Consensus and contentions around community engagement in a South African tertiary institution: University of Fort Hare
- Authors: Mudefi, Elmon (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3448-5432)
- Date: 2011-02
- Subjects: Community and college , Education Higher
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23487 , vital:57937
- Description: This study examines the nature and character of consensus and contentions around the discourse of community engagement in a South African university context. This is against the background of the growing body of literature that advocates for the need for universities to make their impact felt in communities in more direct ways than through teaching and research. The examination is also against the background of the assumption that the success or failure of community engagement initiatives is, in part, a function of how stakeholders agree/disagree on the meaning and purpose of community engagement. The University of Fort Hare is used as a case study. Interviews and Focus Group Discussions were used for qualitative data collection, whilst a survey was conducted for gathering quantitative data. The study revealed that stakeholders attach different meanings to community engagement, with those possessing power and influence acting as key decision makers. Thus powerful stakeholders (in this case, the university and donor organizations) are at the core of the decision making process, while beneficiaries are pushed to the periphery. Moreover, both the meanings and the activities within which they cohere have important implications for the way beneficiary communities perceive university-community partnerships. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2011
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- Date Issued: 2011-02
Consumerism, authenticity and African communalism
- Authors: Smook, E https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4226-6029
- Date: 2022-09
- Subjects: Consumption (Economics) , Authenticity (Philosophy) , Philosophy, African
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23958 , vital:62022
- Description: Let me state, from the outset, that the issues raised below may be considered from various vantage points – Capitalism, Marxism, etc. However, this thesis is an endeavour to account for the loss of authenticity due to the most salient features of the consumer paradigm, which is the manufactured object, the production line and the proliferation of said objects. True relationships, or shall we say authentic dialogue, is based upon a difference of viewpoints – or epistemic distance – between the interlocutors. This difference of opinion, it may be argued, allows for a cognitive jostling between the subjects involved and represents, as it were, the reciprocal back and forth movement of ideas that betokens actively engaged dialogue. Crucial, then, to true, and by extension authentic, relationships is an epistemic distance steeped in variegated, heterogeneous points of view. For it is in sharing the differences in our points of view or interpretations of the world that we may start a dialogue far removed from each other and then sustain said dialogue in an attempt to reconcile our differences. The continuation of the dialogue, then, depends upon difference. Without the latter difference, the conditions of true dialogue, which is also a marker of authentic relationships, the need for sustained debate is forfeited and the dialogue ceases to serve a purpose – for the subjects involved in the intellectual jostling and exchange of ideas may already anticipate the thoughts of the other. In so anticipating the thoughts of the other, what is brought to the fore is not the ideas of the other, and by extension the other’s existence distinct from mine, but rather my own existence and thoughts. Were I and the other to share a constellation of beliefs, I am left with only that which I already believe in and so only with my own thoughts. The other’s differing opinion is crucial to their appearing to me as an element discreet and distinct from me. For if the other’s being is in essence of the same ilk as mine – and with that I mean if the other’s points of view and adopted systems of praxis mirror mine – we are like trees in a forest. The existence of collective nouns attests to this latter remark; we are prone to see the forest, not the similar trees that constitute it. Now the question arises as to the constitution of the self; what is it that makes up the character and nature of a person and how, if at all, may subjects be said to differ epistemically? According to Sartre, the ego is a transcendent object for consciousness, meaning that it exists out there in the world just like other objects. This is the case because consciousness is essentially empty. Recall Sartre’s famous claim that existence precedes essence, which in turn means that consciousness, or the ego, is filled up inchmeal with contents outside itself. In other words, that with which we are engaged constitutes the contents of consciousness. Repeated exposure to certain objects, or phenomena, brings about the cultivation of states and qualities – these, as it were, constituting the ego in the end. Moreover, these states and qualities, as arisen from repeated exposure to like phenomena, will instil in the subject a certain proclivity for a certain manner of action under specific conditions. As such, having been presented with something disagreeable many times over, a state of repulsion might gain a foothold in my ego regarding the phenomenon in question. This in turn will dictate how I act in the presence of said phenomenon or any other phenomena that include, adumbrationally, some of the qualities of the original phenomenon. As such, then, my actions are reflections of the states that I experience in the presence of certain objects or phenomena and, it may be argued, reflexively represent the world around me as that which constitutes my ego. The facticity of the world, then, has a great bearing upon the manner in which I perceive and engage the world. However, claims Sartre, facticity is but one side of the coin. The world and its meaning are constituted by what Sartre calls brute meaning. This refers to the fact that meaning is a matter of public opinion and does not precede the phenomenon or object itself – the latter being, in essence, but a bare, pliable, monstrous mass of being-in-itself. Due to this occurrence of meaning being man made, we are in a unique position of freedom. We are, he further claims, capable of transcending these brute meanings, enabling us to avail ourselves of the objects or phenomena in question in a bespoke manner. Freedom to choose how we interact with and interpret the world is thus the ontological ground of choice. We have, on the one side, the world in its undifferentiated state – being-in-itself – and on the other the possibility to give this world a specific meaning in accordance with our intentions – being-for-itself. Freedom to choose, so construed, thus ontologically underlies the very fabric of our existence, hence the claim that we are condemned to be free. Choosing whether to continue along the path set out by our original factual condition or to transcend it and make of it something different altogether is thus not a choice at all, but the obligatory condition of the human condition. Once again, this is the case because consciousness, as per Sartre, is empty to start with and can only be filled with the contents of phenomena or objects in accordance with our intentional engagement of them. However, Sartre continues, this freedom of meaning and the fact that brute existents represent nothing more than the convergence of publicly ascribed meaning awaken in the subject a certain nausea – a nausea born of the fact that we, the people, are at every junction in a position where we have to choose the meaning of life. Determinism, thusly, does not exist and we are not only free to choose the meanings of our own