Housing challenges in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality: an exploration
- Authors: Marutlulle, Noah Kaliofas
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (in Public Administration)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1234 , vital:26539
- Description: The housing delivery topic is frequently dredged to the surface of media focus by tragic phenomena such as the destruction of lives and properties by storms and fires and also at the hands of the police during demonstrations. This study which is exploratory in nature and adopted an interpretive research philosophy aimed at investigating the housing delivery challenges encountered by Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) with the objectives of illuminating the challenges, establishing the role EMM play in housing delivery and providing recommendations that would assist in ameliorating the challenges. It utilised a qualitative methodology involving indirect observation which included the use of questionnaires and interviews and a purposive sampling method where fifty eight participants comprising employees of EMM, Councillors, Community leaders and Community members were selected. The data were analysed in Microsoft word using thematic analysis and a pilot study was used to pre-test the objectivity, reliability and validity of the data and also to improve the success and effectiveness of the investigation. Overall, the results suggested the main causes of the housing delivery challenges to be predominantly a combination of population growth, the unavailability of land, corruption and government policies. The key findings that emerged for the amelioration of the challenges were the formulation of a coherent housing strategy, the need for the government to pursue housing policies that are comprehensive and effectively integrated with broader socioeconomic objectives and also the need for the government to be fully attuned to the necessity of reconfiguring housing policy as part of its mechanism for managing the economy. The general focus of the recommendations was on overcoming the housing delivery hurdles. In recommending future research, the existence of a vast amount of new knowledge that still need to be discovered on the housing delivery arena was established and avenues were indicated through which the knowledge can directly illuminate issues central to the theme of this study [housing delivery challenges]. The study will become a landmark and a standard reference in future studies wherein it will also serve as a barometer to test new and contentious ideas and theories encapsulated in issues surrounding the study.
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- Date Issued: 2014
Human rights implications of the compulsory HIV/AIDS testing policy: a critical appraisal of the law and practice in South Africa, Uganda and Canada
- Authors: Chiringa, Kudakwashe E M
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: HIV infections -- Prevention , HIV-positive persons -- Civil rights , AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Legal status, laws, etc. , AIDS (Disease) -- Law and legislation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:11106 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1017298 , HIV infections -- Prevention , HIV-positive persons -- Civil rights , AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Legal status, laws, etc. , AIDS (Disease) -- Law and legislation
- Description: HIV/AIDS has been an obstacle to socio-economic development and a major cause of loss of human life. It has also caused vast inequities and frustration to the public health sector. One of the significant efforts made by the public health sector to combat the epidemic is the implementation of a mandatory HIV/AIDS testing policy to scale-up HIV treatment. This dissertation examines the impact of this policy on the human rights of people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Coercive government policies aimed at controlling the AIDS pandemic often infringe on the rights of individuals known to be or suspected of living with HIV/AIDS and this decreases the effectiveness of public health measures. The research methodology involved the study of written literature and a comparative literature study of the law and practice obtaining in South Africa, Uganda and Canada. It revealed that voluntary testing is effective and suitable in South Africa. This dissertation aimed to show that any public health approach that aims to achieve a comprehensive prevention strategy must be consistent with respect for human rights as enshrined in regional and international human rights law. Public health and human rights should, therefore, not be regarded as opposing forces; rather they should be seen as a unified system of protection of human welfare under the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. The solution to the crisis lies not only in testing every single person but also requires a shift of focus to more pressing issues that include gender equality, stigma and discrimination; prioritizing human rights, institutional capacity and resources; and an end to extreme poverty. A human rights-based approach to HIV/AIDS testing, such as the Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) is recommended. Therefore, failure to adhere to the core principles of testing - which are informed consent, counselling and confidentiality of the test result - will only hinder the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The rights of those affected by HIV/AIDS need to be protected in order to address public health imperatives. This can be done through the use of the law as an instrument of social change as well as education and awareness. Key words, HIV/AIDS, mandatory testing, Voluntary Counselling and Testing, public health, human rights-based approach.
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- Date Issued: 2013