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An Investigation into Social Factors Contributing to Intimate Partner Violence. A Case Study of Tentergate Village, Enoch Mgijima Municipality

  • Authors: Ndubane, Masimbonge
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Intimate partner violence
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Anthropology)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16474 , vital:40723
  • Description: This study sought to investigate social factors contributing to intimate partner violence in Tentergate village. Intimate partner violence or intimate personal violence, a matter once considered private, has gained increased attention as a public health crisis. In their efforts to better understand and prevent this behavior, social science researchers have discovered the link between gender inequality, early exposure to violence, spousal abuse and family conflicts. This paper uses social feminist, social learning and family violence theory to explain intimate partner violence. Participants‘ perceptions were assessed through systematic analysis. Quantitative and qualitative analysis was done on data obtained from interviews conducted on 30 women informants. The study revealed that there are several social factors contributing to intimate partner violence. In the final analysis, it argues that effective treatment and prevention should include both criminal justice and public health strategies.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An investigation of the effetiveness of correctional centre-based vocational training programmes towards reducing recidivism

  • Authors: Mangesi, Nosipho
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Recidivism Social justice
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Criminology)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16408 , vital:40717
  • Description: Since the Department of Correctional Services has been transformed into an institution of rehabilitation and skills development, there is a need for a sound classification system whereby offenders are classified according to their potential for treatment and training programmes that match their risk/needs. The study was conducted in Middledrift Correctional Centre in the Eastern Cape with the aim of examining the effectiveness of correctionally based vocational training programmes towards reducing recidivism. Research towards correctional programmes was necessitated by the extant of recidivism in South Africa. The question is where does the problem lie because offenders are provided with rehabilitation programmes to make them law abiding citizens and reintegrate well into the community up on release but, in many cases it does not become possible as many ex-offenders return to custody either for new offence or parole violation. The study used qualitative design in data collection and in explaining the results. A sample of sixteen recidivists and five correctional officials formed participants for the study selecting using purposive sampling procedures. Involvement in vocational programmes was used as a criteria for selectiong of correctional officials as participants. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight recidivists and all five correctional officials and a focus group interview was held with the other eight set of recidivists. The study examined the impact of vocational programmes on recidivism followed by the factors that hinder effective offender rehabilitation and factors that influence recidivism up on release. The findings of this study were analysed using thematic analysis with the assistance of a voice recorder as a back up for collected data. Findings revealed that a small number of recidivists attend vocational training programmes and these programmes vi (vocational) are short in the centre together with programme facilitators at the time of reporting. Offenders stated that the available vocational programmes are of no interest to them. Participantas stated that vocational training does assist in desisting criminal activities up on release as it provide skills and opportunities for employment to curb unemployment as indicated as a major factor influencing recidivism. Findings also revealed that periodic re-assesment is not adequately conducted and classification for vocational training is not likely to be sufficiently done according to offender risk/needs. The study recommends that, a large number of offenders be provided with vocational training programmes and that offender classification incorporate the principles of RNR model
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An investigation of the Social and Structural basis for the emergence of social movements in Zimbabwe. A Comparative study of the Combined Harare Residents Association and Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association

  • Authors: Chaitezvi, Trevour
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Social movements
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Sociology)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17564 , vital:41091
  • Description: The emergence of urban social movements in the Zimbabwean context is mainly attributed to the political economic crisis, which resulted in the decline of municipal services and other socioeconomic rights central to the ordinary people. In the rural areas many scholars have alluded to the failure of the state to institute a radical transformation of the rural areas as the reason for the emergence of land movement and the subsequent land revolutions that followed in the early 2000s. Within this context, this study sought to investigate the social and structural basis for the emergence of social movements in Zimbabwe. The argument of this study hinges on the central premise of the political opportunity structure approach, which states that the emergence and success of social movements depends on certain political opportunities within the political environment. Building upon the guidance of the qualitative paradigm, whose method of investigation includes in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, the findings illustrate that the emergence of rural social movements in Zimbabwe was mainly to address the land question; such initiatives were to be done through fighting imperialism that hinges upon neo-liberal policies. In addition, one of the objectives for the emergence of rural social movements was to complete the objective of the liberation war, which was to give back the land to the indigenous black people. The tactics of the rural social movement included engaging the state and confronting it in other instances. Further, illegal land occupations were also one of the tactics of this movement. Ideologically, the movement used a Pan-African ideology to confront neo-colonization. On the other hand, the findings of the study illustrate that the emergence of urban social movements was mainly to provide a platform for the marginalized people to voice their discontent of the decline of service delivery in the urban context. Since most of these aspects were linked to the broader economic crisis facing the country, urban social movements also intended to initiate a political transition. The tactics of urban social movements included disruption, the establishment of networks with other social movements and the use of media, while constructing their ideology within the human rights framewo
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Archives and Records Management Programmes in selected Universities in South Africa: A Study of University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University

