Archie Mafeje and the question of philosophy as a liberatory discourse
- Authors: Dladla, Thabang
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Philosophy, African Eurocentrism Liberty
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12160 , vital:39192
- Description: This dissertation seeks to articulate a liberatory conception of philosophy which interprets reality on its own terms. It is an attempt to intervene in the practice of philosophy in South Africa, which has continued along colonial lines expressed through the marginality of African philosophy up to the present, to the general neglect of the unjust and divisive social reality that defines South Africa. It is our argument that such a continuity is indicative of outstanding liberation on the part of the indigenous people conquered in the unjust wars of colonisation. Our main task then is to struggle for this liberation at the epistemic level with Archie Mafeje, through an examination of his intellectual works and life as a revolutionary intellectual, as an inspiration and an instance of a liberatory practice of philosophy. We draw on the work of Archie Mafeje to elaborate and defend his account of African Philosophy, as a historically specific expression of the liberatory struggle of Africans against unjust Euro-centric colonial domination. This shall be achieved in three instances. In the first instance, Chapter 1, we trace the history of institutionalised philosophy in South Africa outlining Eurocentrism and mimesis as its defining features. In the second instance, Chapter 2, a history of contemporary African philosophy is outlined as emanative from the question concerning the existence of African philosophy, of which mainstream South African philosophy has largely been ignorant. In the final instance, Chapter 3 and 4, a liberatory practice of philosophy is presented, as a necessary response to this context, with Mafeje’s account of African philosophy defended as such an instance. The birth of the Azanian Philosophical Society is also presented as such an instance and as a challenge to the unchallenged hegemony of white philosophy in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Dladla, Thabang
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Philosophy, African Eurocentrism Liberty
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12160 , vital:39192
- Description: This dissertation seeks to articulate a liberatory conception of philosophy which interprets reality on its own terms. It is an attempt to intervene in the practice of philosophy in South Africa, which has continued along colonial lines expressed through the marginality of African philosophy up to the present, to the general neglect of the unjust and divisive social reality that defines South Africa. It is our argument that such a continuity is indicative of outstanding liberation on the part of the indigenous people conquered in the unjust wars of colonisation. Our main task then is to struggle for this liberation at the epistemic level with Archie Mafeje, through an examination of his intellectual works and life as a revolutionary intellectual, as an inspiration and an instance of a liberatory practice of philosophy. We draw on the work of Archie Mafeje to elaborate and defend his account of African Philosophy, as a historically specific expression of the liberatory struggle of Africans against unjust Euro-centric colonial domination. This shall be achieved in three instances. In the first instance, Chapter 1, we trace the history of institutionalised philosophy in South Africa outlining Eurocentrism and mimesis as its defining features. In the second instance, Chapter 2, a history of contemporary African philosophy is outlined as emanative from the question concerning the existence of African philosophy, of which mainstream South African philosophy has largely been ignorant. In the final instance, Chapter 3 and 4, a liberatory practice of philosophy is presented, as a necessary response to this context, with Mafeje’s account of African philosophy defended as such an instance. The birth of the Azanian Philosophical Society is also presented as such an instance and as a challenge to the unchallenged hegemony of white philosophy in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A case study of democratic debate on People's Choice (PC) FM "Thahameso" and Harvest FM "Tsa Mabatooa" in Lesotho
- Falatsa, Mamolise Martha, Thipa, Henry
- Authors: Falatsa, Mamolise Martha , Thipa, Henry
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Radio addresses, debates, etc. -- Lesotho , Radio broadcasting -- Lesotho , Mass media -- Political aspects -- Lesotho , Civil rights -- Lesotho
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7281 , vital:21314
- Description: The study investigates the role of media in promoting free debate in Lesotho: A case study of democratic debate on People’s Choice (PC) FM “Thahameso” and Harvest FM “Tsa Mabatooa in Lesotho. Firstly, the study looked at the democratic communication in the volatile democracy of Lesotho, by providing historical factors of pre-independence and authoritarian governments, democrocatic governments prevailing and the dependence on South Africa. Secondly, the study provided literature on the role of broadcast media in different forms of government globally. Thirdly, it provides the analysis and transcription of one month’s recordings of the two political talk shows in Sesotho and identifies the communicative strategies used in this live on-air political discussion by talk show hosts, guests and callers. In these talk shows the researcher identifies the caller, host and guest behaviour and attitudes in discussions that relate the current political situation to the historical development of democracy in Lesotho alongside the economic and political influences from South Africa. The researcher also identifies that the talk show, guests and callers in the challenging political climate use traditional figurative expressions and biblical quotations to express their views. This leads the researcher to conclude that the political talk shows indeed facilitate participatory communication.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Falatsa, Mamolise Martha , Thipa, Henry
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Radio addresses, debates, etc. -- Lesotho , Radio broadcasting -- Lesotho , Mass media -- Political aspects -- Lesotho , Civil rights -- Lesotho
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7281 , vital:21314
