure a faster integrated tourism development process, thereby allowing stakeholder engagements and training activities.
Analysis of consumption patterns and their effects on social cohesion from a Zulu cosmology perspective
(2017) Lombo, Sipho; Msweli, Pumela
Using historic and ethnographic data collected from KwaZulu-Natal, this study examines food consumption from the Zulu Cosmology epistemic point of view. The study highlights as a prosocial behaviour that reduces the importance of self in favour of pro social norms of sharing and selflessness. In other words, personhood is understood as a process and the product of interconnectedness experienced in social spaces. Pro-social behaviour is therefore seen as a determinant of harmonious and social cohesive communities. The study concluded that social cohesive communities develop a set of cultural protocols and boundaries that reward prosocial norms and punish antisocial behaviour. Social cohesion as a concept was also found to be inseparable from the notion of shared values, identities and norms. The study delved deeper and found that the land, the livestock and the cultural rituals to honour the living and the dead defined a unique interconnectedness of the Zulu person to his culture. Eating and eaten products were part of a uniting culture that linked a Zulu man, woman, girls, old men and women to other people, their animals and their land. Zulu people lived for, and with, other people in peace. No man or family would go hungry. Immediately that becomes known, another man would give the destitute man a few cattle to start his own flock and feed his family. This and other eating rituals contributed to a strong, peaceful and social cohesive nation of King Shaka ka Senzangakhona. On the basis of the understanding of the cultural rituals, their link with the land and animal the study concluded that land restitution and agrarian policies can be enhanced by taking into consideration their need for land to cultivate vegetables and fruits that have cultural meaning, policies that enable to have livestock as well as space to practise their culture. The study is envisaged to inspire social welfare and community development policies that instil the prosocial values of Ubuntu and interconnectedness.
Application of information and communication technology in uplifting rural Dibate community in South Africa
(2017) Hlatshwayo, Thandeka Precious; Neerputh, Shirleen
Different social classes of people in South Africa are divided, digitally. This phenomenon manifests as a disparity of information in ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), which is a matter of concern, as the use of ICT is acknowledged to greatly influence the world today, more specifically so in rural areas. An investigation to determine which factors affect rural communities’ access to information, as well as progress levels that can be realised in the support means employed by people resident in rural areas, through introducing ICT’s in their day-to-day living, thus addresses the purported ‘digital divide’. The study’s population was drawn from the Dibate Village community, located in Mmabatho in Mafikeng, South Africa. Recommendations from the findings, point out how ICT facilities can be utilised in the development of rural communities, not just socially but also economically. As main objective, the study evaluates and examines the use of ICT facilities for commercial activities, in uplifting the rural community in the area of Dibate Village. This study is of value to governmental and non-governmental organisations where improving both socio-economic development and service delivery is concerned, in South Africa’s rural areas.
An appraisal of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the tourism industry in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
(2020-05) Doncabe, Thembeka; Chetty, Gopalkrishna
The aim of the study is to assess current Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities employed across the tourism industry in Durban, with the primary objective of the study to examine the extent to which the tourism industry in Durban engages in CSR activities. CSR is an important part of sustainable development and should be merged with company values, described as comprising of human rights, monitoring, stakeholders’ rights and employee rights. In South Africa (SA), CSR has been evident for a number of years, with its nature and context shaped by apartheid. With tourism being part of the service industry, it is of great importance that these stakeholders are put at the forefront. Globalisation pressure and the increasing burden on governments to provide comprehensive social services has resulted in the need to better understand how organisations play a role in sharing these burdens. The city of Durban has an extensive tourism and hospitality industry that grows continuously annually and as such, industry players should initiate and participate in CSR programmes. Global changes with travellers and the industry are greatly influencing the implementation of CSR in Durban. Study findings are based on a sample of 96 respondents, with a response rate of 76 percent for the selfadministered questionnaire employed for data collection from 4-and 5-star accommodation establishments in Durban, as well as domestic airlines that service KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Results suggest the Durban tourism and hospitality industry is fairly involved in CSR, with a few exceptions. Nonetheless, many respondents indicated challenges they face in CSR initiative implementation, including the lack of assistance from organisations that drive tourism. They believe further training on CSR implementation and support would greatly influence levels of CSR implementation. The findings in this study reveal that environmental impact measures and or activities are at the forefront of CSR activities for both airlines and the hotel sector. Activities with the environmental impact measures include minimising energy consumption, such as using energy saving globes and solar panels, waste minimisation, waste recycling, and protection of the natural environment. Findings derived from the study will unveil more opportunity regarding CSR in Durban and will inform those organisations involved in tourism promotion and development to act accordingly in assisting industry participants.