  • Authors: Somniso, Zoleka
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Records -- Management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Library and information science)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18280 , vital:42248
  • Description: The study investigates the Archives and Records Management Programmes (ARMP) in the University of Fort Hare (UFH) and Rhodes University (RU). The task of managing huge quantities of records and archives material is not an easy task when people have to use limited resources. The Research Objectives of the this study was to find out types of records created, received and maintained by university archives and records management programmes at University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University.  Establish the available infrastructure for ARMP at the UFH and RU.  Find out the legislative and regulatory frameworks that govern the ARMP at the UFH and RU.  Identify challenges if there are any facing ARMP at the UFH and Rhodes University. Interviews and questionnaires were two research instruments used in this study to collect data; additional data was collected by reading relevant documents gathered on both institutions and on their website. In this study, the sample was 26 respondents from both universities. The study dealt with administrative staff who deal with records management: Records managers/Officers and Archivists at both institutions. viii Data collected was coded and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and the findings were presented using pie chart , graphs. The triangulation approaches involves using more than one method to collect data and it is a way of assuring the validity of research with variety of methods to collect data. Findings revealed that respondents were unaware of ARMP in the university. And also some of the findings were the infrastructural needs such as the Lack of records storage, space, Records Preservation facilities (RH, Light), Personnel Training and Development. The challenges facing ARMP in universities includes: a lack of programmes to manage records and archives material, absence of policy that regulates archives and records keeping in the universities understudy, the existing infrastructure at hand cannot meet the requirements for regulatory framework on records and archives management. Based on these challenges mentioned above, the study recommended that both institutions should improve their infrastructure as to be able to preserve the archival material. Training and retraining of staff among others should include use of technology, filing, records creation, maintenance and disposition
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Challenges faced by grandparents in caring for their grandchildren in Mdlankomo location, Libode, Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Soganga, Aseza
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Grandparents as parents Grandchildren -- Care
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16188 , vital:40692
  • Description: The study aimed to investigate the challenges that older grandparents face in caring for their grandchildren in Mdlankomo Location, Libode, Eastern Cape. The study intended to achieve three (3) objectives: (i) to establish factors that make caregiving of children by their grandparents challenging, (ii) to establish resources that grandparents need to care for their grandchildren and (iii) to establish the availability of resources required by the grandparents to care for their grandchildren and its possible gaps. The study utilized qualitative research approach, and date collection methods used were in-depth interviews, focus group discussion and key informant method. The number of participants was 34 in total consisting of 23 grandparents and 11 key informants. The findings of the study showed that death of children’s own parents; cultural expectations, youth unemployment, abdication of parental responsibilities, youth unemployment, and carelessness of biological parents were the major reasons for grandparents to care for their grandchildren. The study findings also revealed that grandparents in this caregiving experience both benefits and barriers. The findings further revealed that there are gaps in welfare services, medical services and education. Therefore, the researcher recommended that, those in power should be interested, eager and inquisitive enough about certain aspects that need attention in caregiving of children by their grandparents.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Communication barriers within virtual communities in an ethnoreligious diverse society: a case study of Nigeria

  • Authors: Ogunnubi ,Adeyemi
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Communication
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15859 , vital:40533
  • Description: The study explores the communication barriers that exist within virtual communities in an ethno-religious diverse society like Nigeria. Qualitative research approach was employed. Subsequently, data was collected using qualitative questionnaire that contained open ended questions and through participant observation (online ethnography). Purposive sampling was used to select participants through liaising with Facebook users, as one of the online virtual communities in Nigeria. Having monitored online discourse on Facebook for some months, this study purposively selected 300 active facebook users from various Nigerian cultural and ethnic backgrounds, but only 60 participants indicated their interest to participate. Also, out of the 60 participants who agreed to participate, only 30 participants (25 males and 5 females) fully participated to the final stage while the other 30 withdrew from the study. The participants were mainly adults between the age brackets of 20 and 59. Thematic Analysis was subsequently used to analyse the data by identifying main themes to provide detailed descriptions of the setting, participants as well as activities. The findings of this study revealed that majority of the participants agree that due to Facebook familiarity and Nigeria's religious colouration, there is a display of disrespect, insolence and deep arrogance to other interactants online. The study further identified and revealed other barriers such as differences in cultural backgrounds and opinions, lack of politeness, prejudging and filtering, name calling and insults. The study proposes that social media platforms as virtual communities should be regulated with full implementation of the law and its sustenance, regardless of individuals having power to make their own choices about the kind of languages they use within virtual communities and considering its effect on other online users. Vulgar languages, hate speeches, incitements, bullying and other offensive comments would hopefully be curbed to the barest minimum if this intervention could be implemented. The conclusion of the study was that Nigerians should be civil in responding to discourse in virtual communities as certain inflammatory, religious or utterances based on ethnicity due to an uninformed perspective usually display one's poor knowledge on issues of national interests
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Customary marriage and family practices that discriminate against amaXhosa women: a critical study of selected isixhosa literary text

