The Economic Freedom Fighters and Politics of Populism: Enhancing Political Participation, or a Threat to Democracy?
- Authors: Aiseng, Kealeboga
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/455481 , vital:75433 , ISBN 9798369304778 , DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-0477-8.ch02
- Description: This study presents a novel approach to understanding the economic freedom fighters (EFF) role in South African politics. The party has been called populist, fascist, and a threat to South Africa's democracy. This study was conducted through virtual ethnography research on the role of the EFF in South Africa's politics and presents the research findings here to understand if the EFF is merely populist, a threat to democracy, or encouraging citizens' political participation. The study's findings indicate that the EFF uses populist stances to attract supporters and voters to the party. But unlike the views of some commentators and scholars, the study presents different findings regarding the EFF's populist attitudes in the country's democracy. While some see such populist stances as a threat to democracy, the study views it as the party's advantage, among others, to encourage citizen political participation.
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- Date Issued: 2024
The effect of permanent protective netting on insect pest prevalence in citrus orchards in South Africa
- Authors: Marsberg, Tamryn , Peyper, Mellissa , Kirkman, Wayne , Moore, Sean D , Sutton, Guy F
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/452240 , vital:75114 , http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2024/a17244
- Description: The use of protective netting is becoming an increasingly popular practice in the citrus industry in South Africa. However, data on its effects on biotic factors, particularly insect pests, are limited. This study focused on the effect nets have on key citrus pests in the Eastern Cape province. Orchards under nets and open orchards, of similar cultivars, ages and management practices, were monitored at several sites over two seasons for pest infestation and damage. Weekly monitoring was conducted for Thaumatotibia leucotreta infestation. Other pests were monitored either monthly or once a season.
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- Date Issued: 2024
The nexus between COVID-19 and sexual and reproductive health of adolescents: Bringing adolescents ‘home’
- Authors: Kangaude, Godfrey , Macleod, Catriona I
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/434171 , vital:73036 , ISBN 9781032671420 , https://www.routledge.com/COVID-19-and-the-Right-to-Health-in-Africa/Durojaye-Mahadew/p/book/9781032671420?_ga=1281847179.1711584000
- Description: The devastating impact of the COVID-19 virus is well-documented. The disease was less severe among young people than in the older population. The effect on adolescents was primarily due to government measures to curb the pandemic, including lockdowns that disrupted social, education, and health services and diverted resources away from sexual and reproductive health. Young people lost or had limited access to sexual and reproductive health services and comprehensive sexuality education. They experienced the loss of financial and emotional support and parental care because of sick adults and caregivers. Young persons also lost time with friends and in developmental tasks associated with adolescence, such as exploring intimate relationships and forming identities outside the home. Government-imposed lockdowns and isolation measures revealed how being home can be problematic for young people, despite the concept of ‘home’ suggesting safety, security, and nurturance. Of particular concern were sexual and gender-based violence in the home and the increase in teenage pregnancies. In this chapter, we engage with the notion of home and how all institutions with which the adolescent interacts, especially family and school, should be a ‘home’: A place of belonging and acceptance because adolescence is a critical time for the emergence of sexual identity.
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- Date Issued: 2024
The rise of ‘violent non-state actors’ in South Africa: an analysis of the taxi industry in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Mato, Myalezo
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: Transportation and state -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape. , Black people -- South Africa -- Economic conditions. , Taxicabs -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape.