- Description: The study investigates the role of media in promoting free debate in Lesotho: A case study of democratic debate on People’s Choice (PC) FM “Thahameso” and Harvest FM “Tsa Mabatooa in Lesotho. Firstly, the study looked at the democratic communication in the volatile democracy of Lesotho, by providing historical factors of pre-independence and authoritarian governments, democrocatic governments prevailing and the dependence on South Africa. Secondly, the study provided literature on the role of broadcast media in different forms of government globally. Thirdly, it provides the analysis and transcription of one month’s recordings of the two political talk shows in Sesotho and identifies the communicative strategies used in this live on-air political discussion by talk show hosts, guests and callers. In these talk shows the researcher identifies the caller, host and guest behaviour and attitudes in discussions that relate the current political situation to the historical development of democracy in Lesotho alongside the economic and political influences from South Africa. The researcher also identifies that the talk show, guests and callers in the challenging political climate use traditional figurative expressions and biblical quotations to express their views. This leads the researcher to conclude that the political talk shows indeed facilitate participatory communication.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Accountability mechanisms of locally owned versus non -locally owned NGOs in South Africa
- Authors: Van Zyl, Winston Hyman
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Non-governmental organizations -- South Africa Economic development -- Social aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45602 , vital:38917
- Description: This paper reports the results of an exploratory semi-mixed methods study entailing triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data to explore differences in the implementation of accountability mechanisms between locally and non-locally owned non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The study involved NGOs in the Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal provinces of South Africa. Comparisons were made between individual as well as grouped (upward, downward and horizontal) accountability mechanisms implemented. Other NGO characteristics such as age, size and donor type were also compared with NGO accountability mechanisms as well as with NGO ownership type (local/non-local). It was found that locally owned NGOs more often claimed to implement downward and horizontal accountability mechanisms and also to implement such mechanisms better than non-local NGOs. As established by means of chi-square tests, the above-mentioned differences were statistically significant. Thereupon, non-local NGOs more often claimed to implement upward accountability mechanisms and to implement such mechanisms better than local NGOs. Nonlocal NGOs were found to be significantly older, bigger and better resourced than local NGOs.Previous research found a correlation between local ownership, downward accountability and aid effectiveness and has also shown that the large majority of NGOs struggle to implement downward accountability mechanisms and focus mostly on upward accountability. Very little research was done on local NGOs. The findings of this paper show that the strategies employed by local NGOs to account downwards could inform the strategies of most non-local NGOs, and thereby improve aid effectiveness. This research suggests that an ideal balance between local and non-local ownership of an NGO exists and if such a balance could be achieved, an NGO would excel in both the facilitation of local ownership and acquisition of resources and thereby optimise aid effectiveness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Van Zyl, Winston Hyman
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Non-governmental organizations -- South Africa Economic development -- Social aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45602 , vital:38917
- Description: This paper reports the results of an exploratory semi-mixed methods study entailing triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data to explore differences in the implementation of accountability mechanisms between locally and non-locally owned non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The study involved NGOs in the Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal provinces of South Africa. Comparisons were made between individual as well as grouped (upward, downward and horizontal) accountability mechanisms implemented. Other NGO characteristics such as age, size and donor type were also compared with NGO accountability mechanisms as well as with NGO ownership type (local/non-local). It was found that locally owned NGOs more often claimed to implement downward and horizontal accountability mechanisms and also to implement such mechanisms better than non-local NGOs. As established by means of chi-square tests, the above-mentioned differences were statistically significant. Thereupon, non-local NGOs more often claimed to implement upward accountability mechanisms and to implement such mechanisms better than local NGOs. Nonlocal NGOs were found to be significantly older, bigger and better resourced than local NGOs.Previous research found a correlation between local ownership, downward accountability and aid effectiveness and has also shown that the large majority of NGOs struggle to implement downward accountability mechanisms and focus mostly on upward accountability. Very little research was done on local NGOs. The findings of this paper show that the strategies employed by local NGOs to account downwards could inform the strategies of most non-local NGOs, and thereby improve aid effectiveness. This research suggests that an ideal balance between local and non-local ownership of an NGO exists and if such a balance could be achieved, an NGO would excel in both the facilitation of local ownership and acquisition of resources and thereby optimise aid effectiveness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An investigation into the impact of the gender policy on journalistic practices at the Times of Zambia newspaper
- Authors: Mwale, Edna
- Date: 2013-07-24
- Subjects: The Times of Zambia (Zambia) Newspapers -- Zambia Journalism -- Zambia Mass media -- Social aspects -- Zambia Women and journalism -- Zambia Mass media and women Mass media -- Political aspects -- Zambia Zambia -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3521 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008303