  • Authors: Mbatyoti, Pheliwe Yvonne
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Forced marriage -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Customary law -- South Africa Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D Litt et Phil (African Studies)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10736 , vital:35731
  • Description: In many parts of Africa, the cultural practices and customs that were in use over the ages are still largely in place today. Many of these practices discriminate against individuals and compromise their human rights, particularly the rights of African women. The aim of this investigation is to study customary marital practices among the amaXhosa in order to establish their effect on modern amaXhosa society. In addition, this includes other discriminatory practices, such as the diminished status of wedded women. Within the study, the social status of women before and after 1994 is dealt with as depicted in the selected texts. The study further determines the current social status of married women under the current dispensation and finds out whether the rights of married women are sufficiently recognised in the texts under discussion. It is clear therefore that whilst Africa has made good progress on the political front, the same cannot be said for some of the cultural values that are still adhered to in the present age. This applies in particular to the rights of women in an African society. Globally, women and girls suffer the harmful and life-threatening effects of discriminatory traditional and cultural practices that continue under the guise of social, cultural and religious ceremonies. In the democratic South Africa, there is growing concern and awareness that some cultural practices are harmful to women and girls. The study analyses a number of texts namely, novels and drama, that were published before and after the 1994 era in South Africa with aims and objectives being outlined in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 is devoted to the theoretical framework, which includes the general theory pertaining to the status of women, feminism and human rights. Secondly, it deals with African theory pertaining to the status of African women as well as their rights; finally, it reflects on the role of women in societies where traditional marriage custom is still in use. Chapter 3 analyses the depiction of customary marriage as a theme in isiXhosa prose before and after 1994. Chapter 4 examines the depiction of customary marriage in v isiXhosa drama before and after 1994 and focuses more on human rights elements. Chapter 5 summarises the arguments distilled from the analysed works. The researcher came to the conclusion that the practice of forced marriage does not occur in amaXhosa society only but it is also found on a wider scale on the rest of the African continent and beyond. The study was concluded with a set of recommendations that were made to combat the scourge of anti-feminism that is found in modern society.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Differentiated Instruction: A Study of English Second Language Teachers’ Awareness and Implementation in Selected High Schools in the Eastern Cape Province

  • Authors: Ndu, Onyinyechi Glory
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching Language and languages -- Study and teaching
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D Lit. (English)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11440 , vital:39072
  • Description: The lack of visible academic excellence in South Africa has necessitated the search for a more in-depth approach in teaching and learning. The Department of Basic Education, school administrators and School Governing Bodies are not left out in the search for a distinct approach that would be able to assist teachers and also accommodate diverse learning abilities found in the classroom. The purpose of this study is to investigate English Second Language teachers’ awareness and implementation of differentiated instruction in selected high schools in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The objectives were to find out the extent to which teachers adopt differentiated instructions in their classes: to examine teachers’ narratives about differentiated instruction and the alternative instruction teachers’ use in their classrooms. The study was anchored on the socio-cultural theory, multiple intelligence theory and learning style theory. It employed a mixed method research and triangulation, which was very beneficial for the validation of the research findings. It followed a case study exploratory design and descriptive survey design. A purposive sample of hundred and six (106) participants were used in the study. The quantitative data were analysed using tables, frequencies and percentages while the qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings of the study revealed that ESL Grade 10 high school teachers were not aware of the term “Differentiated Instruction” even though to some extent they adopted DI approach. Teachers had mixed narratives about DI implementation and they used different alternative instructions during their lessons. The researcher recommended that teachers should be introduced to DI approach and be given more assistance, motivation, exposure and trainings in the form of conferences and seminars on proper DI implementation. Also teachers should be encouraged to continuously develop themselves academically in order to adjust to the new trend of managing the diverse learners that exist in their classes and in differentiating instruction with technology.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Elections as Drivers of Political Instability in Africa: A Case Study of Lesotho

  • Authors: Moorosi, Mantsoaki
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Elections Political parties -- Lesotho
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Political Science)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16462 , vital:40722
  • Description: The study sets out to investigate elections as drivers to political instability in Africa, using Lesotho as a case study from 2012 to 2017. It employs primary and secondary sources of data. The period is of interest for two reasons. Firstly, the continuing instability post three successive free and fair elections, and secondly, the advent of Coalition Governments. The structure adheres to two theoretical frameworks namely, a) Huntington’s two turn-over test and, b) Karl’s Fallacy of Electoralism. In order to investigate how elections could or could not be drivers to political instability, the researcher looked at the different forms of political instability in Lesotho. These include attempted coup d’état, assassinations and violation of territorial sovereignty. The later form being peculiar to the period under study as the other forms had occurred at some stage through the political history of this country. It further asserts uncertainty of hung Parliament and politicised institutions as attributes to the recurrence of political instability. It concludes that Lesotho is a deviant case from the two turn over test. The scope of the study supports the fallacy of electoralism. Several recommendations have been presented. These include that Government of Lesotho should amend the Constitution on the functions and powers of the King, Politicians should implement the promises they made to the electorates during campaigns, and regulate or abolish floor crossing in Parliament amongst others.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Evaluation of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design Principles at the University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus

  • Authors: Mditshwa, Abongile Sisanda
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Crime prevention
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc.Sci (Criminology)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17695 , vital:41137
  • Description: The University of Fort Hare Alice campus experiences high crime rates. To address this problem, and add to the literature, this study applied the Crime Prevention through Environmental design (CPTED) model to measure the effectiveness of the crime prevention strategies at the University of Fort Hare (Alice campus). The aim of this study was to evaluate the sufficiency of surveillance and visibility, target hardening, maintenance and management at the University of Fort Hare, which contribute to the reduction of criminal activities around campus. The study further sought to evaluate the perceptions of students regarding their safety on campus by way of soliciting their experiences and observations. This study used the quantitative method, and questionnaires were distributed to the students in the Alice campus to collect data. The study found that whilst a marginal majority of students felt safe, a large proportion of students felt unsafe on campus. The study also found that students were dissatisfied with the service and found the security officers to be incompetent and un-trained. The study evaluated the sufficiency of crime prevention measures implemented within the university. One crucial aspect that emerged from the study is that CPTED principles were not sufficiently implemented to their fullest and the perception of the majority of students was that security personnel were not functioning in the way that they should, and measures such as adequate lighting were lacking. As a result, students felt unsafe on campus, especially during the night .The study concluded that there are clear increased feelings of vulnerability among students at the University of Fort Hare. The measures that are currently in place are not sufficient; therefore there is need for implementation of CPTED principles. It was recommended that the University increases number of CCTV surveillance cameras on campus, Social gathering places be surrounded by security guards for patrols, lighting recommendations that are modern and in proper design, keep up with repairs, make necessary replacements, paint, trim, current campus buildings e updated to meet recent CPTED practises etc.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Examining the position of black South African accents in English in Drama Departments within institutions in the Western Cape Province: a case study

  • Authors: Seekoe, Leanetse Thato
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: English language
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16397 , vital:40716
  • Description: This dissertation examines the treatment and perceptions of black South African accents in English in the drama departments of specific institutions of higher learning in the Western Cape Province. The researcher is concerned with the handling of African native cultural identities in the curriculum policy of Drama Departments in higher education institutions in the Western Cape Province. Although the focus of the research is on the institutions that are based in the Western Cape Province, the subjects that are being discussed are representatives of black people in South Africa as a whole. To portray the issue of accents appropriately, the examination does often refer to language as a relatable concept. In the literature of this dissertation, there is ample support for the claim that language differences and disagreements in South Africa are due to the historical and socio-political stance of the European native. After examining the topic of power and social control, the study points out that the native is rarely in control of the interests of the European descendent. Thus, the relationship between the two is immediately assumed before it has even been established. For the purpose of this discussion, ambiguity is appreciated when intimacy between cultures evolves for the greater good. However, it is disregarded when individual voices are diluted into neutral or standard representations of a language. And so the act of reducing black South African accents in English to mirror that of the Euro-American culture robs the natives of their individuality and imprisons them into cultural assimilation. Ultimately, this study intends to identify different groups of black South Africans who speak English with accents. For clarity has divided into two separate groups namely privileged and unprivileged. Accents that are appreciated by white South African English speakers are considered to be privileged, while accents that carry the undertones of any mother-tongue language are recognised in this research study as unprivileged. The study wishes to present this phenomenon as a social issue that will negatively affect the growth of indigenous participation in performance spaces in the Western Cape which the study assumes as the context for the research. The implication of the study is to potentially eliminate issues of inferiority to those black South African accents that have been regarded as less valuable to dramatic performances in the Western Cape, to the extent that platforms of dramatic performances will broaden in order for black South African accents to be prioritised with relevant usage
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Exploring barriers to the legal adoption of orphaned and vulnerable children amongst the amaXhosa in Queenstown

  • Authors: Xabe, Koleka Beauty
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Adoption , Orphans , Children -- Legal status, laws, etc.
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSW
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17597 , vital:41102
  • Description: This study aimed at gaining insights into the barriers that prevent the legal adoption of vulnerable children amongst the amaXhosa in East London and Queenstown. To this end, it examined the knowledge and understanding of amaXhosa people regarding adoption as a permanent placement option for children. The method of investigation was qualitative in nature, as this approach provides a deep description of the phenomenon under study; in this case, the barriers to the legal adoption of vulnerable children amongst the amaXhosa in Queenstown area. Individual interviews were conducted with twelve participants – ten females and two males. Interviewees were foster parents and temporary safe care home employees employed by the Department of Social Development in Queenstown. The study adopted the ‘Circle of Courage’ and the ecological theoretical frameworks. Individual interviews were tape recoded and the transcripts were subject to interpretive analysis according to the guidelines provided by Terre Blanche, Durrheim and Painter (2006). Interviews tended to focus largely on the matter of black children being raised by white parents, people in the same sex domestic relationship, investigated interviewee’s beliefs about adoption within different cultures and its impact on the adoptee. The study also investigated the availability and accessibility of adoption awareness campaigns in their community. The responses of the participants were based on their own experiences, attitudes and external social worker’s report which attained along the process of caring for the (orphan and vulnerable children) OVC’s. The qualitative analysis of the research displays there are various reasons that leads to the decision for not to consider adoption as a placement option for orphan and vulnerable children among the AmaXhosa families. The findings showed that; reasons were both financial constraints, lack of time, race and culture. Despite their decisions and lack of resources, some of the parents appeared to be interested in the option only if they can be provided with support by government. It is evident that the permanent placement (adoption) is the only placement option that can X provide a child with legal rights to a family and award a parent with legal responsibility to a child.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Exploring how millennials prepare their content for social media: a narrative study of online users

