Access to social grants information by the Balfour Village elderly population in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Faku, Andile
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Information services Information resources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Library and Information Science)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18096 , vital:42231
- Description: This study sought to investigate the access to information about social grants by the elderly population of Balfour village in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality in SA’s Eastern Cape Province. A study on access to information is quite relevant in the knowledge-based economies. People act when they have information and similarly elderly people require information in order to access their grants. This study is quite relevant in the Library and Information Science field. The targeted population for the study were the elderly people of the Balfour village. The qualitative research approach was used in this study. The researcher selected a sample for the study using snowballsampling procedure. Both in-depth interviews and questionnaires were employed as methods of gathering data and thematic analysis of data was used. Results showed that there is a lack of information dissemination and access to information about social grants for elderly people living in Balfour. The study found out that elderly people in Balfour complained that, in most cases, they were not sure about the documents they were supposed to bring with them when they visited the South African Social Security Agency offices. This indicates the need for SASSA to train their staff members to be customer orientated and encourage staff to empower themselves with formal educational qualifications. In addition, the distance to and from SASSA offices is of great concern because elderly people spend significant amounts of money for travelling these distances. Therefore, there must be an office that is situated in a favourable distance to the elderly so that they do not struggle when they want to reach SASSA offices. Another option would be to avail a mobile office that may serve the area two or three times a week.
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- Date Issued: 2020
An audience perception of pentecostal churches’ television programmes on star times and dstv in lagos, Nigeria
- Authors: Olaoye, Adewale Titus
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Religious broadcasting -- Christianity Television in religion Mass media in religion
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Communication)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11418 , vital:39070
- Description: Pentecostal churches in Nigeria are leveraging traditional and new media technologies such as cable or digital satellite television, to broadcast services and programmes to their regular and a growing community of virtual worshippers. Critics of this type of religious outreach now known as televangelism have challenged its predominant, if not exclusive focus on miracle and prosperity message. Using the mixed-method research design involving focus group discussions, key informant interviews and a survey of 255 respondents, this study sought to ascertain Lagos audiences‘ perceptions of Pentecostal Television programmes on two satellite stations, Start Times and DSTV. The findings revealed that audience members perceive Pentecostal churches programme as primarily focused on converting the audience members to the Christian faith. The result revealed that miracle sessions are a common feature of televangelism. Respondents see the miracles as manipulations largely intended to woo and often, hoodwink audience members. The findings revealed that although some of the Pentecostal churches‘ programmes dwell more on the word of God compared to the mainline churches, the programmes and teachings, however, often tended to promote the leadership of the church and not the gospel of Christ. Generally, the study indicates the majority of the audience members are aware of and identify with the atrocities the Pentecostal Churches are accused of perpetrating through their TV programmes. The findings revealed poor awareness and knowledge about the role of the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). The results suggest participants do not believe the NBC is living up to its responsibilities. The findings of this study highlight the need for the NBC, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) to work together in formulating new regulations for controlling religious broadcast on television, Pentecostal TV broadcasts, in particular. This is the only way to safeguard vulnerable members of the audience from being manipulated and brainwashed.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Analysis of the contribution of socio-economic factors on poor academic performance of grade 12 learners: the case of Butterworth education district, Eastern Cape Province South Africa
- Authors: Lubisi, Anathi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Performance standards -- South Africa Teacher effectiveness -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Sociology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18141 , vital:42236
- Description: The drive of this research project was to discover factors contributing to the poor academic performance of Grade 12 learners at two selected schools in the Butterworth Education District, Eastern Cape province South Africa. The participants were Grade 12 learners, Grade 12 teachers and parents of Grade 12 learners in both schools. Both schools are located in rural areas of Mnquma municipality under the Butterworth education district. The study used both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The motivation behind using triangulation was to decrease or offset the deficiency of a specific methodology and for deeper understanding of the discoveries of the study. Use of triangulation in this study was aimed at expanding the legitimacy, dependability and generalizability of the results of the study. The findings of the study revealed that the most determining factor that contributes to the poor academic performance of Grade 12 learners in the Butterworth Education District is the unavailability and inadequacy of instructional resources. This is the most critical school resource which the parents cannot afford to buy for their children. Both teachers and Grade 12 learners indicated that they do not have a school library or a community library. The majority of learners also indicated that they do not have enough textbooks in all subjects and their parents concurred that their children end up sharing textbooks with their peers. Furthermore, the three groups of participants agreed that learners do not have access to computers, and the school does not have a science lab for Grade 12 learners doing science. The core argument of this study is that a poor socio-economic background is a primary contributor to low academic performance of Grade 12 learners at the Butterworth Education District. The findings of this study support this thesis as they indicate that instructional