- Description: This study investigates the impact of the Times of Zambia gender policy on journalistic practices. The policy was formulated to address issues of representation of women both in news coverage and at an institutional level. In spite of the implementation of the editorial gender policy, no change in gendered representation is evident. As a media practitioner and a Zambian woman concerned with social justice, I set out to investigate the impact of this policy on journalistic practices. The study is informed by a Cultural Studies approach to media studies, specifically drawing on the 'circuit of culture' (du Guy et ai, 1997) and focused on two specific 'moments', namely representation and production. Data was collected using two qualitative methods, namely document analysis and semi-structured in-depth interviews. The document analysis established that this policy is informed by a liberal feminist approach to media and identified the weaknesses in its formulation. The subsequent semi-structured in-depth interviews probed the practices and perceptions of male and female journalists and editors in relation to the degree of change in gendered representation in the news. This study finds that the editorial gender policy at the Times of Zambia has not had any significant impact on the journalistic practices and it probed the reason for this lack of effectiveness. It argues that this can be partially attributed to the orientation of the policy within a liberal feminist paradigm which neglects the internal and external factors that influence the representation of women and men in news production. Further, this position ignores the societal structures and power relations which impact, albeit unintentional, on the treatment of news. Inter-organisational factors such as profit maximisation, political interference, the use of news values and news beats are identified as leading to the exclusion of representations of women in hard news. At an intra-organisational level, lack of importance attached to the policy by senior staff and their attitudes to news production in general have meant that the policy was not enacted or ensured in any meaningful way. The study also established that the patriarchal values that characterise Zambian society influence journalists ' and editors' treatment of news, thus making the implementation of the policy ineffective. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mwale, Edna
- Date: 2013-07-24
- Subjects: The Times of Zambia (Zambia) Newspapers -- Zambia Journalism -- Zambia Mass media -- Social aspects -- Zambia Women and journalism -- Zambia Mass media and women Mass media -- Political aspects -- Zambia Zambia -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3521 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008303
- Description: This study investigates the impact of the Times of Zambia gender policy on journalistic practices. The policy was formulated to address issues of representation of women both in news coverage and at an institutional level. In spite of the implementation of the editorial gender policy, no change in gendered representation is evident. As a media practitioner and a Zambian woman concerned with social justice, I set out to investigate the impact of this policy on journalistic practices. The study is informed by a Cultural Studies approach to media studies, specifically drawing on the 'circuit of culture' (du Guy et ai, 1997) and focused on two specific 'moments', namely representation and production. Data was collected using two qualitative methods, namely document analysis and semi-structured in-depth interviews. The document analysis established that this policy is informed by a liberal feminist approach to media and identified the weaknesses in its formulation. The subsequent semi-structured in-depth interviews probed the practices and perceptions of male and female journalists and editors in relation to the degree of change in gendered representation in the news. This study finds that the editorial gender policy at the Times of Zambia has not had any significant impact on the journalistic practices and it probed the reason for this lack of effectiveness. It argues that this can be partially attributed to the orientation of the policy within a liberal feminist paradigm which neglects the internal and external factors that influence the representation of women and men in news production. Further, this position ignores the societal structures and power relations which impact, albeit unintentional, on the treatment of news. Inter-organisational factors such as profit maximisation, political interference, the use of news values and news beats are identified as leading to the exclusion of representations of women in hard news. At an intra-organisational level, lack of importance attached to the policy by senior staff and their attitudes to news production in general have meant that the policy was not enacted or ensured in any meaningful way. The study also established that the patriarchal values that characterise Zambian society influence journalists ' and editors' treatment of news, thus making the implementation of the policy ineffective. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
Normative indicators for an isiXhosa-speaking population with disadvantaged education for tests of hand motor function and verbal fluency
- Authors: Da Silva Pita, Anita
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Neuropsychological tests Hand -- Movements People with social disabilities -- Language People with social disabilities -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2959 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002468
- Description: The aim of the study was to obtain preliminary normative data for two tests of hand motor function (Successive Finger Tapping and Purdue Pegboard tests) and two tests of verbal fluency ("S"-Words-In-One-Minute and Words-In-One-Minute), administered in English, on a non-clinical sample of black, isiXhosa-speaking unskilled workers with a background of relatively disadvantaged former DET education (N = 33). The sample was equally distributed for gender; educational level was restricted to 11 - 12 years; age range was 18 - 40 years divided further into two age categories (18 - 29 and 30 - 40 years). Results of t-test comparative analyses revealed significant age effects on both trials of the Successive Finger Tapping test in the direction of the younger age group outperforming the older age group, and a marginal but consistent tendency towards poorer performance at an earlier age stage than proposed by the available literature, for the Purdue Pegboard, "S"Words- In-One-Minute and Words-In-One-Minute. Gender effects were only in evidence on the Purdue Pegboard in the direction of females outperforming males. A descriptive comparison of the norms acquired for the present study with available normative data for English first language speaking populations with higher levels and/ or relatively advantaged quality of education revealed consistently poorer performance for the present study. The findings highlight the effect of relatively low levels and/ or poor quality of education on both verbal and non-verbal neuropsychological test performance and confirm the need for demographically specific normative data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Da Silva Pita, Anita