lives, but are responsible for what our lives become. This realisation proves to be too much for most to stomach and leads them along a specific path of choice: over-identification with either their factual realities or with the possibility to transcend the latter. Either way, what they aim to achieve with this overidentification is the suppression of the nauseating reality that reality is nought but what we make it to be and we are thus responsible for what it becomes. Sartre calls this bad faith. Pandering to this proclivity towards bad faith, or alternatively, the propensity for overidentification with either side on the facticity/transcendence dichotomy, we find consumerism. The consumer paradigm delineates happiness as an objective ideal, attainable through the acquisition of specific markers of demonstrable happiness. At the same time, it also provides an answer to the nauseating reality that we, humans, are never fully determined beings, but find ourselves vacillating between our factual constraints and our transcendences thereof. It offers us the crystalised means of becoming this or that individual by way of populating our immediate and personal surroundings with signifiers of happiness. Considering, moreover, that a liberalist conception of human being clearly indicates that individuation of each subject is an important aspect of existence, authenticity in terms of rights emerge as a corollary of said individuation. Each individual, so construed, is given the opportunity, the right, to acquire said markers of happiness and individuation. Obtaining these, it may be argued, allows the individual two things: firstly, to quell the nausea that haunts our dualistic lives by concretising it altogether and so doing highlighting the factual side of things; and secondly, to become discreet and individuated subjects, authentic in their beings. However, the authenticity so begotten provides nought but a thin veneer of idiosyncrasy, as the markers of said authenticity are publicly available and so the same for everyone. The problem, thus, of self-individuation is resolved by providing the subject the means of over-identification with their factual realities whilst convincing them, the consumers, that the objects on offer will afford them a degree of happiness and set them apart from their fellow subjects. The unfortunate upshot of this is that subjects all avail themselves of the same set of objects in an attempt to quell the nausea that besets the individual plunged into an undifferentiated existence. We are here at the heart of the matter. Due to the proliferation of like objects throughout the life-world, a specific system of praxis is implied. So as to navigate the life-world and utilise the similar objects that populate it, consumers are driven towards shared ideologies and courses of action. Moreover, their intentions also converge, as they all seek to establish a web of objects around them that would bespeak their individuation and happiness. Where the life-world has become such a homogeneous landscape, it may be argued, in line with Sartrean thought, that the contents of consciousness would also be similar for all. And where the contents of consciousness is similar for all, we may argue that reasoning would be similar for all. It is at this point that dialogue breaks down, for there is nothing epistemically to separate interlocutors and therefore no differences of opinion to sustain true dialogue. If, as it was reasoned some pages prior, it is the case that sustained dialogue provides the predicate upon which authentic relationships are to be based, the collapse of this epistemic distance between consumers must then also lead to a collapse of authentic relationships. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-09
Contextually based model of an early childhood home-visiting programme for vulnerable children in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Schmidt, Kim
- Date: 2022-10
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa , Orphans -- Abuse of , Children -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27380 , vital:66965
- Description: In South Africa, there are many vulnerable children. Vulnerability refers to the child’s potential to be harmed either physically or psychologically with multiple exposures to stress resulting in children becoming vulnerable (Matengu, 2018). Factors that place young children at risk of being harmed include poverty, being orphaned, not living with their biological parents or having a disability. In South Africa, more than 50% of children are impacted by these very factors (DSD, 2018). Vulnerable children can be supported through various interventions to overcome the challenges they face, in spite of the stress that they may experience. This results in a great need for prevention and early intervention services particularly during early childhood when children are most vulnerable because of their complete dependency on caregivers for care and protection. This study adopted an interpretivist, qualitative approach using an intervention research design to develop guidelines for a model of an early childhood home-visiting programme that supports the optimal development of vulnerable children, aged 0–2 years in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Findings confirmed that vulnerable children need responsible caregiving and a nurturing environment yet they are exposed to risk factors such as extreme levels of poverty, ongoing and severe child maltreatment and poor physical health. In addition findings confirmed that there was support available to vulnerable children in the Eastern Cape province but that there were gaps in these services. Furthermore findings indicated that there is a need for an early childhood home-visiting programme, that such a programme should be implemented by a multidisciplinary workforce and that the guidelines for such a programme must include a range of practice principles and processes. In conclusion the study found that vulnerable children in the Eastern Cape province continue to be exposed to a complex range of risk factors with devastating consequences for their immediate and future well-being and that the gaps in services to vulnerable children further hinders their development. Lastly it was concluded that there is a need for a multidisciplinary team to implement a home-visiting programme and that such a programme would hold many potential benefits for the young and vulnerable child. Guidelines for a model of an early childhood home visiting programme were developed and refined to include five practice principles which outline processes in relation to the engagement and advocacy with stakeholders and role players, the recruitment and selection of a home-visiting workforce, the content of a training programme for a home visiting workforce, the implementation of the home-visiting programme and the monitoring and evaluation of the programme. This model draws together the disciplines of health, social work and early childhood education to provide transdisciplinary training to a home-visiting workforce that is then equipped to engage with communities and caregivers in support of ensuring that vulnerable children are able to achieve optimal development. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10
Cooperatives in Mhlontlo Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province : an examination of the ablers and disablers of grassroots development
- Authors: Mahlasela, Chwayitile
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Cooperative societies--South Africa--Eastern Cape Rural development--South Africa--Eastern Cape Rural development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Rural Development
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16264 , vital:40705