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.
An assessment of the impact of supply chain risk management in food-aid distribution in Zimbabwe
(2020-09) Ngarize, Peter; Ngcamu, Bethuel Sibongiseni
The present study sought to investigate and interrogate supply chain risks prevalent in the humanitarian sector with reference to food-aid distribution and to also assess the impact of supply chain risk management as a strategy for cost- effective food-aid distribution operations in Zimbabwe. The global increase of disasters and their devastating effects has left communities vulnerable and in need of help from Donors, humanitarian agencies and the host governments. The damage by disasters notably droughts, floods and cyclones have caused various forms of vulnerability on populations living in disaster struck countries, including Zimbabwe. The natural disasters and catastrophes have inadvertently solicited for committed investment by both local and international governments to assist those unfortunate to have been struck by disasters and their impacts. Information on disaster impacts specifically related to food-aid distribution is gathered through an analysis of risks prevalent along the food and humanitarian aid supply chain network. This information will be used by government and various humanitarian stakeholders in the formulation of strategies to mitigate disaster and supply chain risks in humanitarian aid distribution. A mixed-method approach was employed to assess the impact of supply chain risk management in food-aid distribution in Zimbabwe. A sample size of 80 Humanitarian Aid stakeholders from the District Drought Relief Committee completed structured questionnaires. The Cronbach Alpha Test showed high reliability for the scales used in the study. Furthermore, the study used information from key informants, at least fifteen (15) members from the secretariat, namely, the District Administrators, the Social Welfare officers, as well as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) personnel who were readily available at their stations for one-on-one interviews. Five strategies, that include flexibility, collaborative, prepositioning, hedging, and governance were explored and their impact on distribution of food-aid analysed. Quantitative data was analysed using STATA (version 16). Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression was used to investigate the nature and magnitude of the relationship between food-aid distribution efficiency and supply chain risk factors, while also controlling for the effect of demographic variables 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. This study tested the robustness of the five strategies used in food-aid distribution and noted that the most commonly used strategy is insurance, followed by governance, then collaboration, flexibility, prepositioning, and financing. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY It is expected that the study will assist the Government of Zimbabwe, other governments in Southern Africa, and humanitarian aid stakeholders in the formulation of policies for the humanitarian food and non-food-aid distribution. This will lead to improved efficiency in foodaid distribution. Policy recommendations highlight the need for synergistic relationships between WFP, the Meteorological Department, Department of Social Welfare, and the Civil Protection Department. The Government of Zimbabwe should therefore create an enabling environment for stakeholder partnerships in the Humanitarian Food -Aid supply chain that should cascade to the village and community levels. Disaster interventions should not only come from National Central Government but, where necessary and feasible, should be from local community to National, building a bottom up approach in disaster mitigation strategies.