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Neuropsychological tests Hand -- Movements People with social disabilities -- Language People with social disabilities -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2959 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002468
- Description: The aim of the study was to obtain preliminary normative data for two tests of hand motor function (Successive Finger Tapping and Purdue Pegboard tests) and two tests of verbal fluency ("S"-Words-In-One-Minute and Words-In-One-Minute), administered in English, on a non-clinical sample of black, isiXhosa-speaking unskilled workers with a background of relatively disadvantaged former DET education (N = 33). The sample was equally distributed for gender; educational level was restricted to 11 - 12 years; age range was 18 - 40 years divided further into two age categories (18 - 29 and 30 - 40 years). Results of t-test comparative analyses revealed significant age effects on both trials of the Successive Finger Tapping test in the direction of the younger age group outperforming the older age group, and a marginal but consistent tendency towards poorer performance at an earlier age stage than proposed by the available literature, for the Purdue Pegboard, "S"Words- In-One-Minute and Words-In-One-Minute. Gender effects were only in evidence on the Purdue Pegboard in the direction of females outperforming males. A descriptive comparison of the norms acquired for the present study with available normative data for English first language speaking populations with higher levels and/ or relatively advantaged quality of education revealed consistently poorer performance for the present study. The findings highlight the effect of relatively low levels and/ or poor quality of education on both verbal and non-verbal neuropsychological test performance and confirm the need for demographically specific normative data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Company-community participation as a conflict management strategy: a case study of AngloGold Ashanti in Mongbwalu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Authors: Barnett, Sarah
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Conflict management -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Mining corporations , Social participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8200 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1265 , Conflict management -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Mining corporations , Social participation
- Description: Mining companies operating in developing countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have come under increasing public criticism for not only failing to bring benefits to the country in which they operate but for often making the situation even worse through adverse environmental and social impacts. The particular focus of this treatise is the social division that a new mining project can generate between the operating company and the community living on or near to the mine site. In one area in north-eastern DRC, a large multinational mining company, AngloGold Ashanti, plans to develop a gold mine. While there have been no manifest conflicts between the company and the host community, there is evident latent conflict in the form of uncertainty and mistrust between parties. Although the company is engaged in two different models of companycommunity participation, this has either resulted in or failed to prevent tensions between the company and the local community. This research offers an exploration and discussion of the existing models of company-community participation as a conflict management strategy. With reference to relevant research and literature, as well as other available models for company-community participation, this treatise will provide a series of recommendations as to how the existing models could be made more effective in managing conflict.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Barnett, Sarah
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Conflict management -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Mining corporations , Social participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8200 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1265 , Conflict management -- Congo (Democratic Republic) , Mining corporations , Social participation
- Description: Mining companies operating in developing countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have come under increasing public criticism for not only failing to bring benefits to the country in which they operate but for often making the situation even worse through adverse environmental and social impacts. The particular focus of this treatise is the social division that a new mining project can generate between the operating company and the community living on or near to the mine site. In one area in north-eastern DRC, a large multinational mining company, AngloGold Ashanti, plans to develop a gold mine. While there have been no manifest conflicts between the company and the host community, there is evident latent conflict in the form of uncertainty and mistrust between parties. Although the company is engaged in two different models of companycommunity participation, this has either resulted in or failed to prevent tensions between the company and the local community. This research offers an exploration and discussion of the existing models of company-community participation as a conflict management strategy. With reference to relevant research and literature, as well as other available models for company-community participation, this treatise will provide a series of recommendations as to how the existing models could be made more effective in managing conflict.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »