Research Publications (Engineering and Built Environment)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/215

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Corruption, construction industry and gravel roads in Tanzania
(SA ePublications, 2014-09) Allopi, Dhiren; Mwaipungu, Richard Robert
This paper discusses corruption in the construction industry to delineate its effects on gravel roads, drawing from Tanzanian experiences. To attain this aim, the paper analyses the following aspects: cooperation between legal entities providing services to the community and the road authorities managing road networks during execution of road works; selection of subcontractors by the main contractor, and the relationship between materials, laboratory personnel responsible for checking the quality and quantity of road works and the contractor, client and consultant; the relationship between client representatives, contractors and project engineer; and, the relationship between contractors and their employees in terms of salary, accommodation and working conditions. As a result of these relationships, gravel roads are affected negatively in terms of their quality. The paper argues that corruption in the Tanzanian construction industry is condoned by government ministry officials who are responsible for overseeing the performance of respective agencies. The paper recommends several measures that could be adopted to curb the corruption in Tanzania's construction industry.
Finding solid ground : law enforcement, key populations and their health and rights in South Africa
(International Aids Society, 2016) Scheibe, Andrew; Howell, Simon; Muller, Alexandra; Katumba, Munyaradzi; Langen, Bram; Artz, Lillian; Marks, Monique Michal
Introduction: Sex workers, people who use drugs, men who have sex with men, women who have sex with women and transgender people in South Africa frequently experience high levels of stigma, abuse and discrimination. Evidence suggests that such abuse is sometimes committed by police officers, meaning that those charged with protection are perpetrators. This reinforces cycles of violence, increases the risk of HIV infection, undermines HIV prevention and treatment interventions and violates the constitutional prescriptions that the police are mandated to protect. This paper explores how relationship building can create positive outcomes while taking into account the challenges associated with reforming police strategies in relation to key populations, and vice versa. Discussion: We argue that relationships between law enforcement agencies and key populations need to be re-examined and reconstituted to enable appropriate responses and services. The antagonistic positioning, ‘‘othering’’ and blame assignment frequently seen in interactions between law enforcement officials and key populations can negatively influence both, albeit for different reasons. In addressing these concerns, we argue that mediation based on consensual dialogue is required, and can be harnessed through a process that highlights points of familiarity that are often shared, but not understood, by both parties. Rather than laying blame, we argue that substantive changes need to be owned and executed by all role-players, informed by a common language that is cognisant of differing perspectives. Conclusions: Relational approaches can be used to identify programmes that align goals that are part of law enforcement, human rights and public health despite not always being seen as such. Law enforcement champions and representatives of key populations need to be identified and supported to promote interventions that are mutually reinforcing, and address perceived differences by highlighting commonality. Creating opportunities to share experiences in mediation can be beneficial to all role-players. While training is important, it is not a primary mechanism to change behaviour and attitudes.
Gender and gender mainstreaming In engineering education in Africa
(Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Engineering and Sciences Publication - BEIESP, 2020) Fomunyam, Kehdinga George; Matola, Noluthando; Moyo, Sibusiso
In Africa, a lot of debates on the issues of gender gap and gender inequality has raised concerns in engineering education (EE) and engineering workforce. Thus, gender inequality and equity are significant in realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in recent years much has been done to address gender gaps, yet women are still excluded, underrepresented, segregated and relegated inengineering profession and academia. With much sensitization on gender equality, Africa is still far from addressing gender gaps in EE; hence the crux of this paper. This paper was guided by Liberal Feminism theory, focusing on women’s freedom as an autonomy to be free from coercive interference, due to‘gender system’ or patriarchal nature of inherited traditions and institutions. This paper takes a broad look at the concepts of gender and gender mainstreaming in EE in Africa. Specifically, it explores gender and inequality in EE and how gender mainstreaming canbe enacted to address gender gaps in EE, as well as its implications in Africa. Thus, to address these gaps, recommendations such as developing gendersensitive curriculum for EE, adopting policies in facilitating women’s access to training and employment opportunities as well as creating gender-sensitive career counselling were advocated
The role of spatial development frameworks in transformation of the eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa : reflecting on 20 years of planning
(Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht, 2016-01-06) Musvoto, Godfrey; Lincoln, Gilberte Marie; Hansmann, Robynne Jean
In the 20 years since the advent of a democratic government in South Africa, planned expenditure on infrastructure projects by municipalities has been used in part to redress inequalities and socioeconomic distortions created by apartheid. Our purpose in this article is to assess the effectiveness of planning instruments to achieve desired transformation in the case of the eThekwini Municipality. We evaluated demographic, spatial regional economic, settlement hierarchy, accessibility and functional analysis indicators to assess the eThekwini Spatial Development Framework (SDF) as it applies to the city of Durban, making particular use of the National Population Census results for 2001 and 2011, municipal data on housing and settlement distribution, the munic-ipal evaluation roll, the Industrial Land Study of 2014 and the Eskom household survey of 2009. These data sets were mapped using Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) GIS to analyse spatial changes over the decade from 2001 to 2011 to establish the ways and extent public investment guided by SDFs is responsive to spatial transformation imperatives. We found that, although there has been some economic and population growth, in-migration and densification of the inner city, there has been limited spatial transformation of the urban population, many communities still live in poverty, the traditional inequalities prevail and the benefits of democratic dispensation are elusive to many, despite substantial investment in infrastructure. Our analysis points to inadequacies of the planning tools and their application to spending public funds. Moreover, SDFs appear to be process and compliance-driven rather than inclusive of stakeholder concerns. We argue that they require substantial refinement to achieve the desired results.
Women as canons in engineering theorizing their experiences and exploits
(Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Engineering and Sciences Publication - BEIESP, 2020) Kehdinga, George Fomunyam
Globally theorizing women’s experiences and exploits in engineering has attracted a lot of debates. Thus, efforts put in place to address under-representation among women in engineering, have been thwarted to accomplish Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality, in areas of preconception of engineering male-dominated profession, gender gaps in recruitment of women engineers, lack of gender-sensitive curriculum and low female involvement in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) subjects are still lacking in Africa. With much sensitization on equality, yet women engineers are still plagued with gender disparity in Africa; hence the crux of this paper. This paper was guided by Liberal Feminist Theory focusing on gender inequality, exists as a consequence ofstereotypingdivision of labour and sexparity can be realized if vital institutions are re-patterned. This paper takes a broad look at women as canons in engineering alongside theorizing their experiences and exploits in Africa. Specifically, it explores how women engineers have made huge contributions; and to showcase their experiences and exploits, as well as its implications for Africa. Thus, to address these gaps, implementing of gender policies in eliminating all forms of under-representation of women in engineering was advocated.