  • Authors: Coleman, Robyn-Ann
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Generation Y
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSW
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17542 , vital:41089
  • Description: Millennials, (born between 1982 to 1996) referred to as ‘techno savvy’, are the largest and most highly educated generational cohort in this time. Introduced to technology early on in their lives has lead to a prolific use of social media. As possible future leaders, millennials also have the highest employment turnaround. The increased turnaround is because millennials are always on the lookout for better opportunities and purpose to meet their need for accelerated growth together with their need to belong. Social media platforms have the propensity to provide instantaneous and gratifying rewards, through various ways including self disclosure online. As millennials are seeking purpose and reward, communicating on a social media platform is way more rewarding than attempting to communicate. With the arena of face to face communication shifting to online communication this is becoming more amplified. This research study explored how millennials prepared to portray their content on Facebook and Instagram. A biographical narrative approach effectively acquired 15 individual millennials in-depth co-constructed narratives on how they prepare their online social media, and analysed through contexualising the co-constructed into a re-storied narrative with Connelly & Clandinin’s (2009) narrative analysis approach. Goffman’s dramaturgical approach, a conceptual framework based on micro social interaction was used to obtain insight into millennials online portrayal. The findings revealed that all of the participants utilised one or more of the following dramaturgical metaphors to portray themselves; a) they utilised props and /or filters to set the environment and filter their image online, b) they managed their impressions by being intentional in the selection of their images, and c) by intentionally selecting images or messages that portray roles their audience would affirm them for. The findings of this study highlights and provides insight in millennials’ preoccupation, distraction and portrayal online, which feeds into their need to be seen in a positive light and be affirmed. These findings provide social workers with new insight and perspective into millennials unspoken rich indepth narratives when millennials portray themselves online
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Exploring the interplay of sociolinguistic factors in the teaching of esl at secondary school level in Zimbabwe

  • Authors: Jhamba , Duren
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Sociolinguistics
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15770 , vital:40522
  • Description: The researcher noted that earlier second language teaching models tended to treat language as an artefact to be scrutinised and adhered to with grammatical precision. This tended to reduce all language learning to the mere acquisition of grammatical skills. However, since all language behaviour is embedded in sociocultural and contextual frameworks, all teaching should provide cross-cultural awareness of that complexity as well as of the internal variation within language. Therefore, the research explored the interplay of sociolinguistic factors in the teaching of English in Zimbabwe. The Mixed Methods design; a combination of the descriptive survey and the case study was adopted. The questionnaire, interview, observation and document analysis methods were used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data to assess the role of sociolinguistic factors in second language teaching pedagogy. A combination of convenient sampling and stratified random sampling was used to come up with a sample representative of the school categories and the gender of teachers in the 38 secondary schools in Gweru District. The data for the research was collected from a random sample of 50 teachers. The data analysis supported the need for a reconceptualisation of ESL teaching in Zimbabwe. Notably, language teaching tended to be exam-centric, unimaginative and not well linked to the needs of the learners in the communicative environment outside the school. This confirmed the initial observation that the secondary school graduates generally lacked sociolinguistic competence skills. The teachers were, however generally not motivated to include culture and sociolinguistics in their teaching. The research therefore recommended a revisit of the 7 | Page allowance for the interplay of sociolinguistic factors at all the planning stages of the ESL curriculum; the status, corpus and acquisition stages.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Exploring the underpinning factors that contribute to the involvement of children in criminal behaviour: A case of King William’s Town”

