A "lean-led-evaluation" of infrastructure development improvement programme in South Africa
- Monyane, Thabiso Godfrey, Emuze, Fidelis
- Authors: Monyane, Thabiso Godfrey , Emuze, Fidelis
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Accounting , Construction industry -- South Africa Project management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44929 , vital:38189
- Description: A doctoral study was embarked upon with the intentions of addressing cost management problems encountered on Infrastructure Delivery Projects in South Africa. Given that poor cost performance constitute hindrance to the realization of project goals, it is imperative to eliminate it from project delivery. The prevalence of cost overrun in public sector projects is a call to all stakeholders to address cost management issues in the construction industry. The predominance of cost overruns in public sector construction projects in South Africa has been observed. With the decline of the current economic conditions in South Africa, project performance is a great concern that needs attention. In addition, ineffective initiatives to curb the abuse of the procurement processes are directly affecting the outcomes of construction projects, and if these status quo remains, the sector will continue to have a bad image and continued waste of taxpayers’ money will not cease until the public sector remove non-value adding activities in their operations. Study adopted a mixed methods designed that collected both textual and statistical data. Semistructured interviews were undertaken to determine the outcomes of current project management practices in South Africa. In terms of performance of projects, the status quo paints a disconsolate picture. Findings reveal protracted processes, and the use of unqualified and inexperienced contribute to poor performance of public sector projects. Poor performance continues to dominate the construction sector, especially in the public sector. Interviews data were contrasted with evidence from project-related documents. Based on the data, the study produces a vignette of existing cost management frameworks applied to such projects. Encompassing various stages of the project delivery lifecycle, this vignette will enable an identification of the challenges afflicting cost management on projects. Accordingly, this study identified Lean opportunities from existing cost management practices. Such opportunities will enable identification of effective cost management during project delivery. There appears a need for collaborative cost management practices. Lean tools mentioned for improvement include the 5Whys, the big room, target value design, and the integration of design and construction. A collaborative cost management framework was developed through relevant theories to improve the cost management process of public sector projects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Monyane, Thabiso Godfrey , Emuze, Fidelis
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Accounting , Construction industry -- South Africa Project management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44929 , vital:38189
- Description: A doctoral study was embarked upon with the intentions of addressing cost management problems encountered on Infrastructure Delivery Projects in South Africa. Given that poor cost performance constitute hindrance to the realization of project goals, it is imperative to eliminate it from project delivery. The prevalence of cost overrun in public sector projects is a call to all stakeholders to address cost management issues in the construction industry. The predominance of cost overruns in public sector construction projects in South Africa has been observed. With the decline of the current economic conditions in South Africa, project performance is a great concern that needs attention. In addition, ineffective initiatives to curb the abuse of the procurement processes are directly affecting the outcomes of construction projects, and if these status quo remains, the sector will continue to have a bad image and continued waste of taxpayers’ money will not cease until the public sector remove non-value adding activities in their operations. Study adopted a mixed methods designed that collected both textual and statistical data. Semistructured interviews were undertaken to determine the outcomes of current project management practices in South Africa. In terms of performance of projects, the status quo paints a disconsolate picture. Findings reveal protracted processes, and the use of unqualified and inexperienced contribute to poor performance of public sector projects. Poor performance continues to dominate the construction sector, especially in the public sector. Interviews data were contrasted with evidence from project-related documents. Based on the data, the study produces a vignette of existing cost management frameworks applied to such projects. Encompassing various stages of the project delivery lifecycle, this vignette will enable an identification of the challenges afflicting cost management on projects. Accordingly, this study identified Lean opportunities from existing cost management practices. Such opportunities will enable identification of effective cost management during project delivery. There appears a need for collaborative cost management practices. Lean tools mentioned for improvement include the 5Whys, the big room, target value design, and the integration of design and construction. A collaborative cost management framework was developed through relevant theories to improve the cost management process of public sector projects.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A best practice guideline for patient-centred care in public hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Jardien-Baboo, Sihaam
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Patient-centered health care -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Evidence-based medicine -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Public health nurses -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Public hospitals -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:10063 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020370
- Description: In South Africa, the quality of health care is directly related to the concept of patient-centred care and the enactment of the Batho Pele Principles and the Patients’ Rights Charter. The quality of health care delivery has dropped drastically, and reports in the media indicate that public hospitals in the Eastern Cape Province are on the brink of collapse, with thousands of patients being treated in condemned hospitals. Receiving and rendering health care in the face of such challenges, the question arose: “Are patients receiving patient-centred care in public hospitals?” The answer to this rhetorical inquiry appeared to be obvious, but this research study explored and described professional nurses’ perceptions of patient-centred care in public hospitals and their understanding of evidence-based practice and best practice guidelines. The proposed study followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design. The research population included professional nurses who are employed in public hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay, and consisted of nurse managers and nurses who work in the wards. The research study consisted of three phases. In Phase 1, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with nurse managers and professional nurses working in the wards in order to collect data about their perceptions of patient-centred care and their understanding of evidence-based practice and best practice guidelines. The interviews were transcribed and Tesch’s eight steps of data analysis were followed to create meaning from the data collected. Themes were identified and grouped together to form new categories. The researcher ensured the validity of the study by conforming to Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness, which consists of the following four constructs: credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. An independent coder assisted with the coding process. In Phase 2, an integrative literature review was conducted in order to identify previous guidelines regarding best practice for patient-centred care. Relevant guidelines were selected, critically appraised, data was extracted and synthesised for the development of a best practice guideline for patient-centred care. An independent appraiser critically appraised the guidelines, thereby ensuring trustworthiness. In Phase 3, the data in Phase 1 and Phase 2 were integrated to formulate a draft best practice guideline for patient-centred care. The guideline was submitted to an expert panel for review and was modified according to the recommendations of the panel, whereby the best practice guideline for patient-centred care in public hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay was finalized.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Jardien-Baboo, Sihaam
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Patient-centered health care -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Evidence-based medicine -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Public health nurses -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Public hospitals -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:10063 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020370
- Description: In South Africa, the quality of health care is directly related to the concept of patient-centred care and the enactment of the Batho Pele Principles and the Patients’ Rights Charter. The quality of health care delivery has dropped drastically, and reports in the media indicate that public hospitals in the Eastern Cape Province are on the brink of collapse, with thousands of patients being treated in condemned hospitals. Receiving and rendering health care in the face of such challenges, the question arose: “Are patients receiving patient-centred care in public hospitals?” The answer to this rhetorical inquiry appeared to be obvious, but this research study explored and described professional nurses’ perceptions of patient-centred care in public hospitals and their understanding of evidence-based practice and best practice guidelines. The proposed study followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design. The research population included professional nurses who are employed in public hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay, and consisted of nurse managers and nurses who work in the wards. The research study consisted of three phases. In Phase 1, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with nurse managers and professional nurses working in the wards in order to collect data about their perceptions of patient-centred care and their understanding of evidence-based practice and best practice guidelines. The interviews were transcribed and Tesch’s eight steps of data analysis were followed to create meaning from the data collected. Themes were identified and grouped together to form new categories. The researcher ensured the validity of the study by conforming to Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness, which consists of the following four constructs: credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. An independent coder assisted with the coding process. In Phase 2, an integrative literature review was conducted in order to identify previous guidelines regarding best practice for patient-centred care. Relevant guidelines were selected, critically appraised, data was extracted and synthesised for the development of a best practice guideline for patient-centred care. An independent appraiser critically appraised the guidelines, thereby ensuring trustworthiness. In Phase 3, the data in Phase 1 and Phase 2 were integrated to formulate a draft best practice guideline for patient-centred care. The guideline was submitted to an expert panel for review and was modified according to the recommendations of the panel, whereby the best practice guideline for patient-centred care in public hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay was finalized.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
A business model for medical subspecialty training in South Africa
- Dalmeyer, Johannes Paulus Franciscus
- Authors: Dalmeyer, Johannes Paulus Franciscus
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Health care teams -- Training of -- South Africa , Medical care -- Needs assessment -- South Africa , Evidence-based medicine -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3508 , vital:20437
- Description: The shortage of healthcare workers and doctors in the developing world compared to the developed world is a problem, and will continue to be so, due to the continual migration of qualified professionals and the inability of the state to remedy these shortfalls. A shortage of healthcare workers and specialist doctors will seriously hamper the Government’s National Health Insurance (NHI) plan, as well as the sustainability of the private health care sector. In addition, the duration of medical training in South Africa is exceptionally long. The three major hospital groups and other private corporates have over the last number of years taken limited initiative to fund education projects in conjunction with the academic institutions. However, these projects have been poorly focused and have been managed in an unstructured and detached manner. There is a desire from the private sector to get involved in these projects on a much larger scale through more formalised structures. Given this background, the primary objective of this research is to develop a business model for medical subspecialty training to complement the current academic subspecialty training in South Africa. A trial model for training subspecialists in reproductive medicine was developed as a first attempt to address the threatening shortages and training duration. This trial programme is the basis of this research. A two-phased process was used in collecting data. In Phase 1 data was collected from stakeholder groups. The results of this survey assisted in generating variables to include in the measuring instrument for the survey in Phase 2. In Phase 2 the perceptions and expectations of sub-specialists (reproductive subspecialists and cardiologists) regarding sub-specialty training was collected. The results of the demographic variables confirm the aging profile of subspecialist and the need to ensure succession. The results further showed that cardiologists and reproductive subspecialist expectations of the training of subspecialists are very similar except for their expectations on the training duration. Reproductive subspecialist respondents agreed more than cardiology subspecialist respondents that the training duration is too long. The biggest gap between perceptions and expectations is also with the factor training. The results showed that the expectations of subspecialists are not met for training. From these results a business model for the training of medical subspecialists is proposed. This proposed business model can play a complementary role to the existing state controlled system and form the bases of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in medical training. This proposed business model will fit a developing country were the focus is on primary healthcare, with financial and capacity constraints. The proposed model would require role players to bring about change to accommodate a larger scale Public Private Partnership (PPP) to ensure the implementation of the model. The proposed decentralised business model for training subspecialists would allow the trainee subspecialist to practise as a specialist thus maintaining an acceptable income, and enable an expedited completion and lead to a wider dissemination of medical expertise that can be delivered in a wider national foot print. It further will provide for a structured Public Private Partnership.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Dalmeyer, Johannes Paulus Franciscus
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Health care teams -- Training of -- South Africa , Medical care -- Needs assessment -- South Africa , Evidence-based medicine -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3508 , vital:20437
- Description: The shortage of healthcare workers and doctors in the developing world compared to the developed world is a problem, and will continue to be so, due to the continual migration of qualified professionals and the inability of the state to remedy these shortfalls. A shortage of healthcare workers and specialist doctors will seriously hamper the Government’s National Health Insurance (NHI) plan, as well as the sustainability of the private health care sector. In addition, the duration of medical training in South Africa is exceptionally long. The three major hospital groups and other private corporates have over the last number of years taken limited initiative to fund education projects in conjunction with the academic institutions. However, these projects have been poorly focused and have been managed in an unstructured and detached manner. There is a desire from the private sector to get involved in these projects on a much larger scale through more formalised structures. Given this background, the primary objective of this research is to develop a business model for medical subspecialty training to complement the current academic subspecialty training in South Africa. A trial model for training subspecialists in reproductive medicine was developed as a first attempt to address the threatening shortages and training duration. This trial programme is the basis of this research. A two-phased process was used in collecting data. In Phase 1 data was collected from stakeholder groups. The results of this survey assisted in generating variables to include in the measuring instrument for the survey in Phase 2. In Phase 2 the perceptions and expectations of sub-specialists (reproductive subspecialists and cardiologists) regarding sub-specialty training was collected. The results of the demographic variables confirm the aging profile of subspecialist and the need to ensure succession. The results further showed that cardiologists and reproductive subspecialist expectations of the training of subspecialists are very similar except for their expectations on the training duration. Reproductive subspecialist respondents agreed more than cardiology subspecialist respondents that the training duration is too long. The biggest gap between perceptions and expectations is also with the factor training. The results showed that the expectations of subspecialists are not met for training. From these results a business model for the training of medical subspecialists is proposed. This proposed business model can play a complementary role to the existing state controlled system and form the bases of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in medical training. This proposed business model will fit a developing country were the focus is on primary healthcare, with financial and capacity constraints. The proposed model would require role players to bring about change to accommodate a larger scale Public Private Partnership (PPP) to ensure the implementation of the model. The proposed decentralised business model for training subspecialists would allow the trainee subspecialist to practise as a specialist thus maintaining an acceptable income, and enable an expedited completion and lead to a wider dissemination of medical expertise that can be delivered in a wider national foot print. It further will provide for a structured Public Private Partnership.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A change framework for introducing performance management in higher education: a case study
- Authors: Ndung’u, Agnes
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Performance -- Management , Education, Higher -- Evaluation Organizational change Organizational effectiveness
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41796 , vital:36590
- Description: The South African Higher Education Act 101 of 1997 provides a legal framework for the management of higher education institutions based on quality assurance and accountability. As such, the Act mandates the introduction of performance management. Performance management is one of the most challenging areas of responsibility in the field of human resources management. The literature, as discussed in this study, reveals that performance management is a complex phenomenon and that the implementation of a performance management system is, for a variety of reasons, not always successful. Failure is mostly attributed to not taking a planned, scientific and collaborative approach to implementation, resulting to lack of buy-in from significant stakeholders. Specifically, the introduction of performance management in the higher education sector presents a unique challenge, as the process requires that stakeholders and especially academics, to shift from a traditional culture of collegiality to one in which accountability is measured by formal criteria. While existing literature does address the management of change in organisations, there is a paucity of literature on managing change with regards to performance management and specifically in the context of higher education. The purpose of this study was to develop and present a comprehensive change framework for introducing performance management in higher education. In order to provide a theoretical basis for the research, existing literature on performance management, change management as well as the higher education context was reviewed, to identify potential barriers to the implementation of performance management. A case study analysis was conducted on the implementation of performance management at a comprehensive university, which included presenting a historical timeline of implementation based on documented evidence, and reporting on open-ended interviews and focus groups conducted with significant stakeholders. The stakeholders included management, Human Resources (HR), academic staff, administrative and support staff, as well as trade union representatives. Key lessons were drawn and fused to develop a change framework for the introduction of performance management in higher education. The framework encapsulates key themes extracted from the literature and empirical study, with regard to readiness for change, planning, implementing and sustaining change, with cognisance of the unique context. The research revealed critical aspects for the successful implementation of performance management communication with and the involvement of stakeholders, the commitment of senior management, training, embedding the change in the organisational culture, and constantly evaluating the progress as a feedback loop for making improvements. The study demonstrates that planning the change process helps to improve the effectiveness of implementing performance management. A process framework for developing and introducing performance management in the context of higher education is created with a focus on how to create ownership through communication and involvement. The proposed framework serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners, especially those involved in higher education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Ndung’u, Agnes
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Performance -- Management , Education, Higher -- Evaluation Organizational change Organizational effectiveness
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41796 , vital:36590
- Description: The South African Higher Education Act 101 of 1997 provides a legal framework for the management of higher education institutions based on quality assurance and accountability. As such, the Act mandates the introduction of performance management. Performance management is one of the most challenging areas of responsibility in the field of human resources management. The literature, as discussed in this study, reveals that performance management is a complex phenomenon and that the implementation of a performance management system is, for a variety of reasons, not always successful. Failure is mostly attributed to not taking a planned, scientific and collaborative approach to implementation, resulting to lack of buy-in from significant stakeholders. Specifically, the introduction of performance management in the higher education sector presents a unique challenge, as the process requires that stakeholders and especially academics, to shift from a traditional culture of collegiality to one in which accountability is measured by formal criteria. While existing literature does address the management of change in organisations, there is a paucity of literature on managing change with regards to performance management and specifically in the context of higher education. The purpose of this study was to develop and present a comprehensive change framework for introducing performance management in higher education. In order to provide a theoretical basis for the research, existing literature on performance management, change management as well as the higher education context was reviewed, to identify potential barriers to the implementation of performance management. A case study analysis was conducted on the implementation of performance management at a comprehensive university, which included presenting a historical timeline of implementation based on documented evidence, and reporting on open-ended interviews and focus groups conducted with significant stakeholders. The stakeholders included management, Human Resources (HR), academic staff, administrative and support staff, as well as trade union representatives. Key lessons were drawn and fused to develop a change framework for the introduction of performance management in higher education. The framework encapsulates key themes extracted from the literature and empirical study, with regard to readiness for change, planning, implementing and sustaining change, with cognisance of the unique context. The research revealed critical aspects for the successful implementation of performance management communication with and the involvement of stakeholders, the commitment of senior management, training, embedding the change in the organisational culture, and constantly evaluating the progress as a feedback loop for making improvements. The study demonstrates that planning the change process helps to improve the effectiveness of implementing performance management. A process framework for developing and introducing performance management in the context of higher education is created with a focus on how to create ownership through communication and involvement. The proposed framework serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners, especially those involved in higher education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A characterization of landslide occurrence in the Kigezi Highlands of South Western Uganda
- Authors: Nseka, Denis
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Landslides -- Uganda , Land degradation -- Uganda Earth movements
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33791 , vital:33029
- Description: The frequency and magnitude of landslide occurrence in the Kigezi highlands of South Western Uganda has increased, but the key underpinnings of the occurrences are yet to be understood. The overall aim of this study was to characterize the parameters underpinning landslide occurrence in the Kigezi highlands. This information is important for predicting or identifying actual and potential landslide sites. This should inform policy, particularly in terms of developing early warning systems to landslide hazards in these highlands. The present study analysed the area’s topography, soil properties as well as land use and cover changes underpinning the spatialtemporal distribution of landslide occurrence in the region. The present study focussed on selected topographic parameters including slope gradient, profile curvature, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), Stream Power Index (SPI), and Topographic Position Index (TPI). These factors were parameterized in the field and GIS environment using a 10 m Digital Elevation Model. Sixty five landslide features were surveyed and mapped. Soil properties were characterised in relation to slope position. Onsite soil property analysis was conducted within the landslide scars, auger holes and full profile representative sites. Furthermore, soil infiltration and strength tests, as well as clay mineralogy analyses were also conducted. An analysis of the spatial-temporal land use and cover changes was undertaken using satellite imagery spanning the period between 1985 and 2015. Landslides were noted to concentrate along topographic hollows in the landscape. The occurrence is dominant where slope gradient is between 25˚ and 35˚, profile curvature between 0.1 and 5, TWI between 8 and 18, SPI >10 and TPI between -1 and 1. Landslides are less pronounced on slope zones where slope gradient is <15˚ and >45˚, profile curvature <0, TWI <8 and >18, SPI <10 and TPI >1. Deep soil profiles ranging between 2.5 and 7 meters are a major characteristic of the study area. Soils are characterized by clay pans at a depth ranging between 0.75 and 3 meters within the profiles. The study area is dominated by clay texture, except for the uppermost surface horizons, which are loamy sand. All surface horizons analysed had the percentage of sand, silt and clay ranging from 33 to 55%, 22 to 40% and 10 to 30% respectively. In the deeper horizons, sand was observed to reduce drastically to less than 23%, while clay increased to greater than 50%. The clay content is very high in the deeper horizons exceeding 35%. By implication, such soils with a very high clay content and plasticity index are considered as Vertisols, with a profound influence in the occurrence of landslides. The top soil predominantly contains more quartz, while subsurface horizons have considerable amounts of illite/muscovite as the dominant clay minerals, ranging from 43% to 47 %. The liquid limit, plasticity index, computed weighted plasticity index (PIw), expansiveness (ɛex) and dispersion ranging from 50, 22, 17, 10 and 23 to 66, 44,34,54 and 64, respectively also have strong implications for landslide occurrence. Landslides are not normally experienced during or immediately after extreme rainfall events but occur later in the rainfall season. By implication, this time lag in landslide occurrence and rainfall distribution, is due to the initial infiltration through quartz dominated upper soil layers, before illite/muscovite clays in the lower soil horizons get saturated. Whereas forest cover reduced from 40 % in 1985 to 8% in 2015, cultivated land and settlements increased from 16% and 11% to 52% and 25% respectively during the same period. The distribution of cultivated land decreased in lower slope sections within gradient group < 15˚ by 59%. It however increased in upper sections within gradient cluster 25˚ to 35˚ by over 85% during the study period. There is a shift of cultivated land to the steeper sensitive upper slope elements associated with landslides in the study area. More than 50% of the landslides are occurring on cultivated land, 20% on settlements while less than 15 % and 10% are occurring on grassland and forests with degraded areas respectively. Landslides in Kigezi highlands are triggered by a complex interaction of multiple- factors, including dynamic triggers and ground condition variables. Topographic hollows are convergence zones within the landscape where all the parameters interact to cause landslides. Topographic hollows are therefore potential and actual landslide sites in the study area. Characterized by deep soil horizons with high clay content dominated by illite/muscovite minerals in the sub soils and profile concave forms with moderately steep slopes, topographic hollows are the most vulnerable slope elements to landslide occurrence. The spatial temporal patterns of landslide occurrence in the study area has changed due to increased cultivation of steep middle and upper slopes. Characterized by deep soil horizons with high clay content dominated by illite/muscovite minerals in the sub soils and profile concave forms with moderately steep slopes, topographic hollows are the most vulnerable slope elements to landslide occurrence. The spatial-temporal patterns of landslide occurrence in the study area has changed due to increased cultivation of steep middle and upper slopes. A close spatial and temporal correlation between land use/cover changes and landslide occurrence is discernible. The understanding of these topographical, pedological and land use/cover parameters and their influence on landslide occurrence is important in land management. It is now possible to identify and predict actual and potential landslide zones, and also demarcate safer zones for community activities. The information generated about the area’s topographic, pedological and land cover characteristics should help in vulnerability mitigation and enhance community resilience to landslide hazards in this fragile highland ecosystem. This can be done through designating zones for community activities while avoiding potential landslide zones. It is also recommended that, tree cover restoration be done in the highlands and the farmers encouraged to re-establish terrace farming while avoiding cultivation of sensitive steep middle and upper slope sections.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Nseka, Denis
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Landslides -- Uganda , Land degradation -- Uganda Earth movements
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33791 , vital:33029
- Description: The frequency and magnitude of landslide occurrence in the Kigezi highlands of South Western Uganda has increased, but the key underpinnings of the occurrences are yet to be understood. The overall aim of this study was to characterize the parameters underpinning landslide occurrence in the Kigezi highlands. This information is important for predicting or identifying actual and potential landslide sites. This should inform policy, particularly in terms of developing early warning systems to landslide hazards in these highlands. The present study analysed the area’s topography, soil properties as well as land use and cover changes underpinning the spatialtemporal distribution of landslide occurrence in the region. The present study focussed on selected topographic parameters including slope gradient, profile curvature, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), Stream Power Index (SPI), and Topographic Position Index (TPI). These factors were parameterized in the field and GIS environment using a 10 m Digital Elevation Model. Sixty five landslide features were surveyed and mapped. Soil properties were characterised in relation to slope position. Onsite soil property analysis was conducted within the landslide scars, auger holes and full profile representative sites. Furthermore, soil infiltration and strength tests, as well as clay mineralogy analyses were also conducted. An analysis of the spatial-temporal land use and cover changes was undertaken using satellite imagery spanning the period between 1985 and 2015. Landslides were noted to concentrate along topographic hollows in the landscape. The occurrence is dominant where slope gradient is between 25˚ and 35˚, profile curvature between 0.1 and 5, TWI between 8 and 18, SPI >10 and TPI between -1 and 1. Landslides are less pronounced on slope zones where slope gradient is <15˚ and >45˚, profile curvature <0, TWI <8 and >18, SPI <10 and TPI >1. Deep soil profiles ranging between 2.5 and 7 meters are a major characteristic of the study area. Soils are characterized by clay pans at a depth ranging between 0.75 and 3 meters within the profiles. The study area is dominated by clay texture, except for the uppermost surface horizons, which are loamy sand. All surface horizons analysed had the percentage of sand, silt and clay ranging from 33 to 55%, 22 to 40% and 10 to 30% respectively. In the deeper horizons, sand was observed to reduce drastically to less than 23%, while clay increased to greater than 50%. The clay content is very high in the deeper horizons exceeding 35%. By implication, such soils with a very high clay content and plasticity index are considered as Vertisols, with a profound influence in the occurrence of landslides. The top soil predominantly contains more quartz, while subsurface horizons have considerable amounts of illite/muscovite as the dominant clay minerals, ranging from 43% to 47 %. The liquid limit, plasticity index, computed weighted plasticity index (PIw), expansiveness (ɛex) and dispersion ranging from 50, 22, 17, 10 and 23 to 66, 44,34,54 and 64, respectively also have strong implications for landslide occurrence. Landslides are not normally experienced during or immediately after extreme rainfall events but occur later in the rainfall season. By implication, this time lag in landslide occurrence and rainfall distribution, is due to the initial infiltration through quartz dominated upper soil layers, before illite/muscovite clays in the lower soil horizons get saturated. Whereas forest cover reduced from 40 % in 1985 to 8% in 2015, cultivated land and settlements increased from 16% and 11% to 52% and 25% respectively during the same period. The distribution of cultivated land decreased in lower slope sections within gradient group < 15˚ by 59%. It however increased in upper sections within gradient cluster 25˚ to 35˚ by over 85% during the study period. There is a shift of cultivated land to the steeper sensitive upper slope elements associated with landslides in the study area. More than 50% of the landslides are occurring on cultivated land, 20% on settlements while less than 15 % and 10% are occurring on grassland and forests with degraded areas respectively. Landslides in Kigezi highlands are triggered by a complex interaction of multiple- factors, including dynamic triggers and ground condition variables. Topographic hollows are convergence zones within the landscape where all the parameters interact to cause landslides. Topographic hollows are therefore potential and actual landslide sites in the study area. Characterized by deep soil horizons with high clay content dominated by illite/muscovite minerals in the sub soils and profile concave forms with moderately steep slopes, topographic hollows are the most vulnerable slope elements to landslide occurrence. The spatial temporal patterns of landslide occurrence in the study area has changed due to increased cultivation of steep middle and upper slopes. Characterized by deep soil horizons with high clay content dominated by illite/muscovite minerals in the sub soils and profile concave forms with moderately steep slopes, topographic hollows are the most vulnerable slope elements to landslide occurrence. The spatial-temporal patterns of landslide occurrence in the study area has changed due to increased cultivation of steep middle and upper slopes. A close spatial and temporal correlation between land use/cover changes and landslide occurrence is discernible. The understanding of these topographical, pedological and land use/cover parameters and their influence on landslide occurrence is important in land management. It is now possible to identify and predict actual and potential landslide zones, and also demarcate safer zones for community activities. The information generated about the area’s topographic, pedological and land cover characteristics should help in vulnerability mitigation and enhance community resilience to landslide hazards in this fragile highland ecosystem. This can be done through designating zones for community activities while avoiding potential landslide zones. It is also recommended that, tree cover restoration be done in the highlands and the farmers encouraged to re-establish terrace farming while avoiding cultivation of sensitive steep middle and upper slope sections.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A chronic care coordination model for HIV-positive children requiring antiretroviral therapy
- Authors: Williams, Margaret
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: HIV-positive children -- Care -- South Africa , HIV-positive persons -- Care -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:10062 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020346
- Description: The human immunodeficiency virus / acquired immune deficiency syndrome pandemic (HIV/AIDS) continues to increase in prevalence worldwide, particularly in South Africa. There is a concurrent and distinct increase in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and HIV-related diseases in the paediatric population in South Africa, particularly those using public sector health services, with a corresponding increase in morbidity and mortality rates (Abdool Karim & Abdool Karim, 2010:363), which impacts greatly on paediatric healthcare services. Adding to this, the provision of paediatric antiretroviral care has numerous stumbling blocks, not least of which is lack of decentralisation of facilities to provide treatment. There is the additional shortage of staff, which includes staff that are comfortable dealing with children, lack of training programmes on the provision of antiretroviral therapy to children, and minimal on-site mentorship of staff regarding HIV/AIDS disease in children. This lack of capacity in the healthcare system means that not all of those who require treatment will be able to access it, and this is particularly pertinent to paediatric patients (Meyers et al., 2007:198). Therefore the purpose of this research was to develop a nursing model that would assist healthcare professionals, in particular professional nurses, to optimise the comprehensive treatment, care and support for HIV-positive children who require antiretroviral therapy at PHC clinics. To achieve the purpose of this study, a theory-generating design based on a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual approach was implemented by the researcher to gain an understanding of how the healthcare professionals and parents/caregivers of HIV-positive children experienced the comprehensive treatment, care and support provided at primary healthcare clinics. The information obtained was used to develop a chronic care coordination model for the optimisation of comprehensive treatment, care and support for HIV-positive children requiring antiretroviral therapy. The study design comprised the following four steps: Step One of the research design focused on the identification, classification and definition of the major concepts of the study. This involved describing and selecting the research population and the sampling process prior to conducting the field work which comprised in-depth interviews with two groups of participants, namely healthcare professionals and parents/caregivers who accompany their HIV-positive children to PHC clinics in order to receive antiretroviral therapy. Step Two of the research design focused on the development of relationship statements in order to bring clarity and direction to the understanding of the phenomenon of interest. Step Three of the design concentrated on the development and description of the chronic care coordination model for optimising comprehensive treatment, care and support for HIV-positive children who require antiretroviral therapy in order to ensure a well-managed child on ART. A visual representation of the structure of the model for chronic care coordination was given and described as well as a detailed description of the process of the model. Step Four was the last step of the research design and its focus was the development of guidelines for the operationalisation of the model for chronic care coordination for the optimisation of comprehensive treatment, care and support for HIV-positive children requiring antiretroviral therapy at PHC clinics. Guidelines and operational implications for each of the five sequential steps of the model were developed. The evaluation criteria of Chinn & Kramer (2008:237‒248) were used to evaluate the model. It is therefore concluded that the researcher succeeded in achieving the purpose for this study because a chronic care coordination model that is understandable, clear, simple, applicable and significant to nursing practice has been developed for use by healthcare professionals, particularly professional nurses, in order to optimise the comprehensive treatment, care and support for HIV-positive children requiring antiretroviral therapy at primary healthcare clinics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Williams, Margaret
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: HIV-positive children -- Care -- South Africa , HIV-positive persons -- Care -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:10062 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020346
- Description: The human immunodeficiency virus / acquired immune deficiency syndrome pandemic (HIV/AIDS) continues to increase in prevalence worldwide, particularly in South Africa. There is a concurrent and distinct increase in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and HIV-related diseases in the paediatric population in South Africa, particularly those using public sector health services, with a corresponding increase in morbidity and mortality rates (Abdool Karim & Abdool Karim, 2010:363), which impacts greatly on paediatric healthcare services. Adding to this, the provision of paediatric antiretroviral care has numerous stumbling blocks, not least of which is lack of decentralisation of facilities to provide treatment. There is the additional shortage of staff, which includes staff that are comfortable dealing with children, lack of training programmes on the provision of antiretroviral therapy to children, and minimal on-site mentorship of staff regarding HIV/AIDS disease in children. This lack of capacity in the healthcare system means that not all of those who require treatment will be able to access it, and this is particularly pertinent to paediatric patients (Meyers et al., 2007:198). Therefore the purpose of this research was to develop a nursing model that would assist healthcare professionals, in particular professional nurses, to optimise the comprehensive treatment, care and support for HIV-positive children who require antiretroviral therapy at PHC clinics. To achieve the purpose of this study, a theory-generating design based on a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual approach was implemented by the researcher to gain an understanding of how the healthcare professionals and parents/caregivers of HIV-positive children experienced the comprehensive treatment, care and support provided at primary healthcare clinics. The information obtained was used to develop a chronic care coordination model for the optimisation of comprehensive treatment, care and support for HIV-positive children requiring antiretroviral therapy. The study design comprised the following four steps: Step One of the research design focused on the identification, classification and definition of the major concepts of the study. This involved describing and selecting the research population and the sampling process prior to conducting the field work which comprised in-depth interviews with two groups of participants, namely healthcare professionals and parents/caregivers who accompany their HIV-positive children to PHC clinics in order to receive antiretroviral therapy. Step Two of the research design focused on the development of relationship statements in order to bring clarity and direction to the understanding of the phenomenon of interest. Step Three of the design concentrated on the development and description of the chronic care coordination model for optimising comprehensive treatment, care and support for HIV-positive children who require antiretroviral therapy in order to ensure a well-managed child on ART. A visual representation of the structure of the model for chronic care coordination was given and described as well as a detailed description of the process of the model. Step Four was the last step of the research design and its focus was the development of guidelines for the operationalisation of the model for chronic care coordination for the optimisation of comprehensive treatment, care and support for HIV-positive children requiring antiretroviral therapy at PHC clinics. Guidelines and operational implications for each of the five sequential steps of the model were developed. The evaluation criteria of Chinn & Kramer (2008:237‒248) were used to evaluate the model. It is therefore concluded that the researcher succeeded in achieving the purpose for this study because a chronic care coordination model that is understandable, clear, simple, applicable and significant to nursing practice has been developed for use by healthcare professionals, particularly professional nurses, in order to optimise the comprehensive treatment, care and support for HIV-positive children requiring antiretroviral therapy at primary healthcare clinics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A co-constructed practice model for supporting parents of children in conflict with the law
- Authors: Abdulla, Zurina
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Children's rights -- South Africa , Children -- Legal status, laws, etc --South Africa , Parent and child -- Research -- South Africa , Social work with youth -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30474 , vital:30949
- Description: The unique historical stressors linked to South Africa’s apartheid legacy, continues to manifest in the form of economic exclusion, social exclusion, inequality and poverty, with parents being subjugated to service users and extenders rather than included as service advocates, particularly in the child justice system. Furthermore, policies and practices do not include, engage and support parents on an intra and interpersonal level. Parents of children in conflict with the law, experience their children’s charge or arrest as well as their subsequent journey through the child justice system as a crisis resulting in their need for emotional, informational, practical and professional support during the child justice process. The similarities and differences between the contexts of child protection and child justice in supporting parents illuminates the existing gaps in child justice legislation, policy and practice resulting in a lack of support for parents during the child justice process. In the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, it is recognised that parents have a legal responsibility towards their children and that in fulfilling this responsibility parents can access support services to assist them when they face challenges in fulfilling this responsibility. In contrast, despite 80 percent of children in conflict with the law being released into parental care and parents expressing the need for support in fulfilling their parental responsibility, in this regard the Child Justice Act 75 of 2008 fails to make provision for parents to access support services. The child justice system’s narrow focus on parents as service extenders contributes to parents’ being excluded from targeted support services resulting in parents’ support needs not being addressed. The lack of programmes and services aimed at supporting parents highlight the need for coordinated services that address the multiple stressors parents are exposed to. To this end, this study was aimed at coconstructing a practice model for supporting parents of children in conflict with the law. The theoretical lenses employed in the current study namely; the Ecological systems model and the Buffering effect model describes the various systems parents need support from and the type of support they need from their family, community and professionals. Guided by a qualitative approach, the present study integrated applied research, in particular intervention design and development with participatory action research as it allowed systematic collaboration during the research process to ensure rigour. This study involved participants from two research sites namely, the Nerina One- Stop Child Justice Centre in Port Elizabeth and the Reception, Assessment and Referral office at the Uitenhage magistrates’ court. Employing a non-probability purposive sampling method, this study facilitated the participation of parents of children in conflict with the law and child justice officials who met the inclusion criteria, in the co-design and development of a practice model for supporting parents of children in conflict with the law. Participants assumed an expert and collaborative role, which enabled the co-construction of knowledge, meaning and innovation of the practice model. Qualitative data collection methods namely, twelve focus groups and thirty two participant observations, were used to explore, co-construct, describe and design a practice model for supporting parents of children in conflict with the law during the child justice process. Thematic analyses was employed to condense the data, search for codes, categories, themes, relationships and patterns in the data. Due to the research approach and design, data analysis was ongoing and informed design and development of the practice model. Based on the thematic analysis and synthesis both descriptive and analytic themes emerged. To ensure trustworthiness, this study employed various strategies to strengthen commitment, rigour, transparency and coherence. In addition, the participative research process, the inclusion of multiple forms of qualitative inquiry and the significance of the study contributed to the validity and quality of the study. Ethical considerations applicable to the study included participants’ voluntary participation, their informed consent and ensuring participants’ privacy or maintaining confidentially. Various strategies were employed to prevent or minimise risk to participants. The findings showed that formal sources of support, in particular, offer opportunities for parents to access individual and family counselling, parenting advice, and peer support. The study also highlighted the importance of recognising parents as a subsystem in the child justice system offers potential opportunities for inclusion of parents as co-facilitators of parenting programmes or support groups, as peer supporters during the child justice process. Parents’ inclusion as a partner in the child justice system is highlighted as an opportunity for parents to be able to vi participate in child justice fora, oversight committees and accreditation committees to influence policy, services and budget allocations for services to support parents of children in conflict with the law. This study’s contribution to the existing body of knowledge is an integrated, multidisciplinary, multi-phase co-constructed practice model that would enable inclusion of, and support for, parents of children in conflict with the law prior to, during and after the child justice. The co-constructed practice model (a) involves a continuum of parent-centred support for and inclusion of parents prior to, during and after the child justice process; (b) advances an inclusive and collaborative child justice system that views parents as important stakeholders in determining the type of services they need and being involved in developing practice; and (c) promotes parents as equal partners in decision making and policy making to influence legislation, policy and practice in the child justice system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Abdulla, Zurina
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Children's rights -- South Africa , Children -- Legal status, laws, etc --South Africa , Parent and child -- Research -- South Africa , Social work with youth -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30474 , vital:30949
- Description: The unique historical stressors linked to South Africa’s apartheid legacy, continues to manifest in the form of economic exclusion, social exclusion, inequality and poverty, with parents being subjugated to service users and extenders rather than included as service advocates, particularly in the child justice system. Furthermore, policies and practices do not include, engage and support parents on an intra and interpersonal level. Parents of children in conflict with the law, experience their children’s charge or arrest as well as their subsequent journey through the child justice system as a crisis resulting in their need for emotional, informational, practical and professional support during the child justice process. The similarities and differences between the contexts of child protection and child justice in supporting parents illuminates the existing gaps in child justice legislation, policy and practice resulting in a lack of support for parents during the child justice process. In the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, it is recognised that parents have a legal responsibility towards their children and that in fulfilling this responsibility parents can access support services to assist them when they face challenges in fulfilling this responsibility. In contrast, despite 80 percent of children in conflict with the law being released into parental care and parents expressing the need for support in fulfilling their parental responsibility, in this regard the Child Justice Act 75 of 2008 fails to make provision for parents to access support services. The child justice system’s narrow focus on parents as service extenders contributes to parents’ being excluded from targeted support services resulting in parents’ support needs not being addressed. The lack of programmes and services aimed at supporting parents highlight the need for coordinated services that address the multiple stressors parents are exposed to. To this end, this study was aimed at coconstructing a practice model for supporting parents of children in conflict with the law. The theoretical lenses employed in the current study namely; the Ecological systems model and the Buffering effect model describes the various systems parents need support from and the type of support they need from their family, community and professionals. Guided by a qualitative approach, the present study integrated applied research, in particular intervention design and development with participatory action research as it allowed systematic collaboration during the research process to ensure rigour. This study involved participants from two research sites namely, the Nerina One- Stop Child Justice Centre in Port Elizabeth and the Reception, Assessment and Referral office at the Uitenhage magistrates’ court. Employing a non-probability purposive sampling method, this study facilitated the participation of parents of children in conflict with the law and child justice officials who met the inclusion criteria, in the co-design and development of a practice model for supporting parents of children in conflict with the law. Participants assumed an expert and collaborative role, which enabled the co-construction of knowledge, meaning and innovation of the practice model. Qualitative data collection methods namely, twelve focus groups and thirty two participant observations, were used to explore, co-construct, describe and design a practice model for supporting parents of children in conflict with the law during the child justice process. Thematic analyses was employed to condense the data, search for codes, categories, themes, relationships and patterns in the data. Due to the research approach and design, data analysis was ongoing and informed design and development of the practice model. Based on the thematic analysis and synthesis both descriptive and analytic themes emerged. To ensure trustworthiness, this study employed various strategies to strengthen commitment, rigour, transparency and coherence. In addition, the participative research process, the inclusion of multiple forms of qualitative inquiry and the significance of the study contributed to the validity and quality of the study. Ethical considerations applicable to the study included participants’ voluntary participation, their informed consent and ensuring participants’ privacy or maintaining confidentially. Various strategies were employed to prevent or minimise risk to participants. The findings showed that formal sources of support, in particular, offer opportunities for parents to access individual and family counselling, parenting advice, and peer support. The study also highlighted the importance of recognising parents as a subsystem in the child justice system offers potential opportunities for inclusion of parents as co-facilitators of parenting programmes or support groups, as peer supporters during the child justice process. Parents’ inclusion as a partner in the child justice system is highlighted as an opportunity for parents to be able to vi participate in child justice fora, oversight committees and accreditation committees to influence policy, services and budget allocations for services to support parents of children in conflict with the law. This study’s contribution to the existing body of knowledge is an integrated, multidisciplinary, multi-phase co-constructed practice model that would enable inclusion of, and support for, parents of children in conflict with the law prior to, during and after the child justice. The co-constructed practice model (a) involves a continuum of parent-centred support for and inclusion of parents prior to, during and after the child justice process; (b) advances an inclusive and collaborative child justice system that views parents as important stakeholders in determining the type of services they need and being involved in developing practice; and (c) promotes parents as equal partners in decision making and policy making to influence legislation, policy and practice in the child justice system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A comparative analysis of anti-corruption legislation and anti-corruption agencies in the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape provices : a governance perspective
- Authors: Majila, Victoria Thozama
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Political corruption -- South Africa , Misconduct in office -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8179 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/2117 , Political corruption -- South Africa , Misconduct in office -- South Africa
- Description: This thesis analysed and compared the effectiveness of the anti-corruption legislation and anti-corruption agencies in the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape provinces. The thesis consists of six chapters. This study is based on the assumption that the struggle against corruption is best approached by developing a system of laws, institutions and supporting practices which promote integrity and make corrupt conduct a high-risk activity. It is imperative that a systemic approach is embarked upon in order to address the manner in which the major institutions and processes of the state are conquered and exploited by corrupt individuals and groups. With the magnitude in which hurdles exist that hamper the effectiveness of the country's anti-corruption legislation and anti-corruption agencies; South Africa is incapable of curbing corruption. With the purpose to determine a desired state of affairs, characteristics of effective anti-corruption agencies and anti-corruption legislation were presented. These served as a yardstick in measuring how effective such agencies and legislation are in South Africa. Reasons for failure of agencies and legislation are discussed. After discussing types of anti-corruption agencies, those that perform better than ix others were identified. Through literature review, the status quo concerning anti-corruption initiatives in South Africa was assessed. It was revealed that the level of the success of South African anti-corruption agencies and legislation has been limited. In the case of anti-corruption agencies, weaknesses such as fragmentation; insufficient coordination; poor delineation of responsibility; and assimilation of corruption work into a broader mandate were identified as major causes. Measures that are needed, such as informed citizens; a need to foster and sustain high levels of professional and ethically imbued civil servants; and legislation that supports the transition towards a corruption-free society that are needed to complement implementation of anti-corruption legislation, were also recognised. Ways of addressing such shortcomings that the writers identified are also presented. The methodology and design followed in the study are described. This is followed by the analysis and interpretation of the survey. The research findings are then presented. Based on the findings a number of recommendations that would assist in improving the effectiveness of anticorruption agencies and anti-corruption legislation are made. Flowing from the discussion of effective anti-corruption models that were identified by literature a model that would be ideal for South Africa is recommended.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Majila, Victoria Thozama
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Political corruption -- South Africa , Misconduct in office -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8179 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/2117 , Political corruption -- South Africa , Misconduct in office -- South Africa
- Description: This thesis analysed and compared the effectiveness of the anti-corruption legislation and anti-corruption agencies in the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape provinces. The thesis consists of six chapters. This study is based on the assumption that the struggle against corruption is best approached by developing a system of laws, institutions and supporting practices which promote integrity and make corrupt conduct a high-risk activity. It is imperative that a systemic approach is embarked upon in order to address the manner in which the major institutions and processes of the state are conquered and exploited by corrupt individuals and groups. With the magnitude in which hurdles exist that hamper the effectiveness of the country's anti-corruption legislation and anti-corruption agencies; South Africa is incapable of curbing corruption. With the purpose to determine a desired state of affairs, characteristics of effective anti-corruption agencies and anti-corruption legislation were presented. These served as a yardstick in measuring how effective such agencies and legislation are in South Africa. Reasons for failure of agencies and legislation are discussed. After discussing types of anti-corruption agencies, those that perform better than ix others were identified. Through literature review, the status quo concerning anti-corruption initiatives in South Africa was assessed. It was revealed that the level of the success of South African anti-corruption agencies and legislation has been limited. In the case of anti-corruption agencies, weaknesses such as fragmentation; insufficient coordination; poor delineation of responsibility; and assimilation of corruption work into a broader mandate were identified as major causes. Measures that are needed, such as informed citizens; a need to foster and sustain high levels of professional and ethically imbued civil servants; and legislation that supports the transition towards a corruption-free society that are needed to complement implementation of anti-corruption legislation, were also recognised. Ways of addressing such shortcomings that the writers identified are also presented. The methodology and design followed in the study are described. This is followed by the analysis and interpretation of the survey. The research findings are then presented. Based on the findings a number of recommendations that would assist in improving the effectiveness of anticorruption agencies and anti-corruption legislation are made. Flowing from the discussion of effective anti-corruption models that were identified by literature a model that would be ideal for South Africa is recommended.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
A critical analysis of challenges facing developmental local government : a case study of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Tsatsire, Israel
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (Eastern Cape, South Africa) , Local government -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8239 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/778 , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (Eastern Cape, South Africa) , Local government -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: This thesis investigates the challenges facing developmental local government in South Africa, using the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality as a reference. The thesis comprises eight chapters. The study is based on the assumption that the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, like other municipalities in South Africa, is confronted by numerous challenges in implementing its constitutional developmental mandate conferred on it by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996. It is vital that local government understands and contextualises these challenges, so that appropriate interventions may be developed. The widespread recent service delivery protests which, in many instances, have turned violent, have sounded an alarm that cannot be ignored. If local government is already struggling to fulfill its traditional mandate of service delivery, then it would find it difficult to spearhead social and economic transformation and development. This study proposes to provide a brief historical background on the evolution and transformation of local government in South Africa. Issues such as the new status and developmental mandate of local government, the extent to which local government has succeeded in complying with its developmental mandate, as well as the challenges it has encountered along the way, will be addressed. Recommendations are presented on how the existing status quo can be changed to enhance service delivery and development and enable low government to fulfil its developmental role more efficient and effectively, with particular reference to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The empirical survey and research methodology employed in the study is described. This is followed by the operationalisation of the survey questionnaire used for gathering the data needed for analysis. The research findings of the empirical survey are then statistically analysed and reported. The concept of models is introduced, and selected models are explained. This is followed by an explanation of the proposed normative model for monitoring and evaluating service delivery and development in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, for possible replication in other South African municipalities. Various recommendations flowing from the results of the empirical study, namely the responses made by the respondents during the empirical survey, are proposed in the final chapter. If adopted, these recommendations will enable the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality to deal with the developmental challenges facing it, ultimately rendering the Municipality a more efficient and effective developmental agent.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Tsatsire, Israel
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (Eastern Cape, South Africa) , Local government -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8239 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/778 , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (Eastern Cape, South Africa) , Local government -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: This thesis investigates the challenges facing developmental local government in South Africa, using the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality as a reference. The thesis comprises eight chapters. The study is based on the assumption that the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, like other municipalities in South Africa, is confronted by numerous challenges in implementing its constitutional developmental mandate conferred on it by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996. It is vital that local government understands and contextualises these challenges, so that appropriate interventions may be developed. The widespread recent service delivery protests which, in many instances, have turned violent, have sounded an alarm that cannot be ignored. If local government is already struggling to fulfill its traditional mandate of service delivery, then it would find it difficult to spearhead social and economic transformation and development. This study proposes to provide a brief historical background on the evolution and transformation of local government in South Africa. Issues such as the new status and developmental mandate of local government, the extent to which local government has succeeded in complying with its developmental mandate, as well as the challenges it has encountered along the way, will be addressed. Recommendations are presented on how the existing status quo can be changed to enhance service delivery and development and enable low government to fulfil its developmental role more efficient and effectively, with particular reference to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The empirical survey and research methodology employed in the study is described. This is followed by the operationalisation of the survey questionnaire used for gathering the data needed for analysis. The research findings of the empirical survey are then statistically analysed and reported. The concept of models is introduced, and selected models are explained. This is followed by an explanation of the proposed normative model for monitoring and evaluating service delivery and development in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, for possible replication in other South African municipalities. Various recommendations flowing from the results of the empirical study, namely the responses made by the respondents during the empirical survey, are proposed in the final chapter. If adopted, these recommendations will enable the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality to deal with the developmental challenges facing it, ultimately rendering the Municipality a more efficient and effective developmental agent.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
A critical analysis of child labour and human resource development in Uganda
- Authors: Kibukamusoke, Martha
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Child labor -- Uganda , Child soldiers -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:16128 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1196 , Child labor -- Uganda , Child soldiers -- Uganda
- Description: This study is a critical analysis of child labour and human resource development in Uganda. The study was undertaken because of the growing concern about child-labour practices in African countries, Uganda being an example. The incidence of child labour and the form that it takes are driven by supply-anddemand factors countrywide, but also by the sheer need of children to survive. Child labour is considered to be a fundamental child development problem. Children are involved in a number of child-labour practices such as prostitution in the commercial and tourism sex industry, forced begging on the streets, and forced soldiering. They may be used as camel jockeys, domestic servants, farm labourers/herders, mine labourers, produce porters, roadside sellers/street vendors, sweetshop-industry labourers, cooks and porters for rebels. The persistent exploitation of children involved in hazardous work and conditions has become overwhelming in Uganda. Poverty as one of the major causes for the growing numbers of child labourers in the agricultural sector in Uganda has caused a number of children to engage in child-labour activities to earn extra income for household survival. Many children have opted for partial attendance in school, eventually dropping out. Parents have also frequently influenced children to work on family farms, thus contributing to the children dropping out of school. Child-labour practices have become entrenched in the social and moral fabric of Ugandan society, and for this reason, research endeavours to uncover ways and methods to reverse this situation. The main objectives of this research were to establish the impact of poverty on child labour, to assess the effect of the social and cultural setup on child labour, to find out the impact of child-labour legislation enforcement, to determine the 5 influence of the HIV and AIDS pandemic on child labour, to establish the effect of the educational system and technological advancement on child labour, to establish the level of awareness of human rights in the community, and to establish the impact of human rights activists on the prevention of child labour. The study was undertaken in Masindi District in Budongo Sub County, in three parishes, Nyabyeya, Nyantonzi and Kasongoire. The respondents used for the study included child labourers, their parents, farmers, and community leaders. The method used to get to the sample was purposive sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires for written answers and a tape recorder for oral answers. Both primary and secondary data was collected, verified, edited, checked, coded, analysed, and then exported to Excel and SPSS. Collecting the data was a challenging exercise for the researcher. Experiences were varied, in the hospitality and willingness of respondents to learn more about child issues. Although respondents were willing to participate in the data collection exercise, social and cultural values did not permit all of them to share their views with the researcher. To collect data from respondents, the researcher had to ensure that remuneration was in place at the end of the exercise. The respondents filled out the questionnaires only after learning of the availability of a reward for every questionnaire answered. More setbacks were the need to travel long distances, and enduring the poor infrastructure, poor sanitation, and epidemic outbreaks, some of which diluted the quality of data collected. During group interviews, most parents were not entirely truthful about involving their children in child-labour activities. Although most respondents had an idea of what child labour is, their ignorance levels on the topic prevented them from stopping their children from working. The major findings of the research were that the cultural, social and economic setup of the community in the study area favoured child labour, although the child-labour legislation is against using children as labourers. Various ethnicities 6 in the study area considered a person between the ages of 5 and 12 years to be a child, yet the Constitution of Uganda dictates the age of childhood to be below 18 years. This causes conflict in the definition of who a child is. Although parents were aware of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) regulation penalties for not taking children to school, they still permitted children to engage in child-labour activities, and little has been done by government to curb the culprits. Awareness of the Sub Counties and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) and their implementation has not helped to reduce poverty in the area studied, resulting in an increased school dropout rate among school-going-age children, as well as more child-labour activities. The major conclusion of the study was that little has been done to increase the awareness levels of the teachers, parents and their children about child labour and its legislation, their knowledge of and involvement in micro-finance institutions in the community, and the availability of vocational training institutions. Little has therefore been done to reduce child-labour activities, improve the economic status of the community, and improve their human resource skills. The major recommendations of the research to the study are that culture should not override the Constitution as far as the definition of age limit is concerned. The government should carry out stakeholder analyses, and implement a life-skills and sensitisation programme in order to improve child participation in the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme. Government should ensure that the society is given information about basic accounting, project planning and management skills, in order to be effectively involved in the economic programmes of SACCOs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Kibukamusoke, Martha
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Child labor -- Uganda , Child soldiers -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:16128 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1196 , Child labor -- Uganda , Child soldiers -- Uganda
- Description: This study is a critical analysis of child labour and human resource development in Uganda. The study was undertaken because of the growing concern about child-labour practices in African countries, Uganda being an example. The incidence of child labour and the form that it takes are driven by supply-anddemand factors countrywide, but also by the sheer need of children to survive. Child labour is considered to be a fundamental child development problem. Children are involved in a number of child-labour practices such as prostitution in the commercial and tourism sex industry, forced begging on the streets, and forced soldiering. They may be used as camel jockeys, domestic servants, farm labourers/herders, mine labourers, produce porters, roadside sellers/street vendors, sweetshop-industry labourers, cooks and porters for rebels. The persistent exploitation of children involved in hazardous work and conditions has become overwhelming in Uganda. Poverty as one of the major causes for the growing numbers of child labourers in the agricultural sector in Uganda has caused a number of children to engage in child-labour activities to earn extra income for household survival. Many children have opted for partial attendance in school, eventually dropping out. Parents have also frequently influenced children to work on family farms, thus contributing to the children dropping out of school. Child-labour practices have become entrenched in the social and moral fabric of Ugandan society, and for this reason, research endeavours to uncover ways and methods to reverse this situation. The main objectives of this research were to establish the impact of poverty on child labour, to assess the effect of the social and cultural setup on child labour, to find out the impact of child-labour legislation enforcement, to determine the 5 influence of the HIV and AIDS pandemic on child labour, to establish the effect of the educational system and technological advancement on child labour, to establish the level of awareness of human rights in the community, and to establish the impact of human rights activists on the prevention of child labour. The study was undertaken in Masindi District in Budongo Sub County, in three parishes, Nyabyeya, Nyantonzi and Kasongoire. The respondents used for the study included child labourers, their parents, farmers, and community leaders. The method used to get to the sample was purposive sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires for written answers and a tape recorder for oral answers. Both primary and secondary data was collected, verified, edited, checked, coded, analysed, and then exported to Excel and SPSS. Collecting the data was a challenging exercise for the researcher. Experiences were varied, in the hospitality and willingness of respondents to learn more about child issues. Although respondents were willing to participate in the data collection exercise, social and cultural values did not permit all of them to share their views with the researcher. To collect data from respondents, the researcher had to ensure that remuneration was in place at the end of the exercise. The respondents filled out the questionnaires only after learning of the availability of a reward for every questionnaire answered. More setbacks were the need to travel long distances, and enduring the poor infrastructure, poor sanitation, and epidemic outbreaks, some of which diluted the quality of data collected. During group interviews, most parents were not entirely truthful about involving their children in child-labour activities. Although most respondents had an idea of what child labour is, their ignorance levels on the topic prevented them from stopping their children from working. The major findings of the research were that the cultural, social and economic setup of the community in the study area favoured child labour, although the child-labour legislation is against using children as labourers. Various ethnicities 6 in the study area considered a person between the ages of 5 and 12 years to be a child, yet the Constitution of Uganda dictates the age of childhood to be below 18 years. This causes conflict in the definition of who a child is. Although parents were aware of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) regulation penalties for not taking children to school, they still permitted children to engage in child-labour activities, and little has been done by government to curb the culprits. Awareness of the Sub Counties and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) and their implementation has not helped to reduce poverty in the area studied, resulting in an increased school dropout rate among school-going-age children, as well as more child-labour activities. The major conclusion of the study was that little has been done to increase the awareness levels of the teachers, parents and their children about child labour and its legislation, their knowledge of and involvement in micro-finance institutions in the community, and the availability of vocational training institutions. Little has therefore been done to reduce child-labour activities, improve the economic status of the community, and improve their human resource skills. The major recommendations of the research to the study are that culture should not override the Constitution as far as the definition of age limit is concerned. The government should carry out stakeholder analyses, and implement a life-skills and sensitisation programme in order to improve child participation in the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme. Government should ensure that the society is given information about basic accounting, project planning and management skills, in order to be effectively involved in the economic programmes of SACCOs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
A critical analysis of disaster risk management in local governance with reference to Sarah Baartman District Municipality
- Authors: Oosthuizen, Rene Cheryl
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Disaster relief -- Citizen participation , Risk management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/34487 , vital:33385
- Description: The devastation and destruction caused by natural and man-made disasters have become a global concern, particularly as such disasters affect the most vulnerable in society. The devastation they wreak frequently involves loss of lives and property. Globally, Disaster Management has moved in approach from reactive to proactive. Disaster management is now more than a field of study; it is the application of practices and principles which enable disasters to be managed both prior to and in the aftermath of their occurrence. Disaster risk management is the development approach to Disaster Management. The study addresses the integration of disaster risk management into integrated development planning at the local level in South Africa. The impact of disasters on social and economic development is of special interest. In many instances, resources that have been planned for development have to be diverted for response activities during disasters. Thus, development and disaster risk management are two sides of the same coin and should be dealt with in unison and not separately. There is also now widespread international acknowledgement for the idea of mainstreaming disaster risk management into development planning, particularly at the local level of government. The central argument of this study is that by integrating disaster risk management plans into integrated development plans at the local level, the risks faced by communities can be reduced. Risks can be even further reduced, and development enhanced when communities play an active role in disaster risk management. Within this context, the main objective of the study was to develop a model for integrating disaster risk management plans into integrated development plans at the local level. To achieve this key objective, the study used theoretical and empirical studies. The theoretical aspect focussed on international frameworks and national legislation for Disaster Management. Legislative requirements pertaining to the involvement of communities in integrated development planning were explored, as was the literature on asset-based community development. Empirical research complimented the theoretical research through the use of qualitative methods to collect data. This involved semi-structured interviews with eight government officials involved in provincial, district and municipal Disaster Management programmes, and focus group discussions with sixty ward committee members, so that community viewpoints would be included. The findings of the study reveal that the integration of disaster risk management plans into integrated development plans at the local level can greatly contribute towards reducing the risks faced by communities, especially high-risk communities. The study also revealed that by carefully considering and using community assets, local government could ameliorate the financial effects of Disaster Management and empower communities as first responders. The thesis gives an outline of a model that may be used by local government to integrate risks and community assets into an integrated development plan.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Oosthuizen, Rene Cheryl
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Disaster relief -- Citizen participation , Risk management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/34487 , vital:33385
- Description: The devastation and destruction caused by natural and man-made disasters have become a global concern, particularly as such disasters affect the most vulnerable in society. The devastation they wreak frequently involves loss of lives and property. Globally, Disaster Management has moved in approach from reactive to proactive. Disaster management is now more than a field of study; it is the application of practices and principles which enable disasters to be managed both prior to and in the aftermath of their occurrence. Disaster risk management is the development approach to Disaster Management. The study addresses the integration of disaster risk management into integrated development planning at the local level in South Africa. The impact of disasters on social and economic development is of special interest. In many instances, resources that have been planned for development have to be diverted for response activities during disasters. Thus, development and disaster risk management are two sides of the same coin and should be dealt with in unison and not separately. There is also now widespread international acknowledgement for the idea of mainstreaming disaster risk management into development planning, particularly at the local level of government. The central argument of this study is that by integrating disaster risk management plans into integrated development plans at the local level, the risks faced by communities can be reduced. Risks can be even further reduced, and development enhanced when communities play an active role in disaster risk management. Within this context, the main objective of the study was to develop a model for integrating disaster risk management plans into integrated development plans at the local level. To achieve this key objective, the study used theoretical and empirical studies. The theoretical aspect focussed on international frameworks and national legislation for Disaster Management. Legislative requirements pertaining to the involvement of communities in integrated development planning were explored, as was the literature on asset-based community development. Empirical research complimented the theoretical research through the use of qualitative methods to collect data. This involved semi-structured interviews with eight government officials involved in provincial, district and municipal Disaster Management programmes, and focus group discussions with sixty ward committee members, so that community viewpoints would be included. The findings of the study reveal that the integration of disaster risk management plans into integrated development plans at the local level can greatly contribute towards reducing the risks faced by communities, especially high-risk communities. The study also revealed that by carefully considering and using community assets, local government could ameliorate the financial effects of Disaster Management and empower communities as first responders. The thesis gives an outline of a model that may be used by local government to integrate risks and community assets into an integrated development plan.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A critical analysis of organisational justice in the South African financial service industry
- Authors: Mrwebi, Viwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Organizational behavior , Financial services industry -- South Africa -- Management Intrinsic motivation Employee retention Labor turnover
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33065 , vital:32513
- Description: Organisational justice has captured the interest of scholars in recent years since it is associated with the perceptions and reactions of an individual, to the presence of fairness in an organisation. It thus captures what an individual feel or evaluates to be, morally correct rather than viewing it to be something prescriptive. This study was aimed at investigating the extent of organisational justice on organisational citizenship behaviour, ethical behaviour and employee retention in the South African financial services industry. A hypothetical model and measuring instrument was developed in order to investigate factors that may influence the organisational justice in the financial services industry. Six independent variables (trustworthiness of management, employee engagement, reward system, organisational transparency, two-way communication and organisational climate) were identified as variables that have the potential to influence organisational justice (mediating variable). It was also hypothesised that organisational justice) has the potential to affect the dependent variables (organisational citizenship behaviour, ethical behaviour and employee retention). Furthermore, nine null-hypotheses were developed to test the relationship between independent, mediating and dependent variables. All these variables were clearly defined and operationalised with various items that were obtained from other measuring instruments or self-developed items. A quantitative research approach followed. This study made use of the non-probability sampling technique, specifically convenient and judgemental sampling, as there is no data base of financial services firms available in South Africa. A purposive sample of 800 respondents was drawn from four provinces in South Africa. Factor and regression analyses were used to test the significance of the relationship between the various independent and dependent variables. The mediating variable of organisational justice was viewed by respondents as a two-dimensional construct, namely procedural-interactional justice and distributive justice. Consequently, intrinsic rewards, extrinsic rewards, organisational transparency and organisational climate were identified as independent variables that could have an impact on the procedural-interactional justice to predict organisational citizenship behaviour and reputable employee retention in the financial services industry. No relationships were identified between trustworthiness of management and employee engagement and procedural-interactional justice. The independent variables, trustworthiness of management, extrinsic rewards and organisational climate, could have an impact on distributive justice to predict organisational citizenship behaviour and reputable employee retention in the financial services industry. No relationships were identified between employee engagement, intrinsic rewards, organisational transparency and distributive justice. The findings of this study have contributed to the body of knowledge in the financial services literature in South Africa, by developing a theoretical model and a measuring instrument of organisational justice in the financial services industry. The antecedents of organisational justice in the financial services industry are not well documented in literature and findings of this study could thus contribute towards closing this gap in literature. The findings of this study could also inform policy formulation to assist with the implementation of organisational justice programmes in the financial services industry. This study provided useful and very practical guidelines to organisations in order to ensure the effective strategising and management of OJ that could enhance their local and global competitiveness and long-term survival.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Mrwebi, Viwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Organizational behavior , Financial services industry -- South Africa -- Management Intrinsic motivation Employee retention Labor turnover
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33065 , vital:32513
- Description: Organisational justice has captured the interest of scholars in recent years since it is associated with the perceptions and reactions of an individual, to the presence of fairness in an organisation. It thus captures what an individual feel or evaluates to be, morally correct rather than viewing it to be something prescriptive. This study was aimed at investigating the extent of organisational justice on organisational citizenship behaviour, ethical behaviour and employee retention in the South African financial services industry. A hypothetical model and measuring instrument was developed in order to investigate factors that may influence the organisational justice in the financial services industry. Six independent variables (trustworthiness of management, employee engagement, reward system, organisational transparency, two-way communication and organisational climate) were identified as variables that have the potential to influence organisational justice (mediating variable). It was also hypothesised that organisational justice) has the potential to affect the dependent variables (organisational citizenship behaviour, ethical behaviour and employee retention). Furthermore, nine null-hypotheses were developed to test the relationship between independent, mediating and dependent variables. All these variables were clearly defined and operationalised with various items that were obtained from other measuring instruments or self-developed items. A quantitative research approach followed. This study made use of the non-probability sampling technique, specifically convenient and judgemental sampling, as there is no data base of financial services firms available in South Africa. A purposive sample of 800 respondents was drawn from four provinces in South Africa. Factor and regression analyses were used to test the significance of the relationship between the various independent and dependent variables. The mediating variable of organisational justice was viewed by respondents as a two-dimensional construct, namely procedural-interactional justice and distributive justice. Consequently, intrinsic rewards, extrinsic rewards, organisational transparency and organisational climate were identified as independent variables that could have an impact on the procedural-interactional justice to predict organisational citizenship behaviour and reputable employee retention in the financial services industry. No relationships were identified between trustworthiness of management and employee engagement and procedural-interactional justice. The independent variables, trustworthiness of management, extrinsic rewards and organisational climate, could have an impact on distributive justice to predict organisational citizenship behaviour and reputable employee retention in the financial services industry. No relationships were identified between employee engagement, intrinsic rewards, organisational transparency and distributive justice. The findings of this study have contributed to the body of knowledge in the financial services literature in South Africa, by developing a theoretical model and a measuring instrument of organisational justice in the financial services industry. The antecedents of organisational justice in the financial services industry are not well documented in literature and findings of this study could thus contribute towards closing this gap in literature. The findings of this study could also inform policy formulation to assist with the implementation of organisational justice programmes in the financial services industry. This study provided useful and very practical guidelines to organisations in order to ensure the effective strategising and management of OJ that could enhance their local and global competitiveness and long-term survival.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A critical analysis of selected literary techniques in P.T. Mtuze’s prose narratives
- Authors: Kondowe, Zandile Ziyanda
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Xhosa literature -- History and criticism Literary style
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33217 , vital:32570
- Description: The main purpose of this study is to provide a critical analysis of selected literary techniques in P.T. Mtuze’s prose narratives. This study seeks to analyse his style of writing in all his texts. The aspects of his style under stylistic techniques and criticism will serve as a foundation theory that will link the study to the analysis of definitions and referencing under imagery and its aspects; including humour, satire, idioms, proverbs, literary techniques, and figures of speech. Mtuze is noted as one of the most prolific writers due to his ingenuity in language skills, especially in isiXhosa. Mtuze is one of the best humoristic writers; hence he is popular due to applying humour in the prose works he wrote. This study is divided into seven chapters, and the theory which is used for this study is also scrutinised in order to get a sense of what the author intended to deliver through his texts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Kondowe, Zandile Ziyanda
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Xhosa literature -- History and criticism Literary style
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33217 , vital:32570
- Description: The main purpose of this study is to provide a critical analysis of selected literary techniques in P.T. Mtuze’s prose narratives. This study seeks to analyse his style of writing in all his texts. The aspects of his style under stylistic techniques and criticism will serve as a foundation theory that will link the study to the analysis of definitions and referencing under imagery and its aspects; including humour, satire, idioms, proverbs, literary techniques, and figures of speech. Mtuze is noted as one of the most prolific writers due to his ingenuity in language skills, especially in isiXhosa. Mtuze is one of the best humoristic writers; hence he is popular due to applying humour in the prose works he wrote. This study is divided into seven chapters, and the theory which is used for this study is also scrutinised in order to get a sense of what the author intended to deliver through his texts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
A critical analysis of the role of strategic communication in strategic planning : a case study of South African universities
- Authors: Hadji, Mutambuli James
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Communication in management Business communication Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8209 , vital:31978
- Description: The debate on how the communication function can contribute at a strategic level to organisational success is an on-going one because communicators still need to prove their relevance at the top management level. In general, the contribution of communication as a management function in corporate strategy is not known. It is either considered an afterthought or as an element within other functional departments. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to analyse critically the role of communication in strategic planning at the selected South African universities. To achieve this main objective, institutional theory was applied, as it seeks to affirm the role of communication in decision-making with the intention to be legitimised. In-depth interviews were conducted with senior communicators and strategy planners at six universities on how they approach strategic planning in their respective universities. Significant from the findings was the fact that the South African universities follow the same process for strategic planning. Regarding the role of strategic communication, the findings confirmed literature in the sense that communication practice at functional level has been institutionalised but not at the top management level. It was this study’s finding that university reputation and positioning did not prominently feature in the strategic planning processes. Furthermore, this study found that communicators should play a leading in environmental scanning to identify society, industry and commerce with a view to fine-tune the university’s qualification mix. That is, communicators should provide intelligence on changes in the environment which serve as the basis of the development of university strategies. In other words, they should provide vital information to top management to enable them to take informed strategic decisions. Lastly, it was this study’s finding that communicators should conduct evaluation research to assist top management in comparing the set strategic objectives with actual performance. In addition, the communicators should assist top management in determining corrective actions if need be. In view of these findings, this study developed guidelines that will empower communicators to make a more meaningful contribution in the strategic planning process. Given the paucity of research evidence of strategic communication in a university context, the study provides a better understanding of the theory and practice thereof.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Hadji, Mutambuli James
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Communication in management Business communication Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8209 , vital:31978
- Description: The debate on how the communication function can contribute at a strategic level to organisational success is an on-going one because communicators still need to prove their relevance at the top management level. In general, the contribution of communication as a management function in corporate strategy is not known. It is either considered an afterthought or as an element within other functional departments. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to analyse critically the role of communication in strategic planning at the selected South African universities. To achieve this main objective, institutional theory was applied, as it seeks to affirm the role of communication in decision-making with the intention to be legitimised. In-depth interviews were conducted with senior communicators and strategy planners at six universities on how they approach strategic planning in their respective universities. Significant from the findings was the fact that the South African universities follow the same process for strategic planning. Regarding the role of strategic communication, the findings confirmed literature in the sense that communication practice at functional level has been institutionalised but not at the top management level. It was this study’s finding that university reputation and positioning did not prominently feature in the strategic planning processes. Furthermore, this study found that communicators should play a leading in environmental scanning to identify society, industry and commerce with a view to fine-tune the university’s qualification mix. That is, communicators should provide intelligence on changes in the environment which serve as the basis of the development of university strategies. In other words, they should provide vital information to top management to enable them to take informed strategic decisions. Lastly, it was this study’s finding that communicators should conduct evaluation research to assist top management in comparing the set strategic objectives with actual performance. In addition, the communicators should assist top management in determining corrective actions if need be. In view of these findings, this study developed guidelines that will empower communicators to make a more meaningful contribution in the strategic planning process. Given the paucity of research evidence of strategic communication in a university context, the study provides a better understanding of the theory and practice thereof.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
A critical assessment of responsible tourism practices: a case study of Stormsriver adventures
- Authors: Van Zyl, Shireen Rosemary
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Sustainable tourism , Tourism -- Management , Economic development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4954 , vital:20770
- Description: The research problem was based on the private sector implementation of Responsible Tourism, since 1996, perceived to be slow and challenging (Frey & George, 2010: 107). The South Africa Government proposed Responsible Tourism as the guiding principle for sustainable tourism development (Goodwin, 2011: 138). The problem is compounded by shortcomings identified in the nature of the research conducted about tourism and communities and the methodologies used. Tourism-Community relationships Theory was applied as the conceptual framework of the study. This theory advocates a holistic approach when conducting research about the impacts of tourism, encompassing community perspectives, attitudes, reactions and considerations for the future development and control of tourism (Pearce, Moscardo & Ross, 1996: 2). The insights gained contributed an emic understanding of the keyinformants’ perspectives imparted in their own language. This study is located in the Interpretevist paradigm, underpinned by Constructivist philosophy. Meaning is created through the reality of key-informants, their perspectives and the interaction of individuals in a community (Cresswell, 2014: 8). The Instrumental Case Study Approach (Stake, 1995) contributed an etic perspective in terms of the researcher’s interpretations. The single, qualitative case was applied to gain deeper insights about the phenomenon of Responsible tourism. The case investigated was Stormsriver Adventures (SRA), an eco-adventure tourism business in the Tsitsikamma tourism destination in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. SRA is reputed to be business best practice in its implementation of Responsible Tourism. Data triangulation was established through multiple methods of data collection, namely in-depth interviews with key-informants, documentation sourced from them and researcher observation. Data analysis methods, namely direct interpretation, categorical aggregation, pattern seeking and naturalistic generalisations (Stake, 1995), were used. The member checking process assisted with establishing data triangulation as keyinformants corroborated or dispelled the researcher’s interpretation of data. Findings were structured according to within-case themes, namely SRA’s perspective of its Responsible Tourism practices, the community’s perspective of SRA’s Responsible Tourism practices and perspectives about the future development and control of tourism. The study contributes new theoretical insights through applying the inductive approach to selected findings. Findings indicate that the perspectives of the community are divided. SRA keyinformants conveyed positive economic, social and environmental impacts of SRA’s Responsible Tourism practices. Key-informants not directly linked to SRA raised negative economic impacts and questioned the accuracy of SRA’s marketing messages. Within-case conclusions are that it is not the responsibility of one tourism business that practices Responsible Tourism to achieve sustainability within the tourism destination. To this end it is recommended that SRA and the community find common ground and that the misunderstandings that exist, be addressed. The study concludes that in order to achieve successful Responsible Tourism- Community Relationships, a holistically and integrated approach is required. To this end the recommendations made provide an implementation framework within the context of a tourism destination. The study adds value to the field knowledge about the implementation of Responsible Tourism by the private sector in South Africa and also contributes new knowledge to the field of tourism in terms of the particular methodology used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Van Zyl, Shireen Rosemary
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Sustainable tourism , Tourism -- Management , Economic development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4954 , vital:20770
- Description: The research problem was based on the private sector implementation of Responsible Tourism, since 1996, perceived to be slow and challenging (Frey & George, 2010: 107). The South Africa Government proposed Responsible Tourism as the guiding principle for sustainable tourism development (Goodwin, 2011: 138). The problem is compounded by shortcomings identified in the nature of the research conducted about tourism and communities and the methodologies used. Tourism-Community relationships Theory was applied as the conceptual framework of the study. This theory advocates a holistic approach when conducting research about the impacts of tourism, encompassing community perspectives, attitudes, reactions and considerations for the future development and control of tourism (Pearce, Moscardo & Ross, 1996: 2). The insights gained contributed an emic understanding of the keyinformants’ perspectives imparted in their own language. This study is located in the Interpretevist paradigm, underpinned by Constructivist philosophy. Meaning is created through the reality of key-informants, their perspectives and the interaction of individuals in a community (Cresswell, 2014: 8). The Instrumental Case Study Approach (Stake, 1995) contributed an etic perspective in terms of the researcher’s interpretations. The single, qualitative case was applied to gain deeper insights about the phenomenon of Responsible tourism. The case investigated was Stormsriver Adventures (SRA), an eco-adventure tourism business in the Tsitsikamma tourism destination in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. SRA is reputed to be business best practice in its implementation of Responsible Tourism. Data triangulation was established through multiple methods of data collection, namely in-depth interviews with key-informants, documentation sourced from them and researcher observation. Data analysis methods, namely direct interpretation, categorical aggregation, pattern seeking and naturalistic generalisations (Stake, 1995), were used. The member checking process assisted with establishing data triangulation as keyinformants corroborated or dispelled the researcher’s interpretation of data. Findings were structured according to within-case themes, namely SRA’s perspective of its Responsible Tourism practices, the community’s perspective of SRA’s Responsible Tourism practices and perspectives about the future development and control of tourism. The study contributes new theoretical insights through applying the inductive approach to selected findings. Findings indicate that the perspectives of the community are divided. SRA keyinformants conveyed positive economic, social and environmental impacts of SRA’s Responsible Tourism practices. Key-informants not directly linked to SRA raised negative economic impacts and questioned the accuracy of SRA’s marketing messages. Within-case conclusions are that it is not the responsibility of one tourism business that practices Responsible Tourism to achieve sustainability within the tourism destination. To this end it is recommended that SRA and the community find common ground and that the misunderstandings that exist, be addressed. The study concludes that in order to achieve successful Responsible Tourism- Community Relationships, a holistically and integrated approach is required. To this end the recommendations made provide an implementation framework within the context of a tourism destination. The study adds value to the field knowledge about the implementation of Responsible Tourism by the private sector in South Africa and also contributes new knowledge to the field of tourism in terms of the particular methodology used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A critical assessment of the quality of community home-based care
- Authors: Morton, David Gerard
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Home care services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home nursing -- Equipment and supplies , Caregivers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home health aides
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:16133 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1606 , Home care services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home nursing -- Equipment and supplies , Caregivers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home health aides
- Description: Volunteer home-based caregivers are critical role players in South Africa‘s health care system and in the South African government‘s strategy to fight HIV and AIDS. In order to achieve the aims that the government seeks to attain, it is important that the care and treatment provided to patients receiving community home-based care (CHBC) be of a high quality. While the need for quality care is supported by government and civil society, research indicates that it is not clear whether quality care is indeed being provided and therefore there is a need for research into the quality of CHBC. The research aimed to undertake a critical assessment of CHBC programmes to determine the quality of care provided by volunteer caregivers using social capital theory as a theoretical framework. The study examined the quality of CHBC by analysing the context of CHBC, by investigating the support that volunteer caregivers and their clients receive and by discussing the support that volunteer caregivers and their clients still need. The study used one-on-one in-depth interviews and focus groups to obtain relevant data. The participants included volunteer caregivers, clients and supervisors who took part in the one-on-one interviews. The focus groups consisted of key informants and supervisors respectively. The quantitative data consisted of descriptive statistics which helped describe the participants. The qualitative data was coded and themes and sub-themes were developed. The data was also analysed by an independent coder. The results showed that poverty, and the related problems of poor living conditions and a lack of food security affects the quality CHBC. In addition, unemployment and the problem of stipends also affect quality CHBC. Certain socio-economic factors were also found to lead people to choose to become volunteer caregivers and unemployment was found to be an important driving force behind the choice to undertake volunteer caregiving. Furthermore, the volunteer caregivers in the sample received organisational support from their supervisors and their fellow caregivers or peers. They also received social support from their families and their communities. Regarding the clients of the volunteer caregivers, it was found that they received a number of types of support including psycho- iv social counselling, spiritual counselling and care of a holistic nature. In addition, the study found that there is a need for standardised quality training of volunteer caregivers, which will equip them with multiple skills. It was also found that volunteer caregivers require mentoring and quality supervision in order to be able to provide quality CHBC to their clients. Government has the ability to put the necessary systems and structures in place, such as a scope of practice for volunteers, standardised training and monitoring and evaluation, to enable CHBC and its relevant role players to operate at optimum levels. It also has the authority to make the changes and to enforce rules. Furthermore, it has the ability to unite CHBC organisations and can create the necessary conditions that can lead to increased social capital. Furthermore, the study recommends that two additional dimensions of quality care be added to existing dimensions of quality in health care. The first is the holistic approach to caregiving and the second is social support systems, namely supervisor/mentor and peer support and family and community support. This second dimension is also closely linked to social capital and the networks that make up CHBC.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Morton, David Gerard
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Home care services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home nursing -- Equipment and supplies , Caregivers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home health aides
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:16133 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1606 , Home care services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home nursing -- Equipment and supplies , Caregivers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community health nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Home health aides
- Description: Volunteer home-based caregivers are critical role players in South Africa‘s health care system and in the South African government‘s strategy to fight HIV and AIDS. In order to achieve the aims that the government seeks to attain, it is important that the care and treatment provided to patients receiving community home-based care (CHBC) be of a high quality. While the need for quality care is supported by government and civil society, research indicates that it is not clear whether quality care is indeed being provided and therefore there is a need for research into the quality of CHBC. The research aimed to undertake a critical assessment of CHBC programmes to determine the quality of care provided by volunteer caregivers using social capital theory as a theoretical framework. The study examined the quality of CHBC by analysing the context of CHBC, by investigating the support that volunteer caregivers and their clients receive and by discussing the support that volunteer caregivers and their clients still need. The study used one-on-one in-depth interviews and focus groups to obtain relevant data. The participants included volunteer caregivers, clients and supervisors who took part in the one-on-one interviews. The focus groups consisted of key informants and supervisors respectively. The quantitative data consisted of descriptive statistics which helped describe the participants. The qualitative data was coded and themes and sub-themes were developed. The data was also analysed by an independent coder. The results showed that poverty, and the related problems of poor living conditions and a lack of food security affects the quality CHBC. In addition, unemployment and the problem of stipends also affect quality CHBC. Certain socio-economic factors were also found to lead people to choose to become volunteer caregivers and unemployment was found to be an important driving force behind the choice to undertake volunteer caregiving. Furthermore, the volunteer caregivers in the sample received organisational support from their supervisors and their fellow caregivers or peers. They also received social support from their families and their communities. Regarding the clients of the volunteer caregivers, it was found that they received a number of types of support including psycho- iv social counselling, spiritual counselling and care of a holistic nature. In addition, the study found that there is a need for standardised quality training of volunteer caregivers, which will equip them with multiple skills. It was also found that volunteer caregivers require mentoring and quality supervision in order to be able to provide quality CHBC to their clients. Government has the ability to put the necessary systems and structures in place, such as a scope of practice for volunteers, standardised training and monitoring and evaluation, to enable CHBC and its relevant role players to operate at optimum levels. It also has the authority to make the changes and to enforce rules. Furthermore, it has the ability to unite CHBC organisations and can create the necessary conditions that can lead to increased social capital. Furthermore, the study recommends that two additional dimensions of quality care be added to existing dimensions of quality in health care. The first is the holistic approach to caregiving and the second is social support systems, namely supervisor/mentor and peer support and family and community support. This second dimension is also closely linked to social capital and the networks that make up CHBC.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
A critical ethnography of HIV-positive women attending public health care facilities in Gauteng
- Authors: Du Plessis, Gretchen Erika
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: HIV-positive women -- South Africa -- Gauteng , HIV-positive women -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Gauteng
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:16129 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/777 , HIV-positive women -- South Africa -- Gauteng , HIV-positive women -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Gauteng
- Description: Women living with HIV have a variety of reproductive health and psychosocial needs. The purpose of this critical ethnographic study was to examine how HIV, empowerment and reproduction are experienced by a volunteer sample of HIVpositive women attending public health care facilities in Gauteng. Feminist and critical approaches were used to guide the methodology of the research and the interpretation of the findings. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observation. An overview of literature pertaining to the social construction of HIV-AIDS, women’s empowerment and reproductive decision-making is presented. A discourse of “healthy lifestyle” as technologies of the self is considered. Women’s empowerment as an ideal is described and structural barriers to its achievement are discussed. Stigma and discrimination as products of hegemony are discussed as important issues in the disempowerment of women living with HIV. HIV-AIDS as illness experience is reviewed with reference to the social context and to the individual context. Reproductive decision-making models and theories are critically analysed for their applicability to women living with HIV. The need for a conceptual shift in the notion of empowerment in order to understand constrained decision-making for women living with HIV is propagated. The stories of women living with HIV and dependent on public health care services are presented. Through the principles of a critical ethnography the lived experiences of these women are described by means of emerging themes. A historiography of family planning and HIV-AIDS services throws the narrations of the research participants into broader historic relief. Findings revealed that biomedical hegemonic power contoured and marked the lived experiences of women following an HIV-positive diagnosis. Taken-for-granted views of passivity and of own responsibilities regarding reproductive health are challenged. The women in the study were dependent upon public health care personnel for treatment, testing, dietary advice/supplementation and recommendations for a social xii disability grant. ARV-treatment was regarded as a low point in the illness career. All of the participants reported that the overriding problems in their lives were having too few material resources and not having the means to change this. This made them vulnerable to compounded health problems and decreased their ability to voice their own opinions about treatment. They did not regard themselves as having been at risk for contracting HIV and some harboured resentment towards men who were seen as being absolved from testing and responsibilities towards female partners, born and unborn children. Women who were not tested as part of antenatal sentinel groups tended to suffer symptoms of ill health for some time prior to being tested for HIV. Social support systems were either absent or consisted of trusted family members and friends. In many cases, women became the silent care-givers for those affected and infected by HIV. Anticipated stigma permeated the participants’ narrations of living with HIV and disclosure of their statuses was difficult. The use of male condoms, stressed during counselling sessions, was narrated as a difficult burden for women to bear. Although the research participants expressed low fertility preferences, HIV-AIDS was seen as disrupting the link between heterosexual conjugal relations and the taken-for-grantedness of procreation. HIV-AIDS also disrupted norms in infant feeding practices and bottle-feeding was regarded as a sign of possible HIV-infection and hidden. The research participants were not empowered with knowledge about how to deal with side-effects, condom failures and the reluctance of male partners to be tested for HIV. They enacted, resisted and lived with HIV in different ways, incorporating some of the biomedically prescribed posturing as women living positively and blending it with stigma-negating performances and gender-prescribed ways of dressing, walking and acting. Participation in a support group validated their experiences and promoted positive self-perception. The formation of a collective voice in the support group was hampered by irregular attendance, the interference of community leaders and horizontal violence. Power relations, yielded by biomedical hegemony, androcentric sociocultural practices, material deprivation, fear, discrimination and stigma potentially undermined the women’s abilities to become empowered. Expansion of choices in various spheres or fields and collective action xiii are proposed as dimensions to be added to an empowerment-of-women approach to the problems of reproductive health in the age of HIV-AIDS. The contribution of the study as an emancipatory project is evaluated and implications for policy and practice are suggested. On a methodological level, this study is a demonstration of the contribution to be made by a micro-level, critical analysis to the body of knowledge about female reproductive health in the era of HIV-AIDS in South Africa. On a theoretical level, this study contributes to a wider conceptualisation of women’s empowerment by recognising the interplay between micro-level elements of situated experience, knowledge and preferences and the macro-level elements of sociocultural, biomedical and material influences on health and reproductive behavior.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Du Plessis, Gretchen Erika
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: HIV-positive women -- South Africa -- Gauteng , HIV-positive women -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Gauteng
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:16129 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/777 , HIV-positive women -- South Africa -- Gauteng , HIV-positive women -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Gauteng
- Description: Women living with HIV have a variety of reproductive health and psychosocial needs. The purpose of this critical ethnographic study was to examine how HIV, empowerment and reproduction are experienced by a volunteer sample of HIVpositive women attending public health care facilities in Gauteng. Feminist and critical approaches were used to guide the methodology of the research and the interpretation of the findings. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observation. An overview of literature pertaining to the social construction of HIV-AIDS, women’s empowerment and reproductive decision-making is presented. A discourse of “healthy lifestyle” as technologies of the self is considered. Women’s empowerment as an ideal is described and structural barriers to its achievement are discussed. Stigma and discrimination as products of hegemony are discussed as important issues in the disempowerment of women living with HIV. HIV-AIDS as illness experience is reviewed with reference to the social context and to the individual context. Reproductive decision-making models and theories are critically analysed for their applicability to women living with HIV. The need for a conceptual shift in the notion of empowerment in order to understand constrained decision-making for women living with HIV is propagated. The stories of women living with HIV and dependent on public health care services are presented. Through the principles of a critical ethnography the lived experiences of these women are described by means of emerging themes. A historiography of family planning and HIV-AIDS services throws the narrations of the research participants into broader historic relief. Findings revealed that biomedical hegemonic power contoured and marked the lived experiences of women following an HIV-positive diagnosis. Taken-for-granted views of passivity and of own responsibilities regarding reproductive health are challenged. The women in the study were dependent upon public health care personnel for treatment, testing, dietary advice/supplementation and recommendations for a social xii disability grant. ARV-treatment was regarded as a low point in the illness career. All of the participants reported that the overriding problems in their lives were having too few material resources and not having the means to change this. This made them vulnerable to compounded health problems and decreased their ability to voice their own opinions about treatment. They did not regard themselves as having been at risk for contracting HIV and some harboured resentment towards men who were seen as being absolved from testing and responsibilities towards female partners, born and unborn children. Women who were not tested as part of antenatal sentinel groups tended to suffer symptoms of ill health for some time prior to being tested for HIV. Social support systems were either absent or consisted of trusted family members and friends. In many cases, women became the silent care-givers for those affected and infected by HIV. Anticipated stigma permeated the participants’ narrations of living with HIV and disclosure of their statuses was difficult. The use of male condoms, stressed during counselling sessions, was narrated as a difficult burden for women to bear. Although the research participants expressed low fertility preferences, HIV-AIDS was seen as disrupting the link between heterosexual conjugal relations and the taken-for-grantedness of procreation. HIV-AIDS also disrupted norms in infant feeding practices and bottle-feeding was regarded as a sign of possible HIV-infection and hidden. The research participants were not empowered with knowledge about how to deal with side-effects, condom failures and the reluctance of male partners to be tested for HIV. They enacted, resisted and lived with HIV in different ways, incorporating some of the biomedically prescribed posturing as women living positively and blending it with stigma-negating performances and gender-prescribed ways of dressing, walking and acting. Participation in a support group validated their experiences and promoted positive self-perception. The formation of a collective voice in the support group was hampered by irregular attendance, the interference of community leaders and horizontal violence. Power relations, yielded by biomedical hegemony, androcentric sociocultural practices, material deprivation, fear, discrimination and stigma potentially undermined the women’s abilities to become empowered. Expansion of choices in various spheres or fields and collective action xiii are proposed as dimensions to be added to an empowerment-of-women approach to the problems of reproductive health in the age of HIV-AIDS. The contribution of the study as an emancipatory project is evaluated and implications for policy and practice are suggested. On a methodological level, this study is a demonstration of the contribution to be made by a micro-level, critical analysis to the body of knowledge about female reproductive health in the era of HIV-AIDS in South Africa. On a theoretical level, this study contributes to a wider conceptualisation of women’s empowerment by recognising the interplay between micro-level elements of situated experience, knowledge and preferences and the macro-level elements of sociocultural, biomedical and material influences on health and reproductive behavior.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