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28979 , vital:75701
- Description: This study investigated the rise of ‘violent-non state actors’ in South Africa, with specific focus on the taxi industry in the Eastern Cape Province. Contemporary South Africa has been a playground for violent non-state actors often evidenced by sporadic service delivery protests and gun violence in public spaces. Many authors attribute these to the failure of the state to provide public services such as security, water, employment, etc. Amongst these non-state actors, are taxi associations called mother-bodies. The deregulation of the taxi industry by the then apartheid government in 1987 resulted in the exponential inflow of previously oppressed black people into the taxi industry, which had now become the most accessible form of informal business for previously disadvantaged people. This resulted in the formation of many mother-bodies that subsequently became ‘law unto themselves’ due to the absence of formal state regulation amongst other things. Since then, violent conflicts amongst these mother bodies have become the order of the day. The study sought to determine the commuter’s perspectives about the taxi industry and violence in the Eastern Cape Province, to determine ways in which the taxi industry has challenged the monopoly of the state over the legitimate use of force and to explore the reasons why taxi violence has largely gone unchecked by the state. Part of the key findings of the study were that there is a general sense of fear and insecurity amongst commuters especially female commuters who use taxis. Various cases of sexual assault, intimidation and psychological traumas caused by exposure to violence amongst commuters have been reported. It has also been determined that in order to effectively challenge the monopoly of the state over the legitimate use force, some taxi operators have resorted to the use of self created laws to intimidate their competitors, use of mafia-like tactics, extortion and coercion amongst other things in order to impose monopoly over some lucrative routes, individuals and associations. In resolving some of these challenges, the study inter alia recommends for the formalization of the taxi industry by government, which will result in the subsidisation of the industry. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024
The Sociolinguistics of South African Television: Language Ideologies in Selected Case Studies
- Authors: Aiseng, Kealeboga
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/455397 , vital:75427 , ISBN 978-3-031-54914-4 , DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-0477-8.ch021
- Description: This book explores the interwoven relationship between language, media, and society in post-Apartheid South Africa. The author examines selected case studies from the sociolinguistic landscape of South African television, analysing dominant language ideologies and illuminating the challenges, opportunities, and potential for transformation. He argues for the power of television in shaping language ideologies, fostering cultural understanding, and advocating for more inclusive and equitable language usage in the media. This book contributes to the field of sociolinguistics by emphasizing the complexity of multilingualism in South Africa and inviting ongoing exploration and dialogue in this landscape. It will be of interest to students and scholars of Sociolinguistics, Media Studies, African Culture and History, and Language Policy and Planning.
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- Date Issued: 2024
Understanding resource use of an invasive species: Diet of the common warthog in Eastern Cape succulent thicket
- Authors: Mgqatsa, Nokubonga , Jama, Kanyisa , Landman, Marietjie , Kerley, Graham I H
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462746 , vital:76331 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2024.105155"
- Description: Understanding resource use of invasive species provides insights for predicting and mitigating their impacts on biodiversity. We explored the predictability of diet of the invasive common warthog by describing and comparing the diet of warthog populations from two semi-arid, invaded sites, Addo Elephant National Park (AMC), and Great Fish River Nature Reserve (GFRNR), Eastern Cape, South Africa. These sites are both dominated by the Subtropical Thicket biome, but differ in vegetation type. We used forage availability to estimate diet preferences at AMC. We predicted that warthog would consume grass in invaded landscapes. Additionally, we predicted that the diet at one invaded site would predict this at another invaded site. As predicted, warthog mainly consumed grass at both sites (AMC – 87.4%, GFRNR – 88.5%), eating few woody plants, succulents, and forbs. Cynodon dactylon was the most consumed species in AMC, in GFRNR this was Eragrostis curvula and Cymbopogon pospichilii. Our ability to predict the diet between sites was constrained by variation in the plant species consumed. We found strong relationships between the consumption of preferred plant species at AMC and their consumption at GFRNR. We show that warthogs are specialised grazers outside their native range and thus can be expected to impact grass communities in invaded areas, especially preferred grass species. Thus, conservation managers need to monitor grasses in areas invaded by warthog to better detect and manage their impacts.
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- Date Issued: 2024
Using photo by-catch data to reliably estimate spotted hyaena densities over time
- Authors: Mgqatsa, Nokubonga , Jama, Kanyisa , Landman, Marietjie , Kerley, Graham I H
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462757 , vital:76332 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2024.105155"
- Description: Protected areas are becoming increasingly isolated refugia for large carnivores but remain critical for their survival. Spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) are important members of the African large carnivore guild but, like other members of the guild, routinely come into conflict with people because of their large home ranges that are not always confined to protected areas. To effectively conserve spotted hyaena populations, it is paramount to monitor their abundance through reliable and cost-effective techniques. We estimated the density of spotted hyaenas in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park (HiP), South Africa using camera trap images and a spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) framework between 2013 and 2018. We estimated an average of 18.29 ± 3.27 spotted hyaenas per 100 km2 between 2013 and 2018, with an annual estimated high of 20.83/100 km2 in 2014 and a low of 11.98/100 km2 in 2015. Our results demonstrate that camera trap by-catch data can be used for estimating spotted hyaena densities over time. We believe that given the widespread use and deployment of camera traps across Africa, collaborative efforts to use existing data to improve regional and continental estimates and population trends for spotted hyaenas should be a priority.