resources are inadequate, a school or community library is vii non-existent, and there is not enough textbooks at the selected schools. With parents from low socio-economic background, the Butterworth community is also not in a position to supplement these insufficient instructional resources. This study utilized the cultural reproduction theory of Bourdieu (1977) to explore a system of education in industrialized communities and the way it works to illuminate class differences in academic performance and achievement of Grade 12 learners. The study made recommendations that should be put in place to improve the academic performance of Grade 12 learners in the Butterworth Education District. The most important of these recommendations is that government officials should provide educational resources (teaching and learning resources). Furthermore, the researcher suggest that for further research, it would be interesting to find out about learners that perform well, regardless of identified factors that cause other learners to perform poorly to help them improve their academic performance.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Binge drinking: challenges faced by high school youth in Bonxa village, Ntabankulu, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ntshingose, Unathi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Binge drinking Alcoholism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Master , MSW
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18245 , vital:42245
- Description: This study explored ‘’Binge drinking: challenges faced by high school youth in Bonxa village in Ntabankulu in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa’’. The study sought to achieve the following specific objectives; to determine factors that lead to binge drinking among high school youth, to examine the high school youth perceptions of binge drinking on their school performance and to establish gaps inherent in the laws and policies that governs alcohol consumption among the youth in South Africa. The study was premised on the theoretical lens of alcohol myopic theory by Steele and Josephs. Methodologically, the study used the qualitative approach. It also adopted exploratory and descriptive types of research design, and the case study as a specific study design. Data was gathered through in-depth one-on-one interviews, complimented by focus group discussions and key informant interviews data collection methods. Non-probability sampling was employed in selecting the study sample, which was done through both snowballing and purposive sampling techniques. This study used a sample of Thirty five (35) participants; six (6) parents, thirteen (17) school going youth, four (4) social workers, five (5) teachers and three (3) police officers who came in as key informants. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data since the study itself was qualitative. The findings of the study revealed the following issues as causal factors of binge drinking among high school youth; psychological deficit, dysfunctional families, negative role modelling, discrimination by teachers, cognitive impairment, poor academic performance, fear of rejection, poor socio-economic conditions and cultural rituals. The findings discovered gaps in policy formulation; although the country has laws governing alcohol consumption, there seems to be less monitoring in rural areas, as taverns operate without licensing. Further, awareness campaigns through advertisement in the media on the dangers of alcohol, as well as educational campaigns at schools are needed. Based on the evidence gathered in this study, the following recommendations are made; the need for deliberate programs to help youth who have binge drinking problems, stronger policy iv formulation, and strengthening of social worker services in order to address and alleviate the problem of binge drinking.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Digitization as a strategy for preservation of and access to private collections in the Eastern Cape: a case study of National Heritage and Cultural Studies Centre and International Library of African Music
- Authors: Tyali, Lungisani
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Preservation Digitization
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Library and Information Science)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18302 , vital:42250
- Description: The aim of the study was to investigate digitization as a strategy for the preservation and access to private collections in Eastern Cape covering National Heritage and Cultural Studies Centre (NAHECS) at the University of Fort Hare, Alice campus and International Library of African Music (ILAM) at Grahamstown. The objectives of the study were: to find out the types of artefacts digitized at NAHECS and ILAM; to describe the available infrastructure for the digitization of collections at NAHECS and ILAM; to determine the impact of digitization on the preservation of and access to digitized materials; to find out the extent to which digitization programme at NAHECS and ILAM comply with the relevant legal and regulated framework, and to investigate challenges to the current digitization programmes at NAHECS and ILAM. The study used a purposive non-probability sampling technique to select the participants. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Qualitative data collected was analysed using thematic analysis while quantitative data were analysed statistically using SPSS software using frequencies, pie charts, bar charts and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that there are different challenges faced by both institutions (that is, ILAM and NAHECS). Some of the challenges faced by ILAM include inadequate funds for supporting the digitalizing project/ programme, inadequate staff and poor infrastructure. The finding has shown that the majority of respondents’ indicated that NAHECS has available knowledge of infrastructures such as Meta Data and Audio for the digitization of collections while all respondents confirmed that ILAM has the various distribution of available instrument for digitization and these include Meta Data, Video Tapes and Audio. iv The study recommends that proper necessary access to the digitized documents should be made available through Africa Media Online (AMO) so that all the interested users can search for digitized materials.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Diversion Programmes and Empowerment: A Case Study of Young Offenders’ Experiences in the Buffalo City Metropolitan and Amathole District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Mangwiro, Vongai P
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Social work with criminals Social work with juvenile delinquents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Work)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18031 , vital:42006