- Description: Scholars and policy makers often see cooperatives as agents of rural economic development. However, experiences have showed that cooperatives in some rural communities have not brought sustainable rural development as levels of poverty and unemployment are still staggeringly high. It is against this background that this study examines the enablers and disablers of cooperatives in Mhlontlo Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape. In order to achieve this aim, the study adopted qualitative research design. Oral interviews and Focus Group Discussions were used to collect qualitative data from the purposively selected participants. Also, official documents on the roles of cooperatives to rural development were used to complement primary sources of data collection. Thematic analytical technique was used to analyse data obtained. The result of the analysis revealed that lack of basic infrastructures, inadequate value addition and inefficient monitoring and evaluation of the programmes have disabled the cooperative societies in Mhlontlo Local Municipality from achieving the goals of rural development. Based on the analysis of data, the study concluded that cooperatives in Mhlontlo Local Municipality are faced with immense challenges, which are hampering their contributions to achieving sustainable rural development in the municipality. Based on this conclusion, the study recommended that in order to improve the efficiency of cooperative societies in terms of achieving rural development, government needs to engage relevant stakeholders such as the local government officials, private sector, community members and the NGOs in the formulation and implementation of strategies to be adopted by the cooperative societies in bringing about sustainable rural development.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Critical discourse analysis of election campaigns in Zimbabwe with specific reference to 2008 and 2013 election periods
- Authors: Mugomba Moreen
- Date: 2020-05
- Subjects: Critical discourse analysis , Political manifestos -- Zimbabwe , Communication in politics
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22083 , vital:51982
- Description: Elections are a key aspect in all communities and in Zimbabwe they are held after every 5 years. Election candidates’ speeches. Linguistic manipulation is an influential instrument in politics and as such presidential candidates’ electioneering discourse is infested with persuasive linguistic elements. Therefore, this study analysed the generic structure of hard news and editorials as well as political manifestos. The nature of linguistic devices invoked for the enactment of political goals and objectives by Zimbabwean newspaper reports in English and Shona were analysed. The study looked at how presidential candidates express themselves to the electorate through language as well. The study demonstrated how newspaper reporters make linguistic choices to express similar content from contending politicians during election time. The study took a qualitative research methodology. Tools used to collect data were interviews and document analysis. Ten newspaper reporters were interviewed for their extensive knowledge of media situations. The newspaper articles which were based on political manifestos by two of the contending political parties, the MDC and ZANU PF were analysed. Systemic Functional Linguistics and Critical Discourse Analysis were used as theories of analysis. Findings from the study revealed the existence of certain linguistic devices that are used in the art of persuasion, as candidates campaign for political posts. Characteristic linguistic devices were observed in journalists’ reports. These devices include modals, verbs, pronouns, metaphors, repetition, anaphora as well as the use of “us and them” in both the speeches and news reports in English and Shona. The analysis showed a discrepancy between state and independent media as far as news representation of election events is concerned. It is recommended in this study that, there must be a balance in the presentation of politics in newspapers even if there is personal bias in linguistic choice on the part of individual journalists. A transition model into electioneering reporting came up. The proposed model looks into issues of cohesion in news reports. The study has contributed further insights into the nature, features and functions of political discourse. discourse is paramount in society and as elections are held, several persuasive elements and occasions come into play as contesting candidates try to garner votes. Election discourse is realised in the aspiring , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2020
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- Date Issued: 2020-05
Cross-Border Migration, Social Cohesion and African Continental Integration: Perspectives of African Immigrants and South African Nationals in Gauteng, South Africa
- Authors: Maseng, Jonathan Oshupeng
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Migration -- Africa Emigration and immigration Social integration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD(Sociology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8855 , vital:33673
- Description: Using the Sunnyside suburb of South Africa’s capital city of Pretoria as a case study, this study sought to gather, analyse and engage the perspectives, narratives and idealisations of African migrants and South African nationals in Gauteng province on cross-border migration, social cohesion and African continental integration. The goal was to interrogate the dominant discourse and assumption in migration scholarship that contact between nationals and immigrants is inherently conflict-inducing. The study adopted a qualitative methodology, with in-depth interviews, “street ethnography”, expert interviews and document analysis as the main sources of primary data. Overall, 85 in-depth interviews were conducted with immigrants and nationals of different occupational, gender and class backgrounds. The study found, among other things, that while many respondents expressed negative sentiments with regard to how cross-border migration affected their experience of social cohesion and idealisations about African continental integration, the relations between African immigrants and South African nationals in the study area were overwhelmingly congenial. This was even when there was no policy-oriented action by government to promote these positive relations. Respondents attributed this congeniality to, among other things, the fact that most small immigrant businesses depended on a predominantly South African clientele, while South African nationals in the study area saw such businesses as filling a crucial gap in their immediate socio-economic environments. Importantly, service provider-client relations served as “enhancers” of social cohesion in the study area. On the other hand, the relative dominance of immigrants in the small business sector in the study area served as a “threat” to social cohesion. From these findings, the study concluded that, contact between immigrants and nationals was not necessarily inherently conflict-inducing, and that social cohesion also rested on the logic of mutual dependence.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Customary marriage and family practices that discriminate against amaXhosa women: a critical study of selected isixhosa literary text
- Authors: Mbatyoti, Pheliwe Yvonne
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Forced marriage -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Customary law -- South Africa Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D Litt et Phil (African Studies)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10736 , vital:35731