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- Date Issued: 2024
Violence against women who sell sex in eastern and southern Africa: a scoping review
- Authors: Macleod, Catriona I , Reynolds, John H , Delate, Richard
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441380 , vital:73881 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380231160847"
- Description: Women who sell sex (WSS) are vulnerable to violence. We present a scoping review of the last decade of research on the prevalence and incidence of, factors associated with, and services regarding violence against WSS in Eastern and Southern African (ESA). A systematic search of various databases resulted in 20 papers being reviewed. Inclusion criteria, applied by the first two authors, were as follows: empirical papers, key research problem is violence against WSS, and conducted in ESA countries. The lifetime prevalence of violence revealed in the studies ranged from 21% to 82%. A pattern of generalized violence against WSS from paying clients, male partners, strangers, family members, friends/acquaintances, and the authorities emerged. Factors associated with violence included the context within which the sex work occurs, alcohol use, type of sex exchange interactions, and personal factors (low education, low income, marriage, youth, high client volume, time in sex work, forced sexual debut, and internalized sex work stigma). WSS seldom access services after violence. Evaluations of two programs, a woman-focused HIV intervention, and the Diagonal Interventions to Fast-Forward Reproductive Health project, showed improvements in gender-based violence services. Findings suggest that targeted programmes should be paired with improving general health services and focus on promoting collective agency among WSS.
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- Date Issued: 2024
Vulnerable Youth or Vulnerabilising Contexts? A Critical Review of Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Policies in Eastern and Southern Africa
- Authors: Lynch, Ingrid , Macleod, Catriona I , Chiweshe, Malvern T , Moore, Sarah A
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461035 , vital:76075 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-024-01018-y
- Description: Policy decisions about young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) have far-reaching implications for their well-being. Few SRHR policies, however, focus specifically on youth. Rather, youth SRHR tends to be subsumed within national policies of Health, Youth, Education and Development Ministries, particularly in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region, complicating an assessment of the overall state of youth SRHR policies. Given the fact that youth SRHR policies focus on a particular segment of the population—youth, teenagers or adolescents—how policies depict these subjects has implications for how policy objectives, programmes and interventions are conceptualised and the kind of sexual and reproductive health concerns that are prioritised.
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- Date Issued: 2024
Zulu Ethnolinguistic Nationalism
- Authors: Aiseng, Kealeboga
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/455384 , vital:75426 , ISBN 978-3-031-54914-4 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54915-1
- Description: Language is more than just a communication medium; it exists within interrelated social and political processes. Therefore, language never appears by itself; it always represents a system of social and political interests, reflecting the prevailing discursive and ideological strategies. The current chapter investigates the notion of “Zulu ethnolinguistic nationalism” as a language ideology in South African television. Having watched a series of television programs in South Africa and utilizing the corpus linguistic approach, the author asserts that there is a clear dominance of isiZulu in South African television. Ultimately, this dominance created a language ideology that privileges isiZulu over other indigenous languages on South African television.
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- Date Issued: 2024
‘Crushed all over again’: the professional experiences of early career counselling psychologists in South Africa
- Authors: Haine, Phillipa , Booysen, Duane D , Young, Charles S
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/454056 , vital:75306 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-sapsyc_v54_n1_a51"
- Description: Counselling psychology in South Africa has recently emerged from a tumultuous period, stemming from regulatory efforts in 2011, which negatively impacted on the profession’s status and viability. While the definition and scope of counselling psychology arguably demonstrate improvements in aligning with global practices, concerns persist surrounding the work opportunities and professional experiences of counselling psychologists, particularly those in the early stages of their careers. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the professional experiences of early career counselling psychologists in South Africa. The pool of participants were 10 early career counselling psychologists (females = 7, males = 3, period in service = 1–10 years). The participants completed semi-structured interviews on their early career professional experiences, as well as the meanings they attributed to these experiences. An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the data revealed three group experiential themes: (1) the complexity of finding and securing work; (2) navigating an array of personal, professional, and systemic challenges, and (3) self-acquiring support. The findings suggest that despite the unique and valuable skills and knowledge counselling psychologists possess, the participants struggled to successfully transition into the workforce, resulting in feelings of anxiety, frustration, and professional disillusionment. The findings indicate enhanced support is needed at various levels to address the needs and bolster the wellbeing, utilisation, and retention of counselling psychologists in their transition into the South African workforce.