- Description: Crime amongst the young in South Africa has been high since the attainment of democracy in 1994. Diversion programmes were established through the National Framework Chid Justice Act of 2008, as part of a plethora of measures to curb the ever spiralling problem of crime amongst the youth. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the experiences of young offenders regarding their empowerment vis-à-vis diversion programmes in the Buffalo City Metropolitan and Amathole District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province. Underpinned by the Empowerment and Social Control Theories, the study adopted a qualitative research paradigm and used focus group discussions and in-depth interviews amongst thirty-five young offenders and five social workers, who work as probation officers at NICRO, to collect data, which was analysed using thematic analysis. The major findings indicated that diversion programmes are effective in reducing the number of children who commit crimes in these two municipalities and in influencing their behavioural change, resulting in fewer chances of re-offending. The Life Skills Programme was identified as the most effective programme, in comparison to the other programmes, such as the Community pre-trial Service Programme, in changing the behaviour of the young offenders, as it helps them to discover themselves; learn respect for the self and others in the community; help with family and community reintegration; and helps them focus on who they want to be in the future. In spite of such positive attributes for the diversion programmes, the study observed that there are challenges being faced by the implementing organisation, NICRO. These include high caseloads; lack of support from the probation officers who refer young offenders; limited support from parents; paucity of financial resources; lack of transport; poor v coordination from the courts; and delays in the implementation of some accredited but not credited programmes. Overall, the study concluded that diversion programmes in the Buffalo city Metropolitan and Amathole district municipalities in the Eastern Cape suffer due to weak partnerships between different organisations and stakeholders that are supposed to complement the efforts of the judiciary. From the research findings above, it is recommended that the Child Justice System should promote a multi-sectored approach in order to restore and reunify all the stakeholders, working with children in conflict with the law. This adds more roles and responsibilities for the various stakeholders, such as the Department of Justice and Department of Social development. Furthermore, there is a need to increase the monitoring and evaluation of diversion programmes to advance accountability and improve effectiveness; and there is a need to enhance the efficiency of accrediting authorities to timeously accredit other diversion programmes that, so far, have not yet been accredited, but may be useful in empowering young offenders. Therefore, the study proposes an extension of the framework with additions of strategies to support diversion programmes at NICRO, through a stakeholder extension to the model allocating more roles and responsibilities for stakeholders in the Child Justice system, in order for diversion programmes to effectively achieve desired goals.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Exploring gender roles in traditional healing practice at selected areas of Buffalo City Municipality Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Gqibithole,Zizipho
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Healers Healing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18107 , vital:42233
- Description: The purpose of the study was to explore the gender roles in traditional healing practice at selected areas of Buffalo City Municipality. A qualitative method was used to explore and identify gender roles in traditional healing practice. Purposive sampling was used to select thirty traditional healers, both males and females. In depth interviews and focus group discussions were also used to collect data and an interview guide was used to conduct interviews with participants. Thematic analysis and open coding were used in identifying themes. The results were: there are different roles ascribed for both male and female traditional healers. Those roles may lead to stereotypes and the stereotypes may have negative effects to the traditional healers.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Exploring the experiences of female child marriage survivors: A case study of Epworth in Harare Metropolitan, Zimbabwe
- Authors: Muchawaya, Ropafadzo D
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Teenage marriage Forced marriage
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSW
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18199 , vital:42241
- Description: Child marriage is a marriage is a formal or informal marriage where one or both parties are under 18 years of age. The practice has an undesirable impact especially on the wellbeing of girls; it affects them physically, intellectually, psychologically and emotionally. Besides having an undesirable impact on young girls, child marriages also have negative impact on their children and families as a whole. The experiences of survivors of child marriage have been ignored in previous research. The literature largely focused on the causes and effects of child marriage. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of survivors of child marriage. The objectives of the study were to examine causes of child marriage in Epworth Harare, finding out challenges faced by survivors of child marriage, exploring the different coping mechanisms employed by survivors of child marriage and investigating the social services provided to survivors of child marriage by different stakeholders in Epworth Harare. The qualitative research method was adopted in the study and it informed its data collection and analysis process. In-depth and focus group discussions were therefore used to gain insight into the experiences of participants. Through the use of purposive sampling, 36 participants comprising of survivors of child marriage, parents, community leaders, and social workers in Epworth were selected. The study was guided by family systems theory and resilience theory. The findings revealed that drivers of child marriage are many and affected survivors of child marriage. However, it was found out that each cause of child marriage affected survivors of child marriage differently. Survivors of child marriage in Epworth encounter many challenges including relationship, emotional and psychological, social and economic and financial challenges that affect their livelihoods. An analysis of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions shows that survivors of child marriage face various challenges because of the economic situation in Zimbabwe, negative societal views and negative impact of child marriage on their mental health. It was, therefore concluded that for survivors of child marriage to have an improved life, there is a need for partnership and collaboration of different stakeholders in their social service delivery. It is recommended that more income-generating community-based v projects are provided to survivors of child marriage with basic opportunities they often lack and social support networks that promote change in attitudes and behavior. Lastly, there is a need to increase the number of social workers working with survivors of child marriage in Epworth