A critical evaluation of the quality of social development interventions with specific reference to social assistance
- Authors: Draai, Enaleen Enchella
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: South African Social Security Agency , Social security -- South Africa , Social service -- South Africa , Public welfare -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8277 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016210
- Description: Citizens interact with government departments and agencies for public services and goods which lead to a service encounter between a public official and client. Various initiatives and policies have been developed and are being implemented in the public service to adopt a client-centred approach to service delivery. The White Paper on the Transformation of the Public Service of 1997, identifies the eight Batho Pele principles which sets the framework for implementation of service quality within the South African public service. Government departments are expected to implement measurable service standards to determine levels of service quality to be met that will define levels of client satisfaction with service provision. The assessment of the service encounter by the client informs perceived levels of satisfaction held. This assessment of service quality by clients is therefore value-laden, subjective and periodic. The study focused on the implementation of measures to create and maintain a clientcentric public service in South Africa that would lead to levels of client satisfaction with service quality. The study assessed the implementation and maintenance of service quality at the Social Security Agency of South African the Eastern Cape. The SASSA is responsible for the disbursement of various social grants to facilitate a quality of life as enshrined by the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of South Africa, 1996. The focus of the study was linked to beneficiary maintenance and customer care at SASSA. The study included three different sample groups namely the clients, officials engaged in grant administration and different levels of management which included senior management, district and area managers. The findings revealed that the SASSA has implemented numerous new programmes aimed at a client-centric approach to service delivery. Analysis of the findings revealed expectation as well performance gaps which indicated that officials do not comply with the protocols of the agency and the Batho Pele principles. The promised service standards specified within the SASSA Customer Care Charter is not being realised which fundamentally indicate inefficient and ineffective monitoring of compliance with norms and standards. A conclusion drawn therefore is that the human dignity of clients in search of socials assistance who chiefly constitute vulnerable groups is being infringed. Three key service quality dimensions are identified that needs intervention for improved service quality. These dimensions include tangibility, assurance and responsiveness of functional components identified in respect of nine themes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Draai, Enaleen Enchella
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: South African Social Security Agency , Social security -- South Africa , Social service -- South Africa , Public welfare -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8277 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016210
- Description: Citizens interact with government departments and agencies for public services and goods which lead to a service encounter between a public official and client. Various initiatives and policies have been developed and are being implemented in the public service to adopt a client-centred approach to service delivery. The White Paper on the Transformation of the Public Service of 1997, identifies the eight Batho Pele principles which sets the framework for implementation of service quality within the South African public service. Government departments are expected to implement measurable service standards to determine levels of service quality to be met that will define levels of client satisfaction with service provision. The assessment of the service encounter by the client informs perceived levels of satisfaction held. This assessment of service quality by clients is therefore value-laden, subjective and periodic. The study focused on the implementation of measures to create and maintain a clientcentric public service in South Africa that would lead to levels of client satisfaction with service quality. The study assessed the implementation and maintenance of service quality at the Social Security Agency of South African the Eastern Cape. The SASSA is responsible for the disbursement of various social grants to facilitate a quality of life as enshrined by the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of South Africa, 1996. The focus of the study was linked to beneficiary maintenance and customer care at SASSA. The study included three different sample groups namely the clients, officials engaged in grant administration and different levels of management which included senior management, district and area managers. The findings revealed that the SASSA has implemented numerous new programmes aimed at a client-centric approach to service delivery. Analysis of the findings revealed expectation as well performance gaps which indicated that officials do not comply with the protocols of the agency and the Batho Pele principles. The promised service standards specified within the SASSA Customer Care Charter is not being realised which fundamentally indicate inefficient and ineffective monitoring of compliance with norms and standards. A conclusion drawn therefore is that the human dignity of clients in search of socials assistance who chiefly constitute vulnerable groups is being infringed. Three key service quality dimensions are identified that needs intervention for improved service quality. These dimensions include tangibility, assurance and responsiveness of functional components identified in respect of nine themes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A critical review of the low-cost housing policy in South Africa: a multi case study
- Authors: Mkuzo, Tim Zamuxolo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Public housing -- South Africa Housing policy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18972 , vital:28761
- Description: Housing is a complex subject and has stimulated thought processes of scholars globally for a long time. Throughout the world, governments are flooded by a myriad of housing challenges associated with the provision of housing. Policy has been used as a communicator of governments’ visions and strategies on housing provision. The apartheid legacies have left the country’s housing terrain totally disfigured. To correct this travesty of justice, the government has resorted to policy and legislative framework. In 1994, the Housing White Paper on housing was introduced as a guiding vehicle of the state’s aspirations in its quest to address spatial inequalities and provide housing to millions who had never had a place they could call home. However, the inability of the programme, to mitigate a successful provision of sustainable housing, motivated the government to rethink its strategy. Thus, a new approach to housing called, “Breaking New Ground” (BNG, 2004) was launched. Contrary to the old housing approach that focussed on mass delivery, BNG would regard quality and spatial reconfiguration and social-cohesion as vital to the realization of sustainable human settlements. Few years after its introduction, the new housing approach had its own share of challenges. The main aim of this investigation was to critically review the state of low-cost housing programme by establishing whether the 2004 policy revision of the national housing programme has had any significant effect on the low-cost housing programme in the country by assessing some of the recent projects initiated under the ambit of the BNG. Through a multi-case study, the researcher has qualitatively investigated the research question. A multi-data gathering approach, consisting of both qualitative and quantitative data-collection instruments such as open-ended interviews, questionnaires and observations, helped the researcher to answer the questions posed by the study. From the investigation, a blend of successes and failures has been noted. It is undeniable that the low-cost housing programme is still inundated with challenges right under the domain of BNG. It is also irrefutable that many positives on the current and recent low-cost housing projects initiated under BNG can be seen.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mkuzo, Tim Zamuxolo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Public housing -- South Africa Housing policy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18972 , vital:28761
- Description: Housing is a complex subject and has stimulated thought processes of scholars globally for a long time. Throughout the world, governments are flooded by a myriad of housing challenges associated with the provision of housing. Policy has been used as a communicator of governments’ visions and strategies on housing provision. The apartheid legacies have left the country’s housing terrain totally disfigured. To correct this travesty of justice, the government has resorted to policy and legislative framework. In 1994, the Housing White Paper on housing was introduced as a guiding vehicle of the state’s aspirations in its quest to address spatial inequalities and provide housing to millions who had never had a place they could call home. However, the inability of the programme, to mitigate a successful provision of sustainable housing, motivated the government to rethink its strategy. Thus, a new approach to housing called, “Breaking New Ground” (BNG, 2004) was launched. Contrary to the old housing approach that focussed on mass delivery, BNG would regard quality and spatial reconfiguration and social-cohesion as vital to the realization of sustainable human settlements. Few years after its introduction, the new housing approach had its own share of challenges. The main aim of this investigation was to critically review the state of low-cost housing programme by establishing whether the 2004 policy revision of the national housing programme has had any significant effect on the low-cost housing programme in the country by assessing some of the recent projects initiated under the ambit of the BNG. Through a multi-case study, the researcher has qualitatively investigated the research question. A multi-data gathering approach, consisting of both qualitative and quantitative data-collection instruments such as open-ended interviews, questionnaires and observations, helped the researcher to answer the questions posed by the study. From the investigation, a blend of successes and failures has been noted. It is undeniable that the low-cost housing programme is still inundated with challenges right under the domain of BNG. It is also irrefutable that many positives on the current and recent low-cost housing projects initiated under BNG can be seen.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
A data governance maturity evaluation model to enhance data management in Eastern Cape government departments
- Authors: Olaitan, Olutoyin
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Electronic government information Data protection Public administration -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7989 , vital:31448
- Description: The governance of data assets has become a topical issue in the public sector. Government departments are faced with increasingly complex data and information arising from multiple projects, different departments, divisions and several stakeholders seeking data for divergent end uses. However, an exploratory study of the literature regarding data governance in government departments of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa suggest that there are no clear data governance processes in place within the departments. The research question “How can a data governance maturity evaluation model enhance data governance processes in the Eastern Cape government departments” was derived as a result of a perceived need for government departments of the province to manage their critical data assets in a manner which promotes accurate, verifiable and relevant fiscal and strategic planning. Following the review of current literature in the data governance domain, a conceptual data governance evaluation maturity model was developed and produced. The conceptual model was influenced by the IBM data governance maturity model (2007) and it was aimed at addressing the gaps in the reference model to suit the context of the Eastern Cape government departments and the governance of their data assets. A qualitative phase of empirical data collection was conducted to test the components of the conceptual model. A quantitative instrument, derived from the findings of the qualitative study, as well as the components of the refined model was administered to 50 participants in the same departments where qualitative data was collected, with additional participants being drawn from three other departments. Pragmatism was the guiding philosophy for the research. The Contingency and Institutional theories form the theoretical grounding for the study. Design Science guidelines by Hevner et al (2004), Peffers et al’s (2008) Six Steps in Design Science and Drechsler & Hevner’s (2016) Fourth Cycle of Design Science were employed to construct, improve, validate and evaluate the final artefact. Findings confirmed the literature that data governance is lacking in government departments. It is asserted that the implementation of this model will improve the way data assets are recorded, used, archived and disposed in government departments of the Eastern Cape. The outcome of this research was the development and production of a data governance maturity evaluation model as well as a process document which gives a roadmap of how to move from one maturity level to another.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Olaitan, Olutoyin
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Electronic government information Data protection Public administration -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7989 , vital:31448
- Description: The governance of data assets has become a topical issue in the public sector. Government departments are faced with increasingly complex data and information arising from multiple projects, different departments, divisions and several stakeholders seeking data for divergent end uses. However, an exploratory study of the literature regarding data governance in government departments of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa suggest that there are no clear data governance processes in place within the departments. The research question “How can a data governance maturity evaluation model enhance data governance processes in the Eastern Cape government departments” was derived as a result of a perceived need for government departments of the province to manage their critical data assets in a manner which promotes accurate, verifiable and relevant fiscal and strategic planning. Following the review of current literature in the data governance domain, a conceptual data governance evaluation maturity model was developed and produced. The conceptual model was influenced by the IBM data governance maturity model (2007) and it was aimed at addressing the gaps in the reference model to suit the context of the Eastern Cape government departments and the governance of their data assets. A qualitative phase of empirical data collection was conducted to test the components of the conceptual model. A quantitative instrument, derived from the findings of the qualitative study, as well as the components of the refined model was administered to 50 participants in the same departments where qualitative data was collected, with additional participants being drawn from three other departments. Pragmatism was the guiding philosophy for the research. The Contingency and Institutional theories form the theoretical grounding for the study. Design Science guidelines by Hevner et al (2004), Peffers et al’s (2008) Six Steps in Design Science and Drechsler & Hevner’s (2016) Fourth Cycle of Design Science were employed to construct, improve, validate and evaluate the final artefact. Findings confirmed the literature that data governance is lacking in government departments. It is asserted that the implementation of this model will improve the way data assets are recorded, used, archived and disposed in government departments of the Eastern Cape. The outcome of this research was the development and production of a data governance maturity evaluation model as well as a process document which gives a roadmap of how to move from one maturity level to another.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017