  • Authors: Mbomvana, Anelisa
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: juvenile delinquency Parent and child
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSW
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16220 , vital:40700
  • Description: Crime, in its daily occurrence, makes everyone a victim; whether of primary, secondary or of tertiary victimization, which has connotations of either direct or indirect victimization. It affects everyone and every sector. The involvement and the perpetration of crime by children, owing to a number of social dynamics, has serious implications and repercussions on children and how they later on conduct themselves. The aim of the study was to explore the factors that underpin criminal behaviour in children. The qualitative research method was adopted in the study and it informed the data collection and analysis processes of the study. Interviews and a focus group discussions were, therefore used to gain insight into the experiences of the participants. Through the use of purposive sampling, thirty five (35) participants comprising key and focus participants who were children in conflict with the law, their parents, the community members, social workers, probation officers and youth care workers from a certain Child and Youth Care Rehabilitation centre in King William’s Town were selected. The findings revealed that it was a variety of multi-factorial components that influenced criminal behaviour in children, and amongst those were individual, family, community and school factors. However, it was found that the impact of these detrimental factors identified was not comparable to the impact of the parent in the life of a child. The propensity and the extent to which these factors can affect a child was found as less probable where strong relationships were maintained between the parents and their children. This further implies that nurture was found to be very pivotal, as the role of the parents and of family support were found to be the most significant in children. Single parenting, father absence, undisclosed paternal identities, parental ignorance, poor parenting, and divorce were issues that emerged and were indicated in the study to be potentially harmful in the lives of children. A strong correlation was found between ignorant parenting and ill behavior in children as it was also found that parental conduct was very important as it defined the family’s wellbeing. A corresponding relationship was also established between dropping out of school and crime due to the fact that an overwhelming number of child offenders who participated in the study had dropped out of school. It was v further concluded that in spite of the social work profession’s adoption of the developmental approach, the propensity and timing the interventions took place was compared to those of the residual approach wherein the welfare system intervened as a measure of last resort. The study recommends that emphasis needs to be stressed on family based programmes in order to protect and secure the spontaneous growth of children
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Ict literacy skills and demographic factors as determinants of electronic resources use among the undergraduate students in the selected universities the Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Olatoye , Oluwayemi IbukunOluwa
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Electronic information resources
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16176 , vital:40675
  • Description: In today’s world, information is the foundation on which every strata in society is built and established. As we are in the jet age, the use of Information Communications Technology (ICT) is sine-qua-non to academic development. It is equally important to acquire skills and build capacity in ICT applications, as well as reflect on the demographic factors that determine the utilization of electronic resources among the undergraduate respondents. ICT has also evolutionalized professionalism in librarianship by providing delivery of appropriate, suitable and value-added information services in digital format. This research, therefore, investigated undergraduate students’ ICT literacy skills and demographic factors as determinants of electronic resources use, with selected tertiary institutions of learning in Eastern Cape South Africa as a case study. The study was premised on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) with the aim of appraising undergraduate students’ ICT literacy skills and demographic factors as causative elements of e-resources utilization in designated Eastern Cape universities in South Africa, as well as to unravel the impact of the theories on the adoption of technology and the perceived utilization of the electronic resources. The application of DOI, TAM and TRA theories for this study exemplifies the acceptance and usage of technological innovations by envisioned users in ICT literacy skill and electronic resources research, and these theories formed the theoretical basis to strengthen the study. The specific x objectives of the study are: To ascertain how undergraduate students in selected Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Eastern Cape access e-resources; to determine the level of influence of ICT literacy skills on the use of electronic resources by Undergraduate students in the selected universities; to determine the regularity levels of use and problems encountered in the use of electronic resources by Undergraduate students in the selected universities; to ascertain the contributions of demographic factors on the use of electronic resources by Undergraduate students in the selected universities; and to determine the attitudes and perceptions of undergraduate students towards the use of eresources. The approach of the study was in threefold; one, general discussion regarding ICT literacy skills of the respondents and secondly the demographic factors that determine electronic resources use of undergraduate students in the University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University. Finally, ICT literacy skills and demographic factors were investigated with the applicability of TAM, DOI and TRA theories Specifically, under these theories (TAM, TRA and DOI), TAM and TRA models were used to explain behavioural intention and to envisage user acceptance of technology usage (electronic resources), and to elucidate the correlation between the respondent’s (undergraduate students) perceptions, attitudes, beliefs and ultimately system utilization. DOI was conceptualized in this study as a valued tool for appraising the effect of demographic factors on the utilization of electronic resources among the undergraduate students in their academic pursuit. The major findings of the study specifies that ICT literacy skills and demographic factors determine the use of electronic resources. Hence, it is reasoned in the thesis that ICT xi literacy and demographic factors affects the frequency of electronic resources with those, for instance, who have obtained high ICT literacy skill levels when compared to others who are yet to develop their ICT literacy skills. Further, it has been disclosed elsewhere in the study that in terms of age, the younger undergraduate students (from 21 to 30 years) utilize electronic resources more regularly than their older colleagues (those who are 30 years of age and above).The study was approached with the adoption of the mixed-method research technique. The administration of a total of 377 copies of the questionnaire to undergraduate respondents in the aforementioned HEIs, (out of which 266 copies were returned), was conducted with in-depth interview conversations comprising of ten participants, with six respondents selected in the University of Fort Hare and four respondents from Rhodes University. Data acquired from the study were processed and analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for the quantitative data. In the light of the theoretical frameworks of the study, research results established that the ICT experience of the undergraduate respondents greatly influences their proficiency levels. This hypothesized assertion was subjected to statistical validity test through regression analysis. The result depicts that the p-value is 0.49 (which means that p≤ 0.05), and interprets to mean that the hypothesis is accepted. Also, the findings of this study depicts that the utilization of electronic resources by the respondents is mostly for entertainment purposes (such as viewing online videos, listening to sport commentaries, music and video downloads, e-mail communications, chatting with other people) had the highest rankings from the component matrix analysis which were greater than 0.5. From the forgoing, this is interpreted to mean that the respondents possess excellent proficiency in ICT literacy skills as well as in the use of Microsoft packages. xii Also, in the course of the in-depth research interview, it was discovered that most of the interviewees have excellent proficiency in ICT literacy skills. Generally, gender is an essential element that determines accessibility and e-resource utilization of respondents to electronic resources through the home and from other sources. Furthermore, it was discovered that that language is not a determinant regarding respondents’ accessibility and e-resource utilization from other sources of access to respondents. The analysis of this study revealed that more males, who are within the active e-resource using age bracket of 21 to 30 years old access and utilize electronic resources through the residences than their female counterparts. This age bracket is followed in terms of access and use of e-resources through residences by the respondents that are 20 years and below. A chi-square test of independence was also performed to survey the level of correlation between age and access to E-resources. A small p-value (typically ≤ 0.05) indicates strong evidence against the null hypothesis, so you reject the null hypothesis. A large p-value (> 0.05) shows weak evidence against the null hypothesis, so you reject the null hypothesis i.e. X2 (3, N=53) = 7.82. The Pearson chi-square (p-value) generated was .294, which is construed to mean that it is insignificant. Therefore, the explanation is that age has no influence on access of respondents to electronic resources through cybercafé. In order to make ICT literacy skills more beneficial to the undergraduate students in the selected HEIs, recommendations were made in this study. Firstly, there is a need for mass enlightenment campaigns on the use and benefits of E-resources among undergraduate respondents, the building of capacity of the undergraduate students in the use of electronic resources ICT literacy skill development programmes, need for intervention programmes focusing on the application xiii of some E-resources and software where the students are ranked low. Further, it is recommended that female students need to be encouraged to use E-resources. Also, delivery and empowering of Wi-Fi services, as well as the provision of CD- ROM databases should be considered.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Investigation of Sexual Relationships among gay students at the University Of Fort Hare (Alice Campus), Eastern Cape.

  • Authors: Mbanga , T.Q
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Gay youth Sex (Psychology)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Psychology)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17619 , vital:41129
  • Description: The main aim of the study was to investigate sexual relationships among gay students at the University of Fort Hare (Alice Campus), Eastern Cape. A qualitative research design was followed and semi-structured interview schedules were issued to twelve participants. The queer theory underpinned this study and it is based on the notion that individuals are able to determine their sexual identity and sexual orientation as they are. The participants, aged 18-25 years, were purposively selected to share their sexual behaviour as gays. The ethical principles such as informed consent, confidentiality, privacy and protection from harm, were adhered to, throughout the study. Prior identification of the themes, coding took place. The following themes were very important in the research and they helped to achieve the aim of the study and they are; challenges gay students experience in their relationships, closet partners, social networks sexual partners among gay students, condom use among gay students, sexual agreements among gay students, condom use, condom self-efficacy, honesty and communication, social support, self-esteem, liberal community and non-homophobic, traditional male circumcision, sexual agreements among gay students ,pornography viewing , sexual abuse among gay students, discrimination in residence, religiosity and perception towards marriage among gay students. Based on the findings, it is recommended that there should be communication among gay couples to avoid lot of conflicts. Also, there should be education about homosexuality in communities, schools and tertiary institutions as many people treat gays badly owing to lack of knowledge
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Knowledge management practices in a regional economic bloc secretariat: a case of Southern African development community

  • Authors: Sikazwe, Dennis
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Knowledge management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Library and Information Science)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11451 , vital:39073
  • Description: The effective application of appropriate Knowledge Management Practices (KMPs) is one of the innovative and creative ways for improving organisational work processes. Having been undertaken in a Regional Economic Bloc (REB) at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana, and at the SPGRC in Lusaka, Zambia, the study assesses KMPs among employees in these worksites. However, not all KMPs adopted can be appropriate. For example, studies show that the western epistemological perspective of knowledge that gives preference to leveraging explicit knowledge at the expense of tacit knowledge seems to be dominant in most organisations, just as evidenced in this study. This study was aimed at achieving to a limited extent exploratory and descriptive goal. The study was solidly grounded on the practice-based approach of knowing and learning in organisations, the OKC-SECI, and the dialogic Communication theories. It was aimed at assessing what, how and to what extent have KMPs utilized among REBs in the course of their day to day operations (SADC secretariat in particular). Using these theories, the study clearly shows how appropriate KMPs help improve secretariat’ work processes in any given REB secretariat’ everchanging work environment, and how it’s tested knowledge is stored, shared and applied as best practices. The study further assessed the conduciveness of the secretariat’s workplace environment in which such practices are carried out, and how appropriate the KM related ICTs available in that environment were. The theoretical underpinnings of the study were used to inform the selection of variables for the study. The approach of the study was firstly to understand what and how knowledge (both explicit and tacit) is generated, stored, shared and applied among the secretariat employees, and the focus was on the above theories. The study made use of the triangulated research approach to adequately capture and analyse both qualitative and quantitative data. By so doing, reliability and validity were enhanced. The copies of the questionnaire were administered to 138 employees of the catchment areas, and only 117 copies of the questionnaire were completed and returned for processing. From the returned copies of the questionnaire, 15 respondents whose responses vi appeared to have addressed the research questions were followed up for in-depth interviews. For qualitative data, the in-depth interviews were used together with the observation of the respondents’ behaviour, workplace environment and the appropriateness of the KM related ICTs available. Data obtained from the study were processed and analysed using SPSS for the quantitative data, while responses from the interviews and observations were sorted and coded. The process of comparing the processed quantitative and qualitative data resulted in the drawing of inferences that resolve the research problem. The study findings clearly show that the SADC secretariat was relatively good in the utilisation of appropriate KLPs; however, this was on average at a very low rate (32, 27.44%; Good), and mostly limited to the management of Information Resource Centres (47, 40.47%; Fair). This was followed by Explicit Knowledge Leveraging Practices (KLPs) (36, 30.75%; Good), while Tacit KLPs were rated the least with a (29, 25.20%; Bad) rating. The study findings further indicated that the conduciveness of the SADC secretariat workplace environment was on average fairly rated (61, 52.55%; Fair), with minimal opportunities for socialisation and collaborative work. The appropriateness of KM-related ICTs available at the secretariat was on average rated moderately at (41, 35.00%) Very good, though they were described as blind to the human, social and cultural aspects of KMPs. Finally, the study findings also revealed that the SADC secretariat was particularly rated bad (54, 45.87%) in finding possible KMP solutions, and was rated very good (51, 43.60%) in identifying the actual major challenges for managing KMPs. The use of a practice-based approach, OKC-SECI and Dialogic Communication theories to underpin the study were found suitable for investigating KMPs from a REB secretariat’s work processes context. The practice-based approach and the Dialogic Communication theory were particularly useful in addressing the issue of interaction, dialogue and sense-making in the workplace while the OKC-SECI theory helped understand knowledge conversion processes at the SADC secretariat. The findings of this study seem to propose that KMPs and KM, in general, can best be studied using a combination of methodologies because of the multi-disciplinary nature of the subject. The study, thus, proposes the “practice – theory – practice “knowledge creation and sharing workplace framework.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Knowledge retention practices among healthcare workers at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