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- Date Issued: 2024
“Bactricia nematodes Kby., 1894” (Phasmida, Diapheromeridae, Diapheromerinae) is a nomen nudum
- Authors: Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/440615 , vital:73797 , https://doi.org/10.3897/ AfrInvertebr.65.115507
- Description: A review of published evidence indicates that Bactricia nematodes Kirby, 1894 is a nomen nudum because it is an unavailable name. The specimen collected during the Lund University Swedish South African Expedition and reported by this name is a male of Bactricia bituberculata (Schaum, 1857).
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- Date Issued: 2024
Advantages of postgraduate research supervision and publication output at a selected University in Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Cekiso-Smith, Nontuthuzelo
- Date: 2024-01
- Subjects: Research Supervision
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/11090 , vital:75917
- Description: The objective of the study was to investigate how postgraduate research supervision practices may contribute to the improvement of publication output at the selected university. Drawing from extensive literature, the significance of establishing strong supervisor-supervisee relationships was emphasised as paramount to the success of postgraduate research study. In conjunction with the theoretical framework, the research used a well-structured inductive approach, which took into account the context where the research took place, anchored by a case study as it provides tools for the researcher to study complex phenomena within the context of the study. The sample consisted of 24 participants who were purposefully selected from the selected faculty in the selected university. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, which were conducted by the researcher in person and detailed procedures, ensuring the credibility and reliability of the study. Strict confidentiality measures were in place, ensuring participants’ anonymity and the safeguarding of their responses, fostering a trustworthy environment for honest revelations. Data were analysed and interpreted with ATLAS.ti software. Data analysis was carried out systematically, identifying themes and subthemes that answered the central research question. This rigorous analysis led to the discovery of several crucial findings. There was a notable call for academic support mechanisms like mentorship, advising and research supervision to bolster postgraduate research outputs, especially in remote universities. Financial constraints and barriers to attending research seminars and conferences emerged as significant hurdles, stressing the need for effective strategies to overcome these challenges. iii In-depth discussions revealed the criticality of fostering healthy supervisor-supervisee relationships from a development’s inception, highlighting the pivotal role of open communication. The study also identified supervisors’ need for institutional support in acquiring the necessary educational capabilities to efficiently mentor postgraduate students. Furthermore, emphasis was placed on the importance of enhancing postgraduate students’ professional writing skills for publication. However, the study did not ignore the challenges faced by research supervisors. Heavy workloads, time constraints and high expectations emerged as considerable stressors. Among the recommendations, the study called for institutional assistance in obtaining the essential educational competencies to effectively guide postgraduate students. Attention to the dire need for improved support systems, research infrastructure, incentives for supervisors and streamlined research procedures. In summation, this research underscores the significance of continuous monitoring, evaluation and engagement strategies to foster an environment conducive to advanced postgraduate research supervision and publication growth Key words: Postgraduate supervision, research publication, postgraduate students, Historically Disadvantaged University. , Thesis (D.Ed) -- Faculty of Education, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-01
Exploring the social construction of masculine identity as it relates to rape in the Buffalo City Municipality
- Authors: Matshikwe, Noluthando https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0439-0766
- Date: 2024-01
- Subjects: Masculinity , Gender identity , Sex role
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28595 , vital:74454
- Description: In South Africa, rape is a pandemic that is persistent and pervasive in unprecedented amounts. The construction of masculinity is understood to be a contributing factor to the rape pandemic in the country, as its construction focuses on power, dominance, and control of the less masculine individual. This study explored the social construction of masculine identity related to rape in the Buffalo City Municipality. The study sample consisted of a mixed-gendered focus group interview of eight participants (four males and four females). In addition, the study utilised six individual virtual interviews (three males and three females) who were all students at a local university. When analysing the data received from the participants, the study adopted Willig’s six stages of Foucauldian discourse analysis outlined in her book “Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology” (2008, p. 118). The Foucauldian discourse analysis utilised in this study allowed for answering research questions through direct analysis of the extracts selected for this study. The results of this study indicated that masculinity is a socially constructed phenomenon synonymous with dominance and power. Hegemonic masculinity was constructed as synonymous with manhood, resulting in an individual being entitled to social privileges. Subordinate subjects were constructed as vulnerable to the expression of these qualities by being dominated, controlled, and raped. This construction of masculinity continues to construct robust and powerless subjects, where the powerless subject is subjected to the hegemonic male power, dominance, and control, creating an imbalance of social power and an unjust social hierarchy of. The construction of masculinity is linked with the rape pandemic faced by the country, as it constructs hegemonic forms of masculinity associated with domination and violation of other members of society, through sexual assault. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-01