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- Date Issued: 2020
Exploring the psychosocial effects of removing teenagers from their homes to places of safety
- Authors: Boxongo , Sisipho
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Teenagers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSW
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18073 , vital:42226
- Description: The child welfare system investigate over 2 Million children each year for parental abuse or neglect, yet little is known about the psychosocial effects of removing teenagers from their homes and placing them in the place of safety. Although an abusive family would undoubtedly be harmful to children, removing a child from his or her family can be just as traumatic. Long term outcome are rarely observed, and teenagers placed in the place of safety are likely differ from those not placed. Hence this study took a microscopic scrutiny at the effects of the teenager`s removal from their home environment to a place of safety. In carrying out this research qualitative method of data collection was used. The study outlined the factors that lead to removal of teenagers from their home environment to the place of safety. The study found that some of the teenagers who were removed from their home environment were due to poverty, maltreatment, negligence and child abuse at home. The study also revealed that the placement of the teenagers in the places of safety expose the teenagers to psychological, physical, emotional and behavioural negative experiences. The teenagers that participated in the study mentioned that they are stigmatised by the community and peers at school, some also cited that they have lost contact with their families. It was also found out that; the professionals who participated in the study also too experience some challenges in rendering services to the teenagers as sometimes they don`t get informed about the children`s situation on their arrival in the centre. On the other hand, another professional declared that they are trying by all means to cater for all the needs of the children, but they are failed by the case managers and other stakeholders, such as department of social development who delay the process of obtaining court orders which makes it difficult for the child to be funded and also the process of reunifying the child with the biological family.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Factors Affecting Archives and Records Management in The City of Johannesburg Municipality
- Authors: Vula, Malusi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Records -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Library and Information Science)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18314 , vital:42251
- Description: This study sought to evaluate the factors that affect the development of archives in the City of Johannesburg Municipality. The use of old records management strategies is posing serious challenges in most African countries and it is affecting the development of archives and records. Literature shows that most municipalities in Southern African countries have not adapted advance records management strategies like Integrated records management and Cloud systems for the realization of benefits of effectiveness and efficiency in records management. The history of Johannesburg municipality and the significance of records management in terms of leveraging effective service delivery raised critical concerns over the development of archives and records management. Proper management of records is the foundation of any government needs to provide services, to fulfil its obligation of accountability towards its citizens and protect their rights. According to the continuum model, the archivists and records managers need to be involved together with information systems designers in the creation of records keeping systems. The records continuum model emphasizes advanced records management strategies and systems in order to ensure the systematic preservation, retrieval and disposal of records. As the records management systems shift from the narrow physical records management as well as imaging into the broader electronic records world there is need for the municipality to embrace more advanced records management strategies like Outsource/Cloud service and integrated records management systems. In order to get a deeper understanding of the factors that affect the development of archives and records management; this study combined both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The census method was used to select all the 80 members of the records management department in the metropolitan municipality. An in-depth interview schedule was conducted with 4 records managers in order to collect qualitative data. Questionnaires were distributed to 76 personnel in the records management department. Without an operational and effective policy in the department of records, there is no vanguard against unlawful records and archives access and corruption, which is affecting archives development and records management in the long run. The study established although email backups and archiving of files are important strategies, more effective and modern strategies like Integrated Records Management system across the entire organization and the cloud system have not been put in place. This is attributed to the lack of funding and IT expertise. The study concluded that that although training and skills development programs are being ii implemented, skills transfer is not fully taking place due to lack of; equipment, time, managerial support and post-training interventions as well monitoring and evaluation systems. The study recommends an integrated records management system, operationalization of the records management system, effective skills transfer programs, the competency-based model.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Fraud tolerance level as a predictor of insurance claims behavior: A South African Study
- Authors: Chetty,Moonsamy Perumal
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Insurance fraud Fraud -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD(Criminology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17964 , vital:41999