An assessment of the impact of the fourth industrial revolution on manufacturing small and medium enterprises : a case study of Durban, South Africa
(2023-08) Khuzwayo, Mlondi Eugene; Zogli, Luther-King Junior
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in economies of both developing and developed countries. They are one of key strategies in combating socio economic issues such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality. For this reason, it is crucial that they are sustained and elevated as the world is progressing from the third industrial revolution to the fourth industrial revolution(4IR). The aim of the research is to assess the impact of the fourth industrial revolution on manufacturing SMEs in Durban, South Africa. Manufacturing SMEs in Durban contribute about 20% of the gross value added to the economy of the city, which is a significant contribution. It is therefore imperative to uncover how the advancements in technology due to 4IR impacts this sector. A non-probability snowball sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 20 respondents who were either owners or people in high management positions in Durban’s Manufacturing SMEs. Data was collected through structured interviews and analysed using content analysis, a qualitative data analysis technique. The results suggest that manufacturing SMEs in Durban know about 4IR. According to their understanding, 4IR is an enhanced and all-inclusive system that fuses physical, digital, and technological systems, built on prior revolutions to improve business processes, business growth and transformation through modern smart and intelligent technologies. The study recommends that manufacturing SMEs should prioritize education and training, innovate their business models to accommodate policies that relate to technological disruptions. They should also invest on innovation, research and development, and smart infrastructure and investment. Finally, this research suggests that SMEs in different industries do comparable studies to determine the effects of 4IR. The results further support a proposal for a study that evaluates the effect of Covid-19 on the use of 4IR by manufacturing SMEs in Durban
Attitudes towards social entrepreneurship among Enactus students at the Durban University of Technology
(2023-08) Mngoma, Thula Shirley; Mngomezulu, Bhekithemba Richard
Background South African universities have taken a keen interest in integrating entrepreneurial education into their curriculum. Entrepreneurship has been defined as the exchange of goods or services to satisfy a need, with the intention of creating wealth. However the emergence of socio-economic imbalances has led to a desperate need for innovative and sustainable solutions. Social entrepreneurship (SE) has become popular in recent years because of its ground-breaking innovations that are distinctively different from traditional business models. By definition, SE is a process undertaken by an individual with the intent to address existing and future socioeconomic issues such as health disparities, environmental neglect and poverty. While SE is less well known within the field of economic development, valuable information can be gathered through the research of what people think of and associate with SE in that context. Methodology A cross-sectional descriptive quantitative research survey design was used to collect data from 34 students from the Enactus team, sampled from the six faculties of the Durban campuses of Durban University of Technology (DUT). Data were collected using a self-administered online survey, adapted from a questionnaire by Luiz and Mariotti (2011). Data from both instruments were analysed using SPSS version 26.0. Results A significant number of respondents 81.1% (n = 34) agreed that there is a likelihood that they would start a social business to assist the upliftment of people in the future. The majority of respondents 90.3%, (n = 37) agreed that DUT does have a programme on SE available to Enactus DUT team members. This result indicates a significantly positive attitude towards SE and helping others (p < .001). Recommendations A comprehensive definition of SE should be taught to students during orientation workshops, upon joining the Enactus team. This will give new members an idea of what the team is involved in and what is expected of them. Career opportunities should be highlighted by stakeholders known by Enactus South Africa during national competitions and other business presentations, for the benefit of team members exiting the programme upon graduation. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that involvement in SE is affected by positive attitudes towards, and knowledge of, SE. Some students are not fully exposed to Enactus campus activities and may miss the opportunity to be involved in SE due to a lack of knowledge on SE and absence of entrepreneurial activities in the curriculum. Steps need to be taken to ensure that all students are made aware of the existence of Enactus on campus and the institution overall should integrate SE into the academic curriculum.
The barries that inhibit woman from breaking the glass ceiling in the South African public service
(2007) Ramlall, Nirala; Mason, Roger Bruce
The end of the apartheid era in South Africa presented the new government with a myriad of challenges. This involved massive transformation, whilst ushering in a regulatory framework of enabling legislation to give effect to the country's fledgling Constitution. One of the transformational priorities was to address gender equality. Despite legislative imperatives having been instituted, gender equity targets are not being met, nor are affirmative action programmes being implemented to their fullest to facilitate and support gender equality. This research investigates the barriers that inhibit women from breaking the glass ceiling in the South African public service. The research paradigm was exploratory, using qualitative techniques and the results are largely descriptive. Secondary information was obtained from literature and information available. Multiple case studies were conducted using five subjects who were representative of the target population. The overarching purpose of this study was to investigate and understand the barriers that inhibit women from breaking the glass ceiling in the South African public service. The concept of the glass ceiling is defined as the invisible barrier that blocks women from advancing to senior management positions. The study proposes and considers various issues that may have an impact on upward mobility for women. A review of literature reveals that barriers exist as a worldwide occurrence and these prevent women from upward mobility. Justification for this research is twofold: there has been no such study to date; and gender equality is not being achieved and affirmative action programmes have not been fully implemented. The findings of the study provide a deeper understanding of the barriers that prevent women from career progression in the South African public service. Recommendations are made to address this issue
Black economic empowerment and local economic development in the accommodation sector : the case of Clarens, in the Free State Province
(2017) Mofokeng, Nyane Macdonald Ezekiel; Giampiccoli, Andrea; Jugmohan, Sean
In South Africa, the tourism industry has been identified as one of the key drivers for economic development and transformation of the country. Although South Africa joined the world tourism stage since democracy, the country still contends with issues linked to apartheid, such as poverty, inequality and transformation. More specific and related to this study is the transformation of the tourism industry. In this regard, an overwhelming majority of tourism enterprises are still under the ownership of the White minority. With the post-apartheid transition, the national government recognized that the unequal ownership structure within the tourism sector (as with most of the other economic sectors) needed to be addressed through a programme of transformation. Hence, the transformation programme introduced to counter the current dominance of the economic sector was called Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), followed by Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE); the programme aimed at redressing inequalities that were linked to the legacy of apartheid. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather in-depth information from respondents, based on their accommodation establishment. The data collected from the responses were analysed using Microsoft Excel. This study revealed that the accommodation sector is struggling to keep up with the 2014 transformation target of thirty percent. Incidentally, transformation as noted by the National Department of Tourism, within the industry currently stands at less than 3 percent and will struggle to meet the amended target of thirty percent in respect of the transformation targets set for 2017. Although the government has introduced many initiatives to promote Black participation within the accommodation sector, transformation has remained stagnant and Black ownership of accommodation establishments is almost non-existent. The study results have found that there are no Black business that operate within the CBD of Clarens and that businesses that operate in Clarens even though wholly White-owned, are indeed compliant with the Tourism BEE charter in spite of the results noting that no transformation has taken place. This is due to the issue of automatic compliance afforded to businesses based on their annual turnover.
Bridging the gender gap through local peace committees in Zimbabwe
(2022) Tshuma, Darlington; Kaye, Sylvia Blanche; Harris, Geoffrey Thomas
Peacebuilding research, specifically in post-conflict societies and those transitioning from authoritarian rule to democracy and from violence to peace, demonstrates a growing demand to enhance our understanding about the efficacy of peace infrastructures, particularly informal peace infrastructures as potential tools for sustained and inclusive peacebuilding. In the same vein, the growth and popularity in recent decades of peace infrastructures as peacebuilding tools suggests the need for further investigation especially in societies where transition(s) is reluctant - a case in point is Zimbabwe. Further, the use of peace infrastructures to facilitate inclusive peacebuilding has gained prominence in the light of growing evidence of the correlation between societal stability and socioeconomic development on the one hand, and inclusive peacebuilding on the other. This is a participatory and exploratory action study that investigated the possibilities of using a community peace infrastructure to facilitate inclusive peacebuilding in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe to overcome gender disparities in local peacebuilding processes. The study’s objectives were twofold, namely: firstly, to identify and understand conditions that promote successful conflict intervention at grassroots level, and secondly, to find out the extent to which these interventions can help to positively transform conflicts. To this end, the principal researcher in this study collaborated with an action team to establish an informal peace infrastructure (local peace committee) where the envisioned change could potentially happen. This study draws together empirical qualitative data on an informal peace infrastructure created as part of this research intended to facilitate inclusive peacebuilding in four communities that fall under wards 7, 8, 16 and 28 in Bulawayo (refer to Table 7.1). Zimbabwe’s protracted social and political conflicts and its long history of human rights violations remain as sources of polarisation and political violence. Consequently, a significant component of the country’s contemporary history is about violence, its memory, and impunity. What has been variously described as a culture of violence can in fact be traced to incomplete transitions and complex historical processes starting with the precolonial episode where political cultures and practices were influenced and permeated by primordial ideologies of heredity, patriarchy