  • Authors: Jonga, Nqabakazi
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Knowledge management Organizational learning
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M LIS
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11461 , vital:39074
  • Description: Knowledge has transformed to become an economic resource in a knowledge-based society, which determines the proficiency, progress and efficiency of any performed task. However, efficiency can be compromised when the health sector fails to retain the wealth of knowledge from experienced, senior and subject experts who have, or are about to leave or retire from the institution. Knowledge management provides for knowledge acquisition, sharing, transfer and further motivates the creation of influential atmospheres for knowledge sharing in the Public health sector. Healthcare is a knowledge driven process and thus knowledge management and the tools to manage knowledge in the healthcare sector are receiving attention. This study investigated knowledge retention practices in the Public health sector, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study was informed by the Socialisation, Externalization, Combination, Internalization SECI model of knowledge creation and conversion by Nonaka & Takeuchi (1995) and the Knowledge based theory of the firm by Grant (1996). Both theories interpret knowledge sharing and preservation as vital for institutional growth and effective service delivery. The theories advised on the establishment of platforms designated for acquisition of new knowledge, knowledge sharing and retention to assist in future decision making to obtain a competitive edge. The study employed a mixed method approach that is largely quantitative in nature. Self-administered questionnaires were adopted for quantitative data collection and three interviews were conducted with middle management to supplement the quantitative data. The reliability and validity of the research instruments was achieved through adapting, and modifying questions from previously used research instruments from the works of Dewah, (2012); Teffo, (2014) and Tatani, (2015). New questions were further developed and evaluated through expert analysis. The study took place at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape. The population of the study comprised of qualified healthcare workers in the health sector mainly “nurses”. The sample size was 198 and three interviews were conducted with the middle management to obtain qualitative data. xix The findings of the study revealed that the concept of knowledge retention was not dominant in public hospitals such as Cecilia Makiwane; however, certain practices are adopted to stimulate knowledge sharing thus contributing to knowledge retention. Several factors such as budget, ICT use, time allocation, fear of losing the competitive value through knowledge sharing and absence of supporting structures or services have been identified as root causes for reduced knowledge sharing practices among healthcare workers. The study, therefore, recommends the appointment of knowledge officers who would oversee the effective implementation of knowledge management policies and adopt strategies that will assist with knowledge retention. Further recommendations are, effective integration of knowledge management practices into the system, development of an internet based system for effective communication and institutional repositories for knowledge preservation. The study concludes that the development of training programs would assist healthcare workers to be familiar with any new or old invented mechanism.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Listeners’ Participation in Community Radio: A Case Study of Forte FM Radio

  • Authors: Bamigboye, Foluke Bosede
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Community radio Radio in community development
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Communications)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16254 , vital:40703
  • Description: This dissertation investigates listeners’ participation in community radio, drawing on Forte FM radio in Nkonkobe Municipality in Alice, Eastern Cape. The aim of the study was therefore to explore how listeners are been involved in the activities of Forte FM radio station. This study adopts qualitative research approach. Convenience, and purposive non-probability samplings techniques were subsequently used to select samples for this study. In-depth interviews was conducted with the radio station manager while one focus group discussion each was held with residents of Golf Course and Ntselamanzi areas with eight participants in each focus group, making a total number of sixteen participants for the focus group discussions. The collected data were interpreted and analyzed thematically. The findings of this research showed a remarkable disparity between the listeners of the radio station and perceptions of participation on one hand, and the listeners’ opinion and perceptions of them vice versa. Also, programming is often conceptualized with little or no community involvement and interaction. Listeners interviewed in the course of carrying out the focus group discussion in the two sampled areas were of the views that they only get connected to Forte FM radio station on social grounds of greetings and “shout outs”, through public spheres and for self-representation in the variety of public spaces of Forte FM radio. Another critical finding of this study indicated that, Forte FM is doing its best towards involving listeners in its programming.
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  • Date Issued: 2019
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