Implementation of the national diploma in tourism and hospitality management curriculum in two polytechnic colleges in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Ngwenya, Khanyisani https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0543-4671
- Date: 2024-01
- Subjects: Hospitality industry -- Vocational guidance , Tourism -- Vocational guidance
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28287 , vital:74165
- Description: Many countries in the world consider the tourism and hospitality industry as the leading employer with huge impact on economic growth. It has significantly contributed to their national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Several studies conducted world over affirm that tourism contributes above the global average of ten percent. In Zimbabwe, the estimated percentage has also been as high as 10percent. The Tourism and Hospitality Management (THM) program aims to equip youth with critical industry-specific skills and mitigate unemployment. Despite this, literature has revealed that certain graduates struggle to secure industry positions due to a discrepancy between acquired skills and employer expectations. Consequently, some graduates accept menial roles outside the tourism sector, while the industry itself resorts to employing unqualified personnel. The reason lies in ineffective curriculum implementation approaches characterized by a lack of appropriate pedagogical methods. Identifying and implementing effective strategies ensures that graduates possess the requisite skills and competencies demanded by the industry, making their employability much easier. This study used a qualitative approach because of its exploratory, descriptive, and contextual nature. The interpretive paradigm provided participants’ views, opinions, and thoughts on the THM curriculum implementation. The multiple case study research design allowed ample freedom to dig deeper into rich empirical data by examining contemporary trends in implementing the ND3 in THM curriculum at two polytechnic colleges. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to select the two polytechnic colleges. Purposive sampling was used to select twelve (12) students, six (6) lecturers, and two (2) ITTD inspectors. Lecturers and inspectors were interviewed. Data from students was obtained through Focus group discussions. Curriculum documents were reviewed to provide true realities of the THM curriculum implementation. Content analysis was used to analyse data. Rogan and Grayson (2003) curriculum implementation theoretical framework guided the study. The study revealed that lecturers were dissatisfied due to inappropriate pedagogical strategies. A new model to bridge the theory/ practice gap in teaching was developed. The study recommended the adoption of a new and modern teaching model and fix the recruitment process by employing qualified lecturers to teach ND3 in THM students. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-01
Rationalisation of magisterial districts to transform the judiciary and widen access to justice under the RSA constitution of 1996
- Authors: Skosana, Jacob
- Date: 2024-01
- Subjects: Justice, Administration of , Law and socialism , Human rights -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28162 , vital:72777
- Description: The study examines how pre-1994 magisterial districts jurisdictions denied access to justice to many South Africans, and ongoing efforts to reverse this injustice. Delayed rationalisation of the judiciary and reform of the courts territorial jurisdiction during the apartheid era exacerbated the problem. The courts administered justice along spatial racial divide, and given the location of the courts, many black communities had to commute long distances to access justice and at a great cost and inconvenience. The Constitution of South Africa of 1996 provides not only for the right to equality before the law and equal protection and benefit of the law but also the right to access the courts and seek recourse. In a period spanning eight years from December 2014, new magisterial districts were proclaimed in all the nine provinces of South Africa. Despite this milestone and the imperative of the 1996 Constitution, the rationalisation process is still in its infancy: old legislation and judicial structures remain intact; divisions of the High Court continue to exercise jurisdictions determined for the pre-1994 constitutional dispensation. The status quo continues to perpetuate the denial of access to justice to communities especially those living in areas that hitherto formed part of the former homelands and self-governing ‘states’. The study was conducted through a desktop survey of primary and secondary material relevant to the rationalisation process. It drew lessons from the re-demarcation of municipal boundaries which, like magisterial districts, were based on racial laws and policies of the past. It also contrasted rationalisation principles in comparable jurisdictions. The findings provide a useful contribution to the ongoing effort to effect rationalisation of the court system. They also contribute to knowledge and enriches our understanding of the relationship that underpins the administration of justice in a dispensation driven by democratic, human rights and constitutional ethos. , Thesis (PhD (LLD)) -- Faculty of Law, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-01
An assessment of the cost effectiveness and impact of introducing a laboratory electronic gatekeeping system at an academic hospital in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Mayekiso, Zoliswa
- Date: 2024-00
- Subjects: Medicine and Health Scienes
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/13042 , vital:76864
- Description: Monitoring laboratory expenditure is crucial to ensure that laboratory services remain sustainable and affordable. In South Africa, the National Department of Health (NDoH) and its partner, the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) collaborated to introduce Electronic Gate Keeping (EGK) systems across the country. Countries across the globe report an increase in expenditure associated with medical laboratory testing. In 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services reported that laboratory test expenditures increased by $459 million from $7.1 billion in 2018. In South Africa, laboratory testing expenditure in the public sector increased from $415 million (R4.5 billion) in 2014 to $723 million (R10.7 billion) in 2021. Many countries, including South Africa, are developing, and testing new methods to reduce the excessive demand for medical laboratory tests for patient investigations to reduce the burden of rising laboratory costs on national budgets. The aim of the study is to assess the cost-effectiveness and impact of introducing a laboratory electronic gate keeping system at an academic hospital in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Objectives: This study addressed four goals which are: (i) Evaluated the impact of the EGK intervention by obtaining the number of inappropriately requested test investigations averted and cost associated (cost savings) at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital (NMAH), Eastern Cape, between 1st June 2015 to 31st May 2017. (ii) Determined the costs associated with inappropriately requested test investigations analysed prior to the implementation of EGK at NMAH, Eastern Cape, from 1st June 2013 to 31st May 2015. (iii) Determined the costs associated with inappropriately xxxiii requested test investigations analysed during the implementation of EGK at NMAH, Eastern Cape, from 1st June 2015 to 31st May 2017. (iv) Evaluated the costs and cost effectiveness analysis of introducing and implementing EGK at NMAH, Eastern Cape, between 1st June 2015 to 31st May 2017. Methods: In addressing the four objectives, this study was undergone in four phases, making use of secondary data on laboratory expenditure, primarily collected electronically by the NHLS and supplied to NMAH on monthly basis. In objective 1 and phase 1 of the study, a cross sectional study design to retrospectively audit EGK subjected tests at the NHLS in Mthatha by Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital over 24 months was employed. In objective 2 and 3 and phase 2 of the study, a cross-sectional study using an interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) to determine the impact of the EGK intervention was employed. In this phase, two periods comparing laboratory expenditure before and during the EGK intervention were analysed over a period of 24 months. In objective 4 and phase 3 of the study, a cross-sectional study that used cost effectiveness analysis (CEA) to evaluate a cost effectiveness of EGK intervention over 24 months was done. Results: In the first phase, we found that out of 448 028 tests requested, 17,480 (3.9%) were rejected after being identified as unnecessary through the EGK system. This rejection rate of 3.9% generated cost savings of $51,967.07 (R807,110.95). The top three tests that generated the most savings were the c-reactive protein with $6,077.68 (R94,393.59), free thyroxine with $5,199.92 (R80,760.94) and hepatitis A IgM with $3,813.61 (R59,229.98). In the second phase, our results demonstrated that xxxiv there was a significant reduction (211,928 fewer tests) in the number of tests performed during the intervention (434,790) compared to before the intervention (646,718). Laboratory test expenditure was $1,663,756.72 (R24,823,250.26) before the intervention period and $1,105,036.88 (R1,567,150.25) during the intervention period, demonstrating a cost savings of $558,719.84 (R8,336,100.01). In the last phase 3, results showed that implementing EGK resulted in lower costs - $515,114.96 (R7,685,515.20) and 212 fewer tests, resulting in an Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) of USD 2,430.00 (R36,255.60) which is evidence is needed to evaluate the cost effectiveness of EGK in South Africa from a societal perspective. , Thesis Phd -- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-00
Factors influencing digital marketing adoption for female interpreneurs in small and medium enterprices of OR Thambo Municipality
- Authors: Maduna, Siyasanga
- Date: 2024-00
- Subjects: Digital Marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/10065 , vital:74935
- Description: The rise of the Internet has transformed the business landscape, leading to the rapid growth of major online retailers and service providers like Amazon, Facebook, and Google, all of which play significant roles in the digital economy (Kannan, 2017). Global internet usage continues to grow, with South Africa not an exception. The research seeks to explore the factors influencing digital marketing adoption for female entrepreneurs on small and medium enterprise in OR Tambo municipality. This dissertation employs a quantitative research design. The study employs structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques to analyse a comprehensive dataset gathered from 313 female entrepreneurs. The findings reveal a nuanced relationship between adoption of digital marketing and business performance. The SEM results indicate that H4, have a positive influence on adoption of digital marketing, and H5, have a positive influence on business performance. The hypotheses H1; H2 and H3 had negative relationship on adoption on adoption of digital marketing hence they were rejection. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of factors that influence the adoption of digital marketing on enhancing business performance for SME’s. The dissertation contributes to inclusive economic development, policy implications; educational interventions; strategic business imperative and social impact. Beyond the economic aspects, the study contributes to social impact by challenging and potentially reshaping societal norms and expectations regarding women's roles in business. This research not only advances the theoretical understanding of the link between adoption of digital marketing and business performance but also provides valuable insights for designing effective marketing strategies to improve business performance on female entrepreneurs. The dissertation concludes with suggestions for future research directions to further refine an understanding of the intricate dynamics involved in the relationship between adoption of digital marketing and business performance. , Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Economics and Financial Sciences, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-00
Government expenditure on health services and economic development in South Africa
- Authors: Magida, Ngesisa
- Date: 2024-00
- Subjects: Government expenditure on health services
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/10146 , vital:74943
- Description: Economic development relates to economic growth and improvements in the living standards of people. South Africa is ranked among the slow developing countries in the world, based on the high percentage of people living under poor conditions. This study examines the relationship between government health expenditure and economic development in South Africa between 1994 and 2022. Human development index (HDI), government health expenditure (GHE), inflation, population growth, and unemployment are the variables used to investigate this relationship. Auto regressive distributed lag (ARDL) and Granger causality were employed to examine this relationship. Government expenditure on health services and inflation were found to have a positive short-run and long-run relationship with human development index, whereas unemployment and population growth showed a negative relationship with HDI in the long-run. Granger causality results highlighted a unidirectional causality between HDI and GHE in South Africa, among other explanatory variables. HDI Granger causes GHE and vice versa. Continuous increment and monitoring of GHE distribution, to ensure that the growing population receives proper healthcare to boost the life expectancy of the citizens and to fund the preventative measures against health epidemics in South Africa is the policy recommendation to improve HDI in South Africa. Keywords: , Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Economics and Financial Sciences, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-00
Household food security status and its determinantsin Mthata Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Nodo, Asive
- Date: 2024-00
- Subjects: Food Security
- Language: English
- Type: Masters theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/10156 , vital:74945
- Description: Food security remains a critical issue worldwide, and South Africa is no exception. This national challenge is especially acute in the Eastern Cape Province, known as one of the poorest regions in the country. The highest rates of poverty are observed in the Eastern Cape Province, with the population largely dependent on social grants to secure their food needs. The primary objective of the study was to examine the household food security status and its determinants in Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study was conducted in Tabase and Ncise in Mthatha. The purposive sampling technique was employed in the study and 336 data points were achieved. The study used the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), developed by the USAID-funded Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance II (FANTA), and leveraged Tobit regression analysis, particularly advantageous for handling censored dependent variables, to examine the determinants of food household food security. The results revealed that gender, age, crops and social grants have no statistical significant relationship with food insecurity. Education, employment status, income, livestock and dietary diversity have a statistical significant relationship with food insecurity. Results further revealed that 40.36% of households were food insecure while 4.22% were food secure, 7.83% were mildly food insecure and 40.36% were severely food insecure. The study recommends the formation of agricultural cooperatives with government support, prioritising education incentives, and strengthening existing food support initiatives. It emphasizes promoting savings clubs and subsidising nutrient-rich foods to enhance accessibility. These multifaceted recommendations aim to address household food security in Mthatha, providing a comprehensive framework for intervention and policy considerations. , Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Economics and Finacial Sciences, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-00