- Description: The insurance sector as a foundation which other sectors depend on is a critical cornerstone of a well-functioning society. An insurer’s strength exists in its ability to foresee, assess, price and mitigate current and emerging risks. Despite the value that insurance brings to maintaining and sustaining society there is large scale abuse of the various insurance products on offer. The abuse is predominately committed through the submitting of either false or inflated claims which negatively impacts the entire insurance value chain from underwriting to claims processes. Insurance claims fraud is classified as opportunistic or organised. Opportunistic claims fraud consists of claims inflation or claims padding for a genuine loss while organised claims fraud involves the lodging a claim for a loss that did not occur and usually involves staging of incidents. Opportunistic fraud is the most common type of fraud experienced by insurers and presents the greatest challenge to the insurance industry. While there are challenges in accurately determining the true costs of insurance fraud; there is consensus that the costs are significant. In response to incidents of insurance fraud insurers have implemented various measures to curb fraud; these measures range from the establishment of insurance crime bureaus, creation of internal investigation teams and the employment of technology as early warning systems. These measures although useful have not been able to be very effective as insurance fraud still continues to rise. Studies indicate that consumer attitudes towards insurance fraud play an important role which must be considered when developing fraud prevention strategies. Tolerance has been identified as an important factor which influence consumer v attitudes towards insurance fraud. Previous studies found that factors such as high insurance premiums, excess payments, consumer relationship with insurers, consumer’s previous claims experience and societal acceptability of insurance fraud played a role in shaping a consumer’s tolerance level. This study was undertaken to explore the role that policyholder tolerance has on predicting claims behaviour in the South African insurance market. The study also aimed at identifying reasons which motivated policyholder’s to commit and deter them from committing insurance fraud. A further aim was to identify the common types of insurance fraud and to measure policyholders’ perceptions towards their primary insurer, the insurance industry, brokers and insurance assessors. The fraud triangle and the theory of planned behaviour were used as theories in support of this study. Primary data for this study was gather through an online self-administered questionnaire and the sample population consisted of policyholders within the shortterm insurance market. A total of 560 completed valid questionnaires were received and analysed. The study shows that respondents have low levels of tolerance for insurance fraud. Results indicated that financial pressure, greed, financial benefit and opportunity were reasons why policyholders’ committed insurance fraud in SA. Factors which deterred policyholders from committing insurance fraud included consumer integrity and honesty, fear of being caught and prosecuted and fairness and value for money. vi Respondents indicated that inflated claims were more prevalent than false claims and it was easier to submit an inflated claim than a false claim. Regarding perceptions the study shows that respondents have a more positive view of their own primary insurer than the insurance industry in general, brokers and insurance assessors. Lastly, the research identified five factors that significantly explain levels of short-term insurance fraud tolerance, namely 'Unfairness/injustice', “Have policyholders’ best interest at heart”, 'Industry relations', ‘Opportunity’ and 'Morality'. The findings of this study could be useful to insurers when developing consumer education and awareness programmes. There exists opportunities for future research regarding several aspects of insurance fraud which was not dealt with in this study.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Hegemon and handmaiden: a neo-gramscian approach to South Africa’s position in the global political economy
- Authors: Koza, Zintle
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Hegemony
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Political Science)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18325 , vital:42252
- Description: Despite its assumed leadership of and investment in the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), South Africa has not developed its own hegemonic project and is consequently unable to exert significant influence over the ideas of the two institutions. Rooted in Antonio Gramsci’s absolute historicism, which locates decisions and actions at the level of the state within specific contexts, Robert Cox’s Method of Historical Structures (MHS) offers a framework that enables an approach informed by Critical Theory to analysing and empirically understanding the underlying factors of this situation. Utilising the three elements of the MHS, namely, material capabilities, ideas and institutions, and applying them to the context of international relations, it was found that South Africa’s choices have been informed by the global context of the post-USSR global arena it entered in 1990. The triumph of the neoliberal world order led by the United States framed the context of South Africa’s engagement with Africa and the world, with its choices informed by a composite of neoliberally defined global social relations of production and ideas that had already elicited global consent. South Africa’s organisation of material capabilities and resources was thus limited within the parameters of a neoliberal world order, and the predominance of institutions that facilitated the penetration of neoliberalism, regionally and globally. The global hegemonic order relies on surrogates for its functioning and South Africa’s subsequent domestic adherence to the hegemonic neoliberal order has been transferred to SADC and, to a limited extent, to the AU through the policies and institutional projects that South Africa has championed since 1994. Nonetheless, in the face of persistent inequality and poverty, internal contestation to this adherence has emanated from trade unions and civil society organisations. It was found that the continued and intensifying domestic contestation iii reinforces the lack of a domestic hegemonic project that could have been projected externally to SADC and the AU, so that South Africa, as a dominant peripheral state in the global world order, displays more characteristics of handmaiden than hegemon.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Information needs and information-seeking behaviour of practising medical doctors at Katutura and Windhoek central state hospitals in Namibia
- Authors: Matsveru, David
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Information behavior Information resources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17976 , vital:42000
- Description: This study investigated the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of practising medical doctors at Katutura and Windhoek Central hospitals in Namibia. Anchored on Wilson’s (1996) model of information-seeking behaviour, the purpose of the study was to establish the information required by practising medical doctors to carry out their work, how they seek information, the information sources and resources they use, and the factors that affect them as they do so. Understanding users’ information needs and the way information is disseminated in hospitals is necessary in developing an effective information provision system and ensuring the quality of information services in the hospitals. A mixed-methods research approach was used to meet the objectives of the study. Questionnaires were administered on 140 practising medical doctors at Katutura and Windhoek Central state hospitals, while fifteen doctors were interviewed telephonically, using a semi-structured interview guide. IBM SPSS (Version 25) was used to analyse quantitative data from the questionnaires, while content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data from the interviews. The findings of this research are that practising medical doctors need information mainly for improving clinical decision-making, keeping up-to-date, improving professional knowledge, and continuing education. The study also revealed that medical doctors use a variety of information sources and resources. However, the degree to which information sources are xiii used depends on the clinical context (outpatients, wards and casualty/emergency). Some contextual factors (organisational context, socio-cultural context, and information sources) can either support or hinder doctors in seeking the information they need. The patient is one of the primary information sources for medical doctors. However, language problems are a significant challenge in communicating with patients or patients’ relatives. Lack of patients’ understanding of medical terms and unavailability of properly run libraries in hospitals are some of the factors that affect doctors’ information-seeking behaviour. Participants recommended health education for patients, training of medical doctors on the use of the Internet and ICT, provision of properly run hospital libraries, and improved communication with other international hospitals as some of the ways to improve health information sources and services. Three related models were drawn from the study’s findings, based on Wilson’s (1996) model and literature, namely, the doctors’ decision-making model (DDmM), the clinical context information sources model (CCISM), and the model of information needs and information-seeking behaviour of medical doctors (MINISBMD). The thesis concludes with practical recommendations to enhance the provision of information at Katutura and Windhoek Central hospitals and suggestions for further research.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Investigating the psychological well-being of female students who gave birth during cohabitation
- Authors: Mashabela, Emanuel
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Unmarried couples
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18175 , vital:42239
- Description: This study investigated the psycho-social well-being of female students aged 18 to 27 who gave birth during cohabitation at one of South African university (University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus). It also investigated the challenges those female students face when they try to balance academics with motherhood. The study is underpinned by Ryff (1989) psychological well-being that suggested that psychological well-being is attained by achieving a state of balance affected by both challenging and rewarding life events. Purposive sampling was employed to select participants of the study and in-depth interview was used to generate data. Thematic analysis was engaged to analyse data. The study discovered that the psychological well-being of female students who gave birth during cohabitation is impaired in way that they experienced impaired environmental mastering, impaired good relationship with others, impaired self-acceptance, impaired personal growth however they show resilient. The study found that female students who gave birth during cohabitation are faced with numerous challenges such as discrimination, lack of support, depression in balancing academics with motherhood, lack of attachment with their children including poor academic performance.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Practices, dynamics and discourses of cross-racial adoption: the case of Buffalo city municipality in South Africa
- Authors: Nyasha, Kausi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Interracial adoption -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Adoption -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD(Social Work)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18009 , vital:42003
- Description: This study investigated the practices, dynamics, and discourses pertaining to crossracial adoption (CRA) in the Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) in South Africa. The researcher made use of qualitative methods to collect and analyse relevant data, which was made from both the in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The research sample comprised of six adoption social workers, ten adoptive parents and ten adoptees, who were selected by means of purposive non-random sampling. The researcher also made use of observations, in order to that relevant, valuable, and rich information could be obtained. All the data was subsequently analysed by means of thematic analysis. The principal findings of the study revealed that although it has been legal since 1991, the practices of CRA in South Africa continues to be controversial and that, in the vast majority of cases, it entails black children being adopted by white parents. Relevant discourses covered cultural genocide, the best interests of adopted children, racial identity, colour-blindness, acculturation, and racial consciousness. The phenomenon of CRA needed to be evaluated from all of these standpoints, owing to the racial, cultural, and political perceptions which continue to linger after generations of enforced racial segregation in South Africa. It is evident from the findings that perceptions pertaining to race, culture, and politics exert a significant influence on social relations in the caring for and protection of vulnerable children and on family dynamics in adoptive families. It also emerged from the findings that CRA placements have begun to decline significantly, owing to factors such as long and tedious assessment processes, the xviii attitudes of social workers, a general lack of adequate pre- and post-adoption support for adoptive parents, and shortages of adoption social work staff and resources. The researcher endeavoured to assess the roles of adoption social workers within the adoption triad with respect to determining the adoptability of children and matching them with prospective adoptive parents, recruiting and selecting prospective adoptive parents, counselling prospective parents, counselling biological parents, counselling adopted children, and the providing of post-adoption services. It could be concluded from the findings that although the practice of CRA is an efficacious and desirable form of care for children who are in need of protection, despite any present shortcomings in relation to legislation pertaining to the practice, the phenomenon requires considerably more attention from relevant academics and researchers than it has received to date. The overarching conclusion which emerged from the findings was that although the practice of CRA has attracted controversy and denunciations from several racial groups, it has unlimited potential for erasing the racial stigmas which continue to haunt South African society as well as affording permanency care to those children who are in need of it. The study ends with some recommendations as well as a conceptual framework to deal with the issues of the practices, dynamics and discourses of CRA in South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Psychosocial well-being and the sexual behaviour of orphaned adolescent males in Bizana local municipality
- Authors: Gqumani, Phumlani
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Teenage boys -- Psychology Youth -- Sexual behavior -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18118 , vital:42234
- Description: The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between the psychosocial wellbeing and the sexual behaviour of orphaned adolescent males. The rationale of the study was to determine out whether the relationship exists between psychosocial wellbeing of orphaned adolescent males and their sexual behaviour (e.g. multiple sexual partners, sexual debut, and unprotected sex). The sample size of the purposively selected participants constituted 201 participants from Grade 07 to Grade 12. The study took place from Bizana Local Municipality, Eastern Cape. The researcher used Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The descriptive analysis and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Some of the findings of the study included the following From the hypotheses I drink alcohol and I watch pornography and that is how I learned to have sex, it became apparent that adolescent males who drink alcohol, watched pornography. The alternative hypothesis was confirmed with 8.5% of adolescent males drink alcohol and watch pornography compared to 8.0% who do not drink alcohol but watch pornography. There was no relationship between the hypotheses, my friends are aggressive and commit crime and I started having sex at age 13-16 and 17-20 years as 31. 4% of adolescent males who started having sex at the age of 17-20 years, 1.9% have friends who were aggressive and commit crime compared to 2.9% who started having sex at the age of 13-16 years who have friends who were aggressive and commit crime. Based on the findings of the study, it became clear that some adolescent males are resilient despite their social status and the study may be recommended for future studies.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Sexual behaviour of adolescent females: a case study of st. Wendolins area, kwaZulu Natal
- Authors: Phelako, Ntokozo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Teenagers -- Sexual behavior Youth -- Sexual behavior|
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M (Social Work)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11484 , vital:39076
- Description: This study investigated the phenomenon of sexual behaviour of adolescent females, specifically at St. Wendolins in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Adolescence is a critical period for physical, social, and emotional development, and the possibility of adolescents engaging in sexual intercourse is an important social and public health consideration. Sexual intercourse among adolescents is a risk factor for teen pregnancy, clandestine abortions, sexually transmitted infection, school dropouts, and HIV. Adolescents who engage in sexual intercourse may also be exposed to harmful lifestyles, such as use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and cigarette smoking. The South African national HIV public health interventions among adolescents have largely been geared towards sexual abstinence; this emphasis in the prevention interventions may be limited as it may not cater for adolescents with diverse experiences. The study intended to achieve the following specific objectives: to examine the challenges faced by sexual adolescent females; to assess the support services from the social network; and to examine the strategies that are put in place by professionals in supporting teenagers who are sexually active. The study was guided by a qualitative research design in the form of a case study. It also employed in-depth one-on-one interviews, complimented by both focus group discussions and key informants as methods of data collection. The study used nonprobability methodology of sample selection, specifically the purposive sampling technique as well as a snowball . A sample of the study comprised of the nonstudent participants, psychologist, teachers, social workers, Nurses, police officers and other community members Data was analysed qualitatively through content thematic data analysis, which used interpretative approaches and textual presentation. The study established the following: the adolescent stage is a critical time for young girls because of the physical, biological as well as the social changes that they face and need to go through. The factors that face young girls are from all aspects of life; from the home, the community as well as individual factors. The most important factor affecting adolescent females to emerge from the study was social media as a tool that young girls used to learn about sexual behaviour as well as communicating amongst themselves as well as with their sexual partners. 6 The study recommended that the family system needed strengthening. The home is the first place that young girls feel protected, and when the family system is broken down the adolescent females start to look outside and start misbehaving, and end up being sexually active. There should be continuous social work services provided to female adolescents as some are staying alone
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- Date Issued: 2020
Teenage care by the Methodist church of Southern Africa :The case of Port Elizabeth North circuit (TPT 900)
- Authors: Jibiliza, Xolisa Terrance
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Church work with teenagers Teenagers -- Pastoral counseling of Teenage pregnancy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Theology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17884 , vital:41973
- Description: The research study sought to acknowledge that there was a need of caring for teenagers by the Methodist Church of Southern Africa as majority of them responds to their adolescent stage with bad behaviour. This was a critical stage that challenged teenagers and required much more attention both from home, schools and church. A teenager is a young person whose age falls within the range from 13 to 19. They are called teenagers because their age number ends with "teen" (Ausubel 2002: 12). This study sought to investigate whether the impact of caring for teenagers by the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and had to achieved the intended mission statement of MCSA which is “A Methodist called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ healing and transformation” in the New Brighton and KwaZakhele areas that formed Port Elizabeth North Circuit. The study would achieve its goal by looking at the needs of a teenager such as caring which includes love, food, medication, accommodation and educational expenses required in a month. The teenage stage is a transitional stage of physical and psychological human development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to legal adulthood. The teenage years, though it’s physical, psychological and cultural expressions may begin earlier and end later (Heine, 2016: 14). This is a critical stage for a child because sometimes children change their behaviour during this period, others manage to go through this stage and behave well but others struggle and falling into substance abuse and teenage pregnancy. 2 But this stage followed a puberty stage. Gouws and Kruger (2014: 3) stresses that puberty is a period of several years in which rapid physical growth and psychological changes occur, culminating in sexual maturity. The average onset of puberty is at 10 or 11 for girls and age 11 or 12 for boys. Gouws and Kruger (2014: 3) argued that every person's individual timetable for puberty is influenced primarily by inheritance, although environmental factors, such as diet and exercise, also apply some influences. Gouws and Kruger (2014: 3) further says during puberty body growth accelerates, the reproductive organs become functional, sexual maturity is attained and secondary sexual characteristics appear. Therefore, teenagers could fall into early sex activity that leads to teenage pregnancy. Brewster (2011:183–185) stresses the consideration to the issue of the Bible as a book that contains signs in his interpretation of the theological significance of children. Moreover, the fundamental theological rationale for the notion of children is that Jesus presented child as a sign of the kingdom of God (White 2011:55). Bunge (2011: 24) argues that particular perspectives on children from the Bible should be held in creative tension. Those perspectives are comprising the notions that children are gifts of God, sources of joy, sinful creatures and moral agents, developing beings in need of instruction and guidance, are fully human and made in the likeness and image of God, they are models of faith and sources of revelation, lastly they are in need of justice. Choudhury, Blakemore & Charman (2006: 1) stated that adolescence is the transitional period between late childhood and the beginning of adulthood, and marks the beginning of the reproductive lifespan in humans. Eastman (2010: 2) argued that this phase of human development is “defined by cultural practices and 3 biological occurrences - a period by which behavioural abilities and expectations change. All societies and cultures devise means of marking and handling the realities of human existence which is Birth, Death and Procreation”. The onset of puberty is one such. The transition from dependency as children to the maturity of full adulthood is a journey common to humankind.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The effectiveness of HIV/AIDS programmes in tertiary institutions of higher learning: the case of the University of Forte Hare
- Authors: Chiwara, Emmanuel
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: HIV infections AIDS (Disease)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSW
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18085 , vital:42228
- Description: This study explored the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS programmes in tertiary institutions in South Africa, and used the University of Forte Hare as a research domain. The study entailed making a cross-examination of the UFH HIV/AIDS programmes in an attempt to test the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS programmes in South African Universities. The study had three objectives, which were to establish the perceptions of the UFH stakeholders pertaining HIV/AIDS programmes; to document the HIV/AIDS programmes offered at UFH; and to determine the resources available to implement the HIV/AIDS Programmes at UFH. The study used mixed methods, that is, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study used combined methods of data collection and instruments, such as in-depth interviews, focus groups interviews, key informants, and a questionnaire. The study adopted Structural Functionalist Theory. The researcher drew a sample of forty (40) participants from the UFH community. Thirty-three (33) student respondents were provided with questionnaire interview; while 5 (five) members of the staff; two (2) members of the UFH HIV/AIDS managers; and two (2) members of administration were interviewed. The study used a combination of both probability and non-probability sampling methods, specifically purposive sampling and systematic sampling methods to select the participants. The data was analyzed using a qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study established that there was inadequacy of financial and material resources to support the implementation of the programmes; inconsistency in condom distribution on campus; limited and unprofessional HIV/AID workers at the UFH campus; availability of various HIV/AIDS programme activities; adequate support structures but failing to be responsive towards HIV/AIDS; and adequate HIV/AIDS knowledge among the students.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The effects of liberalisation and regulation of cellphone companies from 2007 - 2018: a study of Buffalo city municipality
- Authors: Malobola, Nomvuyo Ursula Vuyokazi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Economic development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Communications)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18153 , vital:42237
- Description: This study focuses on the effects of liberalisation and regulation of the telecommunications sector in South Africa. A qualitative research method was adopted and the researcher conducted focus group interviews with participants that were purposely selected to collect data from different suburbs around the Buffalo City Metropolitan area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The areas were Mdantsane, Selborne and Southernwood, which have large populations and obviously enjoy high cell phone usage. In addition, an in-depth interview was conducted with an official of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), which is the monitoring body for telecommunications in South Africa. The findings of this study have shown that despite the airtime and data being expensive, the telecoms sector is critical to the people of South Africa, and the failure by the government to regulate and liberalise the telecoms sector has led to expensive cell phone charges on the public. As such, it can be noted that the majority of the urban poor, especially in the Buffalo City Metropolitan, endure expensive charges. More so, the study found that there has been frustrating slow progress of transformation of the telecommunications industry and associated key national policy objectives. In addition, the study also recognises that as a member of WTO South Africa had to adopt policies of globalisation or risk isolation should it operate outside it. In addition, this study revealed that in spite of the challenges that are related to regulation and liberalisation, progress can still be made in reducing price hikes, especially when strategic investments are made in the telecommunication sector in South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2020