- Description: In many parts of Africa, the cultural practices and customs that were in use over the ages are still largely in place today. Many of these practices discriminate against individuals and compromise their human rights, particularly the rights of African women. The aim of this investigation is to study customary marital practices among the amaXhosa in order to establish their effect on modern amaXhosa society. In addition, this includes other discriminatory practices, such as the diminished status of wedded women. Within the study, the social status of women before and after 1994 is dealt with as depicted in the selected texts. The study further determines the current social status of married women under the current dispensation and finds out whether the rights of married women are sufficiently recognised in the texts under discussion. It is clear therefore that whilst Africa has made good progress on the political front, the same cannot be said for some of the cultural values that are still adhered to in the present age. This applies in particular to the rights of women in an African society. Globally, women and girls suffer the harmful and life-threatening effects of discriminatory traditional and cultural practices that continue under the guise of social, cultural and religious ceremonies. In the democratic South Africa, there is growing concern and awareness that some cultural practices are harmful to women and girls. The study analyses a number of texts namely, novels and drama, that were published before and after the 1994 era in South Africa with aims and objectives being outlined in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 is devoted to the theoretical framework, which includes the general theory pertaining to the status of women, feminism and human rights. Secondly, it deals with African theory pertaining to the status of African women as well as their rights; finally, it reflects on the role of women in societies where traditional marriage custom is still in use. Chapter 3 analyses the depiction of customary marriage as a theme in isiXhosa prose before and after 1994. Chapter 4 examines the depiction of customary marriage in v isiXhosa drama before and after 1994 and focuses more on human rights elements. Chapter 5 summarises the arguments distilled from the analysed works. The researcher came to the conclusion that the practice of forced marriage does not occur in amaXhosa society only but it is also found on a wider scale on the rest of the African continent and beyond. The study was concluded with a set of recommendations that were made to combat the scourge of anti-feminism that is found in modern society.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Death, suffering and silencing as explored in the book Thief and the devil's arithmetic
- Authors: Coetzer, Ashley
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Feminist literary criticism War in literature Children's literature, English
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , English
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17116 , vital:40857
- Description: World War II is a devastating event in the world‘s history, which still haunts society today. It was a war in which millions of Jews and others losing their lives because of the Nazi regime‘s prejudiced beliefs. The primary focus of this study is to investigate concepts such as death, suffering, silencing, language and literature, as well as secrecy as evidenced in selected children‘s literature. The project provides a comparative analysis of two texts which fall under the children‘s war literature genre: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen. Death, suffering and silencing were significant aspects of the war which crushed the minds and hearts of millions of human lives. Language and literacy are also important notions in the novels, as the historical context allowed for oppression through these areas. A feminist and cultural studies theoretical framework have been used as paradigms in this study as both address oppression in its many forms. The authors‘ biographical backgrounds as well as the historical context of their novels will be outlined in order to provide a context for the chosen theories. World War II relied on oppression based on race and religion. It is for this reason that I use cultural studies theory for an exploration of the many factors which enforced the oppression of the Jewish race by the Nazi regime. Furthermore, a feminist theoretical framework allows for an investigation of the oppression of women during this historical period. While the extent of suffering can never be completely understood, the novels attempt to honour the millions of lives lost by telling the stories of those forgotten. Teun A. Van Dijk‘s cultural studies theory explores manipulation, discourse and racism which are pertinent to a study of the novels. Within both The Book Thief and The Devil’s Arithmetic, there are oppressed female characters which drive the novel. Feminist studies encourage numerous forms of emancipation from a patriarchal society and these novels provide examples of females finding emancipation through various means. In conclusion, this study seeks to highlight the cultural as well as feminist aspects of the children‘s war literature novels, The Book Thief and The Devil’s Arithmetic. In addition, the concepts which will be analysed in this study allow for an in-depth understanding of the context of war within these novels. While these novels have been analysed individually, there is a gap in the literature as these novels have not yet been compared and contrasted. This study, therefore, aims to broaden and encourage further academic discussion in the field of children‘s war literature.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Delays in seeking treatment for sick children in rural Malawi: A study of the utilisation of village clinics
- Authors: Bonongwe, Enock (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2819-130X)
- Date: 2011-12
- Subjects: Community Health Services , Rural Health , Health Planning
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23326 , vital:57314
- Description: The world’s highest mortality figures are found in developing countries among under-five children (Black et al., 2003:2227). Efforts in reducing childhood mortality are stifled if treatment is delayed (sought after 24 hours). The aim of this study was to find out the factors that contribute to delays in seeking treatment for sick children in a community where health services are free and accessible. From data collected using a questionnaire through face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs), the study found out the factors that contribute to delayed care. It collected data from 150 mothers who sought treatment at village clinics within 14 days prior to the survey date. Qualitative data were collected in five FGDs with old women, young women, men, youth and community leaders. The study found that out of 150 mothers, 54 percent delayed seeking treatment for sick children. Mothers who had given sick children home treatment and those who sought treatment from other providers for the same illness brought to the village clinic were more likely to delay care. FGDs revealed that most factors contributing to delayed care were to do with the health system, although beliefs and perceptions played a part. In summary, delays in seeking treatment for sick children are a product of an interplay of many factors. Overall, it was found that caregivers’ interpretation of the child’s illness influenced timeliness of care and the choice of health care provider. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2011
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- Date Issued: 2011-12
Development communication for water conservation in rural and peri-urban communities : a study of three district municipalities in Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Onyenankeya, Kevin Uwaecheghi
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Communication in rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Water conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8397 , vital:32562
- Description: South Africa continues to ramp up public campaigns to rein in escalating water demand amid dwindling and erratic supply. One of the objectives of the campaign is to reduce water demand in urban areas to 15 precent by 2030 through water conservation and water demand management strategies. While the water conservation drive continue to gain traction among commercial and urban water users, it does not appear to resonate with rural and peri-urban residents. Using the pragmatic convergent parallel mixed methods approach consisting of the quantitative and qualitative methods such as survey, focus groups, and indepth-interviews and observation, this study explored the water conservation attitudes, behaviour and intentions of rural and peri-urban respondents in four Eastern Cape communities in South Africa, and to determine if any factors influence their attitudes and behaviour. The study also attempted to determine whether a dialogic approach to communication about water conservation is likely to lead to positive change in attitude and behaviour. The questionnaires were distributed personally by researcher and trained assistants but respondents were left to complete the questionnaires at their convenience and in their own pace but within a negotiated period of five working days. The collected data were analysed using both parametric and non-parametric methods. The nonparametric methods used include thematic analysis. Transcripts of focus group and individual interviews were coded using Nvivo, while quantitative data was analysed in SPSS and presented in simple frequency and cross tabulation. Regression analysis was used to establish the influence of attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control on water conservation intention. Results revealed respondents consider water conservation important and are favourably disposed to conserving water. Although peri-urban and rural residents considered water important and would want to make effort to conserve water in the future, not all considered water conservation an overarching social priority and, as a result, are generally passive or indifferent to water conservation. The indifference appears to be underpinned by residents’ beliefs about water. Further analysis showed that peri-urban residents have stronger positive attitude towards water conservation and greater intent and commitment towards water conservation than their rural counterpart. Attitude, subjective norm and behavioural control emerged as significant factors influencing water conservation intentions of respondents. The findings suggest that water curtailment behaviours were the prevalent water conservation activities rural and peri-urban residents engaged in, while water efficiency behaviours was very poor among the population. Factors such as cost, need, knowledge and locus of control had significant influence on residents’ water conservation behaviour and intentions, especially in purchasing or installing water efficient appliances. The study found no significant relationship between sociodemographic such as age, level of education and home tenure on resident’s water conservation behaviour or intentions. The findings indicate that many rural and peri-urban communities do not have adequate information on water conservation, what to do, how to do it and why it should be done and this affects their water conservation behaviour. It was also found that engaging residents through participatory dialogue is effective in raising awareness and stimulating interest in water saving activities. The study concludes that rural and peri-urban residents are yet to develop a social ethic of water conservation. The study highlights the need for concerted education and awareness campaign around water issues so as to build community knowledge and support for water conservation. But to encourage residents to make adjustment in deep-rooted “beliefs, habits, or practices” and change to a sustainable water use behaviour in the face of scarce water supplies and increasing demand, requires not just communication to inform and persuade, but also development communication to foster mutual understanding and collective action.
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- Date Issued: 2017
Differentiated Instruction: A Study of English Second Language Teachers’ Awareness and Implementation in Selected High Schools in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Ndu, Onyinyechi Glory
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching Language and languages -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D Lit. (English)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11440 , vital:39072
- Description: The lack of visible academic excellence in South Africa has necessitated the search for a more in-depth approach in teaching and learning. The Department of Basic Education, school administrators and School Governing Bodies are not left out in the search for a distinct approach that would be able to assist teachers and also accommodate diverse learning abilities found in the classroom. The purpose of this study is to investigate English Second Language teachers’ awareness and implementation of differentiated instruction in selected high schools in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The objectives were to find out the extent to which teachers adopt differentiated instructions in their classes: to examine teachers’ narratives about differentiated instruction and the alternative instruction teachers’ use in their classrooms. The study was anchored on the socio-cultural theory, multiple intelligence theory and learning style theory. It employed a mixed method research and triangulation, which was very beneficial for the validation of the research findings. It followed a case study exploratory design and descriptive survey design. A purposive sample of hundred and six (106) participants were used in the study. The quantitative data were analysed using tables, frequencies and percentages while the qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings of the study revealed that ESL Grade 10 high school teachers were not aware of the term “Differentiated Instruction” even though to some extent they adopted DI approach. Teachers had mixed narratives about DI implementation and they used different alternative instructions during their lessons. The researcher recommended that teachers should be introduced to DI approach and be given more assistance, motivation, exposure and trainings in the form of conferences and seminars on proper DI implementation. Also teachers should be encouraged to continuously develop themselves academically in order to adjust to the new trend of managing the diverse learners that exist in their classes and in differentiating instruction with technology.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Digitization as a strategy for preservation of and access to private collections in the Eastern Cape: a case study of National Heritage and Cultural Studies Centre and International Library of African Music
- Authors: Tyali, Lungisani
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Preservation Digitization
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Library and Information Science)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18302 , vital:42250
- Description: The aim of the study was to investigate digitization as a strategy for the preservation and access to private collections in Eastern Cape covering National Heritage and Cultural Studies Centre (NAHECS) at the University of Fort Hare, Alice campus and International Library of African Music (ILAM) at Grahamstown. The objectives of the study were: to find out the types of artefacts digitized at NAHECS and ILAM; to describe the available infrastructure for the digitization of collections at NAHECS and ILAM; to determine the impact of digitization on the preservation of and access to digitized materials; to find out the extent to which digitization programme at NAHECS and ILAM comply with the relevant legal and regulated framework, and to investigate challenges to the current digitization programmes at NAHECS and ILAM. The study used a purposive non-probability sampling technique to select the participants. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Qualitative data collected was analysed using thematic analysis while quantitative data were analysed statistically using SPSS software using frequencies, pie charts, bar charts and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that there are different challenges faced by both institutions (that is, ILAM and NAHECS). Some of the challenges faced by ILAM include inadequate funds for supporting the digitalizing project/ programme, inadequate staff and poor infrastructure. The finding has shown that the majority of respondents’ indicated that NAHECS has available knowledge of infrastructures such as Meta Data and Audio for the digitization of collections while all respondents confirmed that ILAM has the various distribution of available instrument for digitization and these include Meta Data, Video Tapes and Audio. iv The study recommends that proper necessary access to the digitized documents should be made available through Africa Media Online (AMO) so that all the interested users can search for digitized materials.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Disquieting high school learners’ indiscipline behaviour: A systematic review exploring the impact of learner indiscipline on learning and teacher’s impetus
- Authors: Vuyolwetu Soni https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7306-0368
- Date: 2022-03
- Subjects: High school students -- Conduct of life , School discipline
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23829 , vital:60913
- Description: High school teachers in South Africa have been voicing out their distress to the government, caused by the indiscipline of learners. The indiscipline became evident after the South African government scrapped punitive behaviour modification methods such as corporal punishment. Although the government had introduced alternative forms of behaviour modification, the teachers still maintain that these are not effective hence the rife indiscipline behaviour among high school learners. This study reviewed 14 articles on the impact of the alternative forms of punishment on high school learners’ indiscipline and the teachers’ motivation. Further, the studies highlight several factors involved in developing the learners’ indiscipline. This review indicates that high school learners’ indiscipline continues to be rife in South African schools and negatively affects high school teachers’ motivation. This is regardless of the government's introduction of alternative forms of punishment. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-03
Diversion Programmes and Empowerment: A Case Study of Young Offenders’ Experiences in the Buffalo City Metropolitan and Amathole District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Mangwiro, Vongai P
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Social work with criminals Social work with juvenile delinquents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Work)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18031 , vital:42006
- Description: Crime amongst the young in South Africa has been high since the attainment of democracy in 1994. Diversion programmes were established through the National Framework Chid Justice Act of 2008, as part of a plethora of measures to curb the ever spiralling problem of crime amongst the youth. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the experiences of young offenders regarding their empowerment vis-à-vis diversion programmes in the Buffalo City Metropolitan and Amathole District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province. Underpinned by the Empowerment and Social Control Theories, the study adopted a qualitative research paradigm and used focus group discussions and in-depth interviews amongst thirty-five young offenders and five social workers, who work as probation officers at NICRO, to collect data, which was analysed using thematic analysis. The major findings indicated that diversion programmes are effective in reducing the number of children who commit crimes in these two municipalities and in influencing their behavioural change, resulting in fewer chances of re-offending. The Life Skills Programme was identified as the most effective programme, in comparison to the other programmes, such as the Community pre-trial Service Programme, in changing the behaviour of the young offenders, as it helps them to discover themselves; learn respect for the self and others in the community; help with family and community reintegration; and helps them focus on who they want to be in the future. In spite of such positive attributes for the diversion programmes, the study observed that there are challenges being faced by the implementing organisation, NICRO. These include high caseloads; lack of support from the probation officers who refer young offenders; limited support from parents; paucity of financial resources; lack of transport; poor v coordination from the courts; and delays in the implementation of some accredited but not credited programmes. Overall, the study concluded that diversion programmes in the Buffalo city Metropolitan and Amathole district municipalities in the Eastern Cape suffer due to weak partnerships between different organisations and stakeholders that are supposed to complement the efforts of the judiciary. From the research findings above, it is recommended that the Child Justice System should promote a multi-sectored approach in order to restore and reunify all the stakeholders, working with children in conflict with the law. This adds more roles and responsibilities for the various stakeholders, such as the Department of Justice and Department of Social development. Furthermore, there is a need to increase the monitoring and evaluation of diversion programmes to advance accountability and improve effectiveness; and there is a need to enhance the efficiency of accrediting authorities to timeously accredit other diversion programmes that, so far, have not yet been accredited, but may be useful in empowering young offenders. Therefore, the study proposes an extension of the framework with additions of strategies to support diversion programmes at NICRO, through a stakeholder extension to the model allocating more roles and responsibilities for stakeholders in the Child Justice system, in order for diversion programmes to effectively achieve desired goals.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Donor support, electoral dynamics and democratisation in South Africa :the case of the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Bosompem, Henry Kofi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Democratization -- South Africa Elections -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD(Sociology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11243 , vital:37612
- Description: This thesis is on Donor Support, Electoral Dynamics and Democratisation in South Africa with particular focus on the Buffalo City Municipality of the Eastern Cape. The main aim of the thesis is to investigate and highlight the global outlook of donor support perspectives and conditionalities and to examine the basic tenets of democratisation and link them to the interplay of the electoral dynamics that influence grassroots political participation. Furthermore, the study attempts to ascertain the involvement and perceptions of local communities with regard to the role of donor support in democratic governance, development and electoral dynamics. In this era and dispensation of democracy, the fledging democratic institutions require substantial donor support to perform their constitutional mandatory obligations. Most of this support had traditionally come from government. Given the weight and pressure on the government budget, the widening unemployment and inequality in South African communities, there is the need to solicit assistance from development partners for electoral administration and development. The current study, therefore, investigated community voters, political parties and the Elected or Nominated Councillors’ perceptions of donor support and democratisation. This thesis further investigated the roles and functions of the Donor Agency, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) in donor support, electoral administration and democratisation. The study utilized a mixed method approach where 384 structured questionnaires were administered and 52 in-depth interviews conducted with the respondents. The study made use of a systematic empirical inquiry and literature review to understand its subject matter. It did not only scrutinise data previously collected by other researchers but also utilised information from other sources such as tabloid surveys, brochures, bulletins and the internet. Thus, this strategy is ideal for the present study which seeks to capture the views, experiences and feelings and understanding of party officials. This study utilized the Development aid theory, political party and democratisation theories, Gouldner’s theory of Moral Norm of Reciprocity and Social Support in combination with Larzasfeld’s Voters’ behaviour theory and the social justice and equity perspective as elements of the theoretical framework.The purpose of achieving electoral confidence among the citizens is to demonstrate the value of electoral dynamics and perspectives of democratization that forms an expressed vi indicator of the relationship between politics and development. The electoral dynamics that shape political institutions, governance and its discourses in any democratic enterprise include: party affiliation, party and donor support mobilisation, voting patterns, government and the state agency’s performance. In addition, it includes economic policies towards poverty alleviation, service delivery, ethnic politics and all the state democratization policies which are pursued to bring greater relief to its citizens. Correspondingly, it is geared towards creating a balanced relationship on the donor-recipient equation and to ensure socio-economic well-being to the citizens guided by reciprocity, good governance, transparency, accountability and social justice.The emerging findings indicate that most political parties and elected councillors in the municipality receive donor support beside the traditional sources that we know such as membership dues, party subscriptions, levies, state sponsorship,fundraising for special projects and sale of souvenirs. Some of the sources were from international community and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The study found that donors require huge returns on their support and investments. The IEC and BCMM were largely funded by Treasury for their projects and programmes. However, the BCMM also gets substantial support from sister-city relations with other municipalities abroad. Some community voters hold the view that political party funding opens the doors for the hijacking of democracy. Others hold the opinion that dishonest donors corrupt weak governments, undiscerning officials and immoral leaders. Nevertheless, some political party officials felt that donors were not all that evil. They hold the view that genuine donors help to build the capacity of officials and strengthen party structures, thereby deepening democratic ethics and culture. They were of the view that good donors promote transparency, accountability and good governance to strengthen the pillars and the threshold of democracy and the democratisation processes in emerging states in sub-Saharan Africa. On the basis of these findings, the core argument of this study is that donor support induces democratisation which mainly benefit donor communities and municipal elites at the expense of local communities. Nevertheless, the perception that development projects funded by donor agencies are meant for donor poverty alleviation, despite the absence of visible effects of trickle down, account for community members’ participation in the electoral system.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Eastern Cape students’ barriers to well-being and academic success in higher education: A photovoice study
- Authors: Dilley, Jessica
- Date: 2020-02
- Subjects: Education, Higher , Educational change -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20949 , vital:46862
- Description: The contemporary educational landscape in South Africa is characterised by prevailing inequities and disparities within higher education institutions and poor academic achievement. Although participation in higher education has increased over time, many students do not complete their courses within the required time and a high proportion of students continue to drop out, with few students progressing to postgraduate level. Majority of students who do not complete their courses are poor. Many students are faced with a number of barriers that stand in the way of academic success and, ultimately, graduation. However, through agency students often draw from a range of supports to promote their well-being and academic success. This study aims to balance the literature by investigating not only the barriers, but also the supports to success in university. This study addresses the notion that students from historically black universities are underrepresented in the literature. The current study explored Eastern Cape students’ barriers and supports to success within higher education. Five undergraduate female students participated in focus groups, which incorporated photovoice, adding to the participative nature of the research methodology. Focus group data were subjected to thematic analysis, informed by social constructionist theory. Three themes were prevalent: barriers within higher education, coping strategies positioned on a continuum and supports in higher education. Descriptions revealed that barriers and supports are reinforced by prevailing discourses, which are critiqued and/or used for the benefit of the students’ well-being. Barriers were limiting, yet also sites for personal growth and agency, whilst the engagement with supports was mediated predominantly by the intersection of social categories (race, gender, socio-economic status) occupied by students. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2020
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- Date Issued: 2020-02
Eco-tourism and sustainable rural livelihoods in Hogsback, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Pikirai, Kelvin Tinashe
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Ecotourism -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5510 , vital:29298
- Description: This study investigates the livelihoods impacts of eco-tourism in Hogsback, the extent to which local community members are effectively participating in eco-tourism activities as well as the negative implications of ecotourism in Hogsback. A qualitative research methodology was employed in order to have a deeper understanding of the issues under study. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to select respondents. In-depth semi structured interviews were used to collect data from 40 respondents and 6 key informants. The study established that eco-tourism activities help mainly individuals rather than the whole community at large and those who benefit; it improves their lives as well as benefiting the economy of the country. This study also found out that the government plays a role to promote development of ecotourism in the community, this is through infrastructure development and providing services for tourism. Lastly the study found out that there are conflicts over ownership of eco-tourism activities, limited funds in promotion of eco-tourism activities and that there is no eco-tourism development strategy. The study recommends that the government of South Africa should design and implement a comprehensive eco-tourism development strategy that puts people at the core.
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- Date Issued: 2017
Effects of community based organization programmes on poverty eradication : a case study of Dutywa in Mbhashe municipality, Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Maqubela, Zodwa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Community organization Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M. Soc. Sci.
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9610 , vital:34803
- Description: The study set out to establish the effects of CBO’s programmes on poverty eradication in Dutywa Mbhashe Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province. Poverty is rife in rural areas of Dutywa and community. Community members suffer from both absolute to relative poverty. Community organizations, especially in developing countries, have strengthened the view that these bottom-up organizations are more effective in addressing local needs than larger charitable organizations. This study was done through the reviewing of the implementation of early childhood development programmes, family preservation programmes, victim Empowerment programmes, home community based care programmes (HIV/AIDS), as well as care and support to older person’s programmes by community based organizations with the aim of alleviating poverty. The selection of the district and CBOs was done purposively and data was gathered through focus group discussions, structured and unstructured interviews. Purposive sampling technique was also used in selecting participants who took part in the study. Data analysis was carried out through charts, frequency tables and percentages. Qualitative analysis was carried out through establishing the emerging themes and comparing responses in order to check the validity of the data collected. Quantitative analysis was done through the application of the Statistical Package for Social Science (S.P.S.S). Two objectives were quantitatively analysed and two objectives were qualitatively analysed. The findings revealed that the programmes rendered by the CBOs were effective in the fight against poverty in Mbhashe, Dutywa and it was recommended that there should be an effective monitoring and evaluation of community development programmes and identification of sources of support most especially local sources. It was also recommended that community programme should be aligned with the community cultures.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Effects of incarceration of women on the family system: a case of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Dlova, Chumisa
- Date: 2021-07
- Subjects: Women prisoners -- Effect of imprisonment on -- South Africa , Prisoners -- Family relationships , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22278 , vital:52014
- Description: Incarceration is a world-wide phenomenon. It is aimed at punishing those who are in conflict with the law while ensuring that they also undergo rehabilitation processes. Whereas one cannot argue that incarceration is inevitable for those in conflict with the law, it is essential to realise that, when a woman is incarcerated, the remaining family unit members are left behind to deal with all the effects of having a family member taken away. It has been observed that there is an increase in the number of incarcerated women. About two-thirds of incarcerated women reported having one or more minor children, and most of them have lived with their children before incarceration compared to 36% of men (Woodard & Copp, 2016). This study aimed to understand the effects of incarceration of women on the family system in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM). The study discussed the effects of women incarceration on their children, spouses/partners and care-givers. The available support services were also explored and the coping mechanisms adopted by these families during this period of incarceration. The study utilised a case study research design which was explorative in nature. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews with 15 participants who included eight children, one spouse, one partner and five care-givers. Bowen’s family system’s theory (1978) was utilised as an epistemological framework for the study. The study's findings revealed that the incarceration of women has a negative impact on the family members left behind. This increases the chances of school drop-out, alternative care placement and even criminal involvement of children themselves. It was also discovered that financial difficulties, infidelity and lack of proper support systems for these families are a challenge that is directly associated with incarceration. The study recommended that more efforts should be made to provide support through governmental, non-governmental and communitybased interventions to the families of incarcerated women to prevent these unintended effects. , Thesis (MSW) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-07
Effects of substance abuse among the youth : the case of Dimbaza Township, King Williams Town Eastern Cape
- Authors: Manyonta, Ayanda
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Youth -- Substance use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Substance abuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Youth -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9389 , vital:34338
- Description: Youth substance abuse is a major social and health concern globally, South Africa notwithstanding. The effect of using substances among the youth does not only impend overall personal development of the youth, but it also limits their aspiration for the future and creates an environment that exacerbates to social ills. This study explored the effects of substance abuse among the youth in Dimbaza King Williams Town. The study intended to achieve the following specific objectives: (i) to establish the extent of the effects of substance abuse among the youth in Dimbaza township; (ii) determine the impact of the effects of substance abuse towards the development of Dimbaza Township; (iii) document interventional strategies to mitigate the effects of substance abuse. The study used a qualitative approach, where explorative and descriptive designs were used. Specifically, the case study design was used. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, focus groups, secondary data and key informants methods. The study used non-probability sampling techniques, but specifically purpose sampling technique was used. Twenty eight (28) participants were sampled which comprised of (12) youth faced with substance related challenges, (6) family members, and (10) key informants. Data was analyzed qualitatively through content thematic analysis. The study revealed the following: preponderance of marijuana (dagga) and alcohol, peer pressure as precursor to substance abuse, antisocial behaviours attributable to substance abuse, youth engagement in various criminal activities, evidence of moral decay in Dimbaza, state of poverty aggravating substance abuse habits, paucity of community intervention for social ills. The study made the following recommendations: a need for government to intensify awareness of the impact of substance abuse among the youth; the need for social practitioners to mitigate dysfunctional families facing substance related challenges; strategic educational intervention targeting potential addicts are needed so as to curb the proliferation the effect of substance abuse; establishment of family educational programs are needed to capacitate communities in order to mitigating substance related behaviors;; special police force is needed to strengthen substance abuse campaigns as primary intervention so as to educate pre-adolescents about the aftermaths of substance abuse; moral regeneration initiatives are needed to instill the significance of Ubuntu and worth of human being; intensify of moral regeneration campaigns facilitated by faith-based organizations; and lastly, the government and other stakeholders should fund youth development programs that will equip them with skills to afford them opportunities to bolster their lives and contribute to improving their country’s economy.
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- Date Issued: 2017