and kinship. Similarly, colonial subjugation and occupation in the 19th century imposed an undemocratic system based on white supremacy, patriarchy and violent authoritarianism such that equal and even higher levels of violence had to be employed to resist colonial occupation and subjugation in the middle of the 20th century. Emerging from these multiple episodes of violent conflicts and authoritarianism; it is unsurprising that command politics and violent suppression of dissent became preferred “governance tools” for a triumphant ZANU-PF that won the country’s first democratic election in February 1980. The study uses Lederach’s Conflict Transformation theory as a lens for analysis. As a theoretical tool, Conflict Transformation is rooted in a transformative paradigm that places emphasis on constructive relationship building and the need to transform oppressive and undemocratic systems into democratic and inclusive systems as a basis for sustained peacebuilding. By emphasising local agency through transformative bottom-up peacebuilding processes, Conflict Transformation aims to facilitate constructive change by anchoring peacebuilding within a society’s unique socio-political environment. Findings from this study show that while informal peace infrastructures face numerous challenges such as resource constraints and sometimes barriers to accessing key policy and decision makers and political players, they fill a vital peacebuilding void left by the state which is not only incapacitated to lead peacebuilding initiatives but also lacks the legitimacy to fulfil its peacebuilding roles. Research findings in this study indicate that informal peace infrastructures can be useful platforms to facilitate inclusive peacebuilding, for example by increasing minority groups’ representation and women’s involvement in peace processes at the community level. The study aimed to increase understanding of the gendered nature of peacebuilding in the country and the ways in which women, but also men exercise agency through a focus on their own voices and lived experiences. Similarly, this study also revealed that socioeconomic challenges, politics and entrenched patriarchal interests present stumbling blocks to women’s effective participation in peacebuilding processes. At the same time, while dominant discourse depicts and projects peacebuilding as a ‘masculine’ and ‘manly terrain’, this study found that men who are involved in informal peace processes at the community are sometimes perceived as weak and feminine, a label that the men in this study continue to resist and push back against. Finally, this inquiry hopes to make small but important contributions to the peacebuilding discourse by illuminating how informal peace infrastructures may serve as a basis for improving peacebuilding practice in the country.
Building a culture of peace in Durban, South Africa : an action research study with youth empowerment programme participants
(2017) Fudu, Hailey K.; Kaye, Sylvia Blanche
This thesis sought to answer the research question: How can youth programmes in South Africa contribute more effectively to peacebuilding? South Africa is a country suffering from major inequality and violence. The mark left by the previous disempowering system is still affecting South African people and there is a clear need for justice and healing from all forms of violence and inequality. The existing inequalities are largely racial and economic and those under 25 years of age constitute a large percentage of both perpetrators and victims of violent crime (Clark 2012: 78). This study focused on youth in the Durban area who are South Africans of mostly Zulu heritage. The youth are surrounded by violence caused by disadvantaged circumstances, which include economic, racial and emotional damage inherited from the apartheid system. This group is referred to as ‘youth’ throughout this study as it examines the issues of violence in South Africa and how some young people are exploring solutions. Through an examination of literature and action research (AR) with participants from various programmes, this thesis investigates methods for improving the ability of Durban-based youth programmes to respond efficiently to the needs of youth as they endeavour to transform their communities. Following the identification of methods through focus group discussions, interviews and a review of literature, an action team was formed. This team consulted on which methods they wished to use for a collaborative peace project. They took what they learned from this process forward by sharing their experience with their respective empowerment programmes and by continuing to work together on an ongoing basis to bring their peace project to various other groups of children and youth throughout communities in Durban. The study concluded that when youth projects and programmes allow for youth to play a significant role in planning, action and reflection, whilst also receiving sufficient support from a mentor, they are empowered and the programmes are effective. The youth in this study began by discussing the issues surrounding them, brainstorming possible solutions and then designing a peace intervention in the form of a peace promotion performance. The performance was well received and the participants were empowered from the proactive roles they each played in preparing and delivering the performance. Through this transformational learning and service to the community, opportunities for youth to grow, mature and attain self-efficacy were nurtured. This process resulted in the further development of essential life-skills and positive values, and the youth participants learned to identify themselves with positive peers, mentors and purposeful activity. The action research also improved participants’ confidence, their desire to serve others and helped them to achieve a strong sense of positive endurance and strength to overcome the violence and negative influences around them. This peace project allowed the team members to make meaningful contributions to their community and inspired other youth by modelling peace in action.
Building more peaceful schools in Harare
(2018-06) Chiramba, Evernice Netsai; Harris, Geoffrey Thomas; Kaye, Sylvia Blanche
School discipline is a challenge worldwide. Traditionally, Zimbabwean teachers have used punitive measures to obtain the desired behaviour from learners within schooling environments. However, the global outcry against human rights violations associated with corporal punishment caused the country’s education ministry to advocate for non-punitive approaches - without providing adequate alternatives. In the sphere of restorative justice, an action research project was conducted in six primary schools, of which three formed the control group. In the other three schools where the intervention was applied, 12 teachers were involved in establishing peace-making circles and peer mediation to 9-10-year-old students. Implementation details varied amongst the schools, but generally, the children had bi-weekly opportunities through the circles to tell their peers and teachers what they were experiencing and feeling. Interviews were conducted with four teachers; questionnaires were administered to ten pupils from each of the six schools and nine parents held focus group discussions on nonviolent ways of raising children, before and after the intervention. The parents’ efforts were meant to complement teachers’ efforts in laying the foundation for the desired discipline. Thematic analysis was used on the data. The findings revealed that peace-making circles and peer mediation enabled teachers to get to know their students and to respond pre-emptively to potential problems; furthermore, classroom disruptions were reduced. Parents’ efforts created smooth communication channels between the community and the school. The study showed that restorative justice could be a promising avenue to pursue further for addressing school discipline issues.
Challenges and best practices in the use of e-learning technologies for teaching and learning at UOTs : a case study of the Durban University of Technology
(2021-12) Ramroop, Navitha; Reddy, Karunanidhi
This study reflected on the current context of the South African higher education landscape by focussing on the role that technology plays in academia for successful teaching and learning, with particular reference to elearning. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are re-designing their curricula to merge existing teaching and learning content with technological practices and applications, with the goal of producing appropriately qualified graduates who will be globally recognised and best suited for industry. Literature on the subject revealed that technology-enhanced learning, or e-learning, has peaked in most parts of the world. However, each educational institution is unique and the challenges and opportunities posed by e-learning differ. The uniqueness differs because the technological metamorphosis evolves around resources, skills sets, infrastructure and the mind-sets of lecturers and students. The common belief is that technology empowers people, enabling them to do what they want to do, promoting creativity and productivity. It was necessary (before researching the technology applicable for teaching and learning) to understand how teaching and learning occurred in HEIs. The findings revealed the learning and teaching processes, as expounded by the Constructivist Theory, as that which not only involves the transmission of information, nor is it deemed only as the acquisition of knowledge. The student is an active participant and the lecturer ensures the facilitation of the learning process. Technology adds a further dimension to teaching and learning practices, justifying e-learning in pedagogies. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the challenges experienced and best-practices adopted in the use of e-learning technologies for teaching and learning at Universities of Technology (UoTs), with specific reference to the Durban University of Technology (DUT). An empirical research approach was adopted, with surveys being conducted with both teaching staff and students at DUT. Apart from determining the challenges and best-practices experienced by lecturers and students at DUT, the study has produced recommendations and intervention strategies to address the challenges of teaching and learning with e-learning. The development of a framework of strategies concluded the study, highlighting the challenges of e-learning while providing recommended intervention strategies, best-practices and a phased implementation plan. However, while this study focussed on the challenges and best-practices for e-learning in HEIs, the driving force in 2020 for institutions of higher learning to embrace technology as a teaching and learning tool was the Covid-19 pandemic. The study was already in progress when it was hindered by the pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic spread at an unfathomable rate, resulting in medical institutions being unable to cope with the increased number of patients and fatalities, while businesses buckled under the strain of an economic downturn. Statistics revealed that as at 25 May 2021, the virus infected 167 million people globally, while claiming the lives of 3,47 million people. In South Africa alone, 55 874 people succumbed to the virus. Lockdown measures were necessary to curtail the spread of the virus. HEIs were also unfortunately forced to close their doors to students. The forced closure of HEIs did not deter lecturers and students from engaging in teaching and learning, but it forced a move away from the traditional teaching and learning practices. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the need globally for all educational sectors to invest every effort into moving towards digital curricula. Even without the forceful nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, DUT had already embarked on the use of digital technology to enable teaching and learning. The impact of the global pandemic provided a platform to further highlight the challenges of using technology for teaching and learning, as well as the bestpractices adopted at the institution. Many significant findings arose from analysing the data produced from both the staff and the student surveys. The findings provided a plethora of rich information which aided in the development of the framework addressing the challenges experienced by staff (rigid teaching practices; the lack of access to technology; the lack of skills; poor infrastructure), as well as those experienced by the students (technology is a distraction to weaker students, the lack of concentration in online learning, the lack of human contact, the lack of access to technology). The findings relating to how the lecturers and students perceive the usefulness of technology in teaching and learning, as well as their perceived ease with the use of technological devices, are clearly depicted in the underpinnings of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). This is evident from the approach adopted by lecturers and students in the use of technology in higher education. The recommendations made in the study take into account the plight of the “have-nots”. The findings revealed that many students are not equipped to engage in e-learning as access to devices and data, as well as proper networking infrastructure, and a conducive learning environment are challenges. The recommendations suggest that HEIs need to be attentive to students who are less privileged or who emerge from disadvantaged backgrounds and hence need the minimum essentials for e-learning. In seeking solutions to the e-learning challenges in higher education, the Social Justice Theory and principles are of fundamental importance. Any other approach could result in solving technology-related challenges, but would leave those who require the support the most outside the ambit of transformation in higher education. The study has not only produced recommendations for addressing the elearning challenges, but has also developed a phased implementation plan for e-learning implementation at DUT.
The challenges of enriching small, medium and micro enterprises with financial management knowledge in KwaZulu-Natal metropolitan area
(2021) Mazibuko, Wiseman Sinethemba; Mugari, Alpha
South Africa is experiencing enormous socio-economic challenges such as gender-based violence, poverty and inequality, including ever-increasing high levels of unemployment. Many businesses are either closing or downsizing. People are resorting to alternative ways to alleviate poverty by establishing SMMEs. To get established, SMMEs are encountering a daunting task when it comes to implementing sound financial systems. The study sought to examine the challenges of capacitating SMMEs with financial management acumen and to remedy the difficulties of implementation thereof. Primary research was conducted amongst SMMEs in KwaZulu-Natal, Metropolitan Area. The population of this study consisted of a sample of 250 randomly selected SMMEs participated from a target population of 2200. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques such as SPSS and Cronbach’s Alpha. The study found, that the sector has grown and has become an engine to drive economic stabilisation, poverty alleviation and employment creation. However, perennial challenges grew exponentially. Moreover the covid-19 pandamic has worsen the situation. Government has played a huge role in making sure the SMMEs sector get the necessary financial support, through different entiies like the SEFA, SEDA, and SSSP. The majority of SMMEs concurs that lack of adequate financial management acumen negatively affects their success. Most of them cannot upskill themselves and are not satisfied with stakeholder interventions regarding training and development. The study also found that, funding is not a panacea to all the challenges faced by this sector. Solutions should come from SMMEs instead of stakeholders prescribing how problems should be resolved. Apart from financial management understanding, SMMEs maintains that networking opportunities with business associates are vital to their success.
Challenges of the repairs and maintenance of water infrastructure in Aganang Municipality in the province of Limpopo
(2017-11) Mokgobu, Matlou Lesley; Amisi, Baruti B.
Access to clean water is a human right and a basic need. Yet, many South African communities, the villages of the Aganang Municipality included, are still living in areas where access to clean water remains a challenge. They face, among other problems, a longer waiting time in long queues; walking long distances despite the topography of the villages; waiting for water at night when numerous consumer‘s taps are closed is then that water can reach other areas; or simply buying water from other community members who trade it with donkey carts as a commodity. The researcher used a mixed method to understand the challenges of water infrastructure in the municipality. The research‘s main findings reveal that these challenges result from a number of factors including but not limited to vandalism, shortage of personnel; lack of resources human, financial and spare parts; leaking and breaking of pipes, and under qualified/poorly trained personnel. These issues lead to dissatisfaction of the beneficiaries and mixed feelings around water quality. Indeed, whilst majority of respondents believe the quality of water is good, others disagree whilst others claim that they do not receive water at all. The solutions to these problems are also multifaceted. They include yard connections, reporting theft and vandalism to the police, imposing fine to the offender, employing water inspectors and security guards, discouraging illegal connections, educate the communities. The reporting mechanisms could include social media, free transportation of both the personnel and individuals who have identified the issues, and recruiting local people and transferring skills to the community members. The respondents have different views on different aspects of water infrastructure and access to clean water.
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.
Community based pathways to the prevention of gender based violence in mining communities
(2021) Magwegwe, Everjoy; Kaye, Sylvia; Harris, Geoffrey Thomas
Cases of gender-based violence are on the increase in mining-communities in Zimbabwe. Gender-based violence has been identified as a major impediment to achieving gender equality and overall sustainable development. Strategies for addressing gender-based violence face particular challenges in mining areas where, for most women, there is little or no access to safe shelters, counselling services, or the judicial system. The Government of Zimbabwe and civil society policy and programmatic efforts to reduce GBV have largely been ineffective for the country as a whole, let alone for marginalised, closed communities such as mining communities. The study was limited to Makusha, a mining community in Shurugwi (Zimbabwe), where mine workers from different mining companies are resident. Several scholars have noted that community-driven initiatives tend to be more effective in reducing GBV. In light of the foregoing, the study sought to develop community-based pathways to the prevention of GBV in a mining community in Zimbabwe. The study integrates the Social Learning Theory, propounded by Akers (1998), to understand the individual, and the Ecological Model as away of scrutinising human development by looking at the individual being, the surrounding environment, and the relationship between the two. Allport's Contact Theory (1954), which states that bringing people together from different background or groups has the ablity to reduce prejudice, and the study are anchored on the Conflict Transformation Theory, which hypothesises that methods for transforming social conflicts need to be produced within their context and be considerate of local conditions.
Community engagement and volunteerism : preparing DUT students as volunteers for a Child and Youth Care Centre in Durban
(2019) Doorsamy, Kristena; Maistry, Savathrie; Lortan, Darren Brendan; Grobbelaar, Hendrina Helena
The purpose of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate a training programme to prepare Durban University of Technology (DUT) students as volunteers to work in a partnership relationship with a Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) in Durban. Community Engagement (CE) was introduced as a function of higher education, to enable universities to contribute to the reconstruction of South Africa post-apartheid. As one of the many forms of CE in South African higher education institutions (HEIs), volunteerism has the potential to contribute to transformation and social justice in South Africa. Research and literature on the practices of CE, generally, is limited in the South African context and even more so for volunteerism as a form of CE. The majority of adopted literature is from the Global North, which does not always fit the South African context. This study asked the following research question: what kind of training and preparation do students of a University of Technology (UoT) need prior to volunteering in a community-university partnership project? In order to answer this question, an exploratory and developmental design, qualitative methodology and participatory approach were adopted for this study. The researcher, UoT academic staff and students and the CYCC staff worked together to plan, develop and implement the student volunteer training programme. On completion of the training programme, the students implemented a volunteer task in the form of a holiday programme, which was jointly planned and developed by the student volunteers and staff of the CYCC. The study comprised the following three phases: Phase One: orientation; Phase Two: planning and implementation; and Phase Three: monitoring and evaluation, in order to show the benefits of implementing the participatory approach towards partnership development between a UoT and Child and Youth Care Centre. The orientation phase, included the recruitment and orientation of the participants and highlighted the principles of a community-university partnership (CUP) formed between the UoT and the CYCC. Data collection through focus group interviews in Phase One revealed that participants had ambiguous knowledge about the concepts and theories relevant to CE, volunteerism and CUP. The training programme consequently covered concepts and theories related to CE and volunteerism. Participants’ recommendations for the training programme contributed richly to the study. Phase Two focused on the participatory planning of the volunteer training programme and implementation of the volunteer task. The content for the training programme was derived from literature reviewed and participants input generated in the first phase. Students then completed a three-week training programme. On completion, students conducted the volunteer task, which was a holiday programme with the children at the CYCC. Phase Three monitored and evaluated the prototype of the volunteer training programme in order to provide suggestions for a comprehensive volunteer training programme. Only the student volunteers participated in this phase. The findings showed that the students’ knowledge and skills regarding aspects of CE, volunteerism and CUP increased in both critical and variable ways. Additionally, self-awareness and development of students were also evident and areas of improvement were identified for inclusion in future volunteer training programmes. The findings of this study also affirm the need for in-depth training to facilitate processes that encourage experiential learning and critical thinking prior to students engaging or interacting with communities.