Unisa Press Journals (University of South Africa)
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Consolidating and Modelling an Ethics Architecture for Zimbabwe’s Urban Councils: Issues for Consideration
No full textThis article identifies corruption as one of the challenges affecting Zimbabwe’s urban councils and an ethical problem that needs an ethical remedy. The prevalence of corruption in Zimbabwe’s urban councils is considered a litmus test for the capacity of the existing ethics architecture to fight corruption. This article examines the performance of the ethics architecture of urban councils in Zimbabwe in proposing relevant policy and institutional ethics architectural remedies. A qualitative methodology was employed to collect data from five urban councils through documentary analysis and interviews. Data analysis involved a comparative thematic and cross-analysis of the five urban councils’ cases. The study concludes that the ethics architecture for urban councils is ineffective in countering corruption. The research therefore recommends that Zimbabwean urban councils adopt an effective ethics architecture model capable of fighting corruption head-on, from detection, investigation, and prevention to resolution. The paper argues in strong terms that socialisation as a preventive measure is very critical because the acts of corruption are committed in secrecy, which implies that corruption can evade detection, prosecution, and sanction. Against such a background, proper socialisation complemented by stiff sanctioning and enforcement of legal instruments to eradicate the vice of corruption in urban councils is needed. The proposed ethics architectural model managed by an Integrity Management Office is crucial in the battle against corruption, and this should be supported by exemplary leadership, a well-paid workforce, robust and balanced media platforms, and active citizenry
The Intersection of Culture, Tradition, and Delayed Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse: Insights from the VhaVenda Tribe
No full textChild sexual abuse is a global problem that interrupts the willpower to encourage the healthy development of children in societies. Although child sexual abuse is a global issue, culture and tradition play a significant role in how people perceive and respond to the abuse. This qualitative study used an exploratory design to understand the intersection of culture, tradition, and delayed disclosure in the context of the VhaVenda tribe. Five adult survivors of child sexual abuse, seven caregivers of survivors of child sexual abuse, four social workers, and two traditional leaders were purposively sampled to participate in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, which were arranged and analysed thematically. The key themes include (i) restitution and compensation, (ii) roles of traditional leaders in handling child sexual abuse cases, (iii) arranged hook-ups and marriage, and (iv) using traditional idioms/proverbs as defence and coping mechanisms. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the cultural dynamics at play and highlight the need to facilitate timely disclosure, support survivors, and foster protective environments. This paper recommends capacity-building, stakeholder collaboration, and the integration of traditional and legal systems to address child sexual abuse within the context of VhaVenda
The Dimming of the Illuminated State
No full textThis is an attempt to set in poem the reintroduction of South Africa to international trade after apartheid and trace it to today, with its historic ties to its colonial masters and Western powers, its look eastward and its engagement with peers in the Global South and on the African continent. It is a journey with many twists. South Africa maintains strong ties with the European Union, United States and China, all major importers of its agricultural goods and commodities like gold. South Africa has played a leading role in shaping trade policy in southern Africa though it must tread carefully. It has also highlighted concerns of the Global South and taken steps to move away from investor–state dispute settlement. The African continent is rising and, alongside other nations, it has immense potential. The future belongs to Africa—if it is bold. South Africa must play its part.
The Dimming of the Illuminated State
In southern winds where dreams once ignited,
The embers of which still glow red.
Is the land of green, hurt and hope
A leader amongst leaders, but will it lead?
It met its peers emerging after seclusion.
But looked away to those beyond
For its burgeoning nation
Needed succour most deep.
A history there was of trade routes old,
Diamonds and gold, a story told.
Filled with colonial echoes, a heavy toll,
Yet, resilience rises, a determined soul.
Apartheid’s grip, a darkened hour,
Trade shackled by an unjust power
But winds of change began to blow
Trade policies shifting, a hopeful glow.
And so, it walked the path
Of obsequious nature
To beg through giving away
The valued rule of law
Replacing their courts, with others
Though South Africa stood, a beacon bright.
Trade policies unfurled their sail,
A journey began to move forward by stepping back.
To Europe’s shores, the gaze did steer,
New alliances, dispelling fear.
At what cost though,
Trade is a bridge to unity.
The needs of its nations together
Focused it to itself.
Therein it found the clash.
In outward form to its internal needs
Stepping forward once more
It found its voice.
In protecting its forests and people
Its communities and its rules
Leading to a battle it lost
Twice, it fell, was punished through lawfare.
For its friendship, for its giving nature
Once it escaped with wounds
On the horizon, a broader view,
Trade not just with the red, white, and blue.
In Africa’s embrace, a call resounds,
Trade with neighbours, on common grounds.
The neighbours, of the same place and mind
Not only Cape to Cairo, a continent-wide span,
But also, of a common Southward vision
Across oceans wide, all standing after being held down.
The movements from before
Partly re-enacted.
Coalitions formed of shared history.
Of shared interest, however untrue
The neighbours close, linked.
Through trade past and future
Chose to learn lessons together.
Of protecting forest and people
Across the savannas, rivers, and mountains
Intra-African trade, a master plan.
Borders fade, unity found,
Trade the heartbeat, a rhythmic sound.
Minerals and resources rich,
Trade corridors, a strategic pitch.
Investments bloom on African soil,
A shared destiny, a common toil.
Fear of harm done
Of moneys thrown away
Of having lost their will and favour
Of their peoples, desperate for opportunities
However, this inward-looking process
Delays aspirations
Sometimes stops the true cooperation.
Hinders closeness and raises fears.
Pretoria’s hills to the Eastern Cape’s shore,
Trade policies evolving evermore.
Bridges to be built, connections have grown,
A tapestry woven, both fast and slow.
First the path closes ranks with neighbours.
Ideas grow and solidify.
Concrete steps move the region together.
Only for the need to break the walls.
Through savannas wide, and deserts vast,
Trade’s journey unfolds, a story cast.
A symphony played, harmony and cacophony,
In the trade of ideas, a global board.
Then talks upon talks upon talks unfold.
With others fighting off the yoke of history past
The two steps forward, one step back
The conversations are hard, deep, and effective.
From Drakensberg peaks to Kalahari’s heat,
South Africa’s trade, a heartbeat.
In the dance of nations, hand in hand,
A policy journey, across the land.
On the continent an understanding grows.
We stand together, centre Africa.
All the while encouraging collective change.
For all our peoples
To work together, means no one runs ahead.
Talk with one voice.
Pull up those that need it.
Leading without being a leader
The dimming of the illuminated state
A dire possibility, but is being fought against
If only we hold onto newly forged friendships
Newer ties as well as the old
The tale continues, winds of change blow,
Trade’s epic poem, in ebb and flow.
In the Southern Cross’s guiding light,
South Africa’s trade, a beacon bright
The Poetics of Toxic Love: Trauma, Agency, and Power Negotiation in Anne Sexton’s Poetry
No full textThis article examines the intricate relationship between Anne Sexton’s depictions of “toxic love” and her suicidal ideation, situating her within the broader context of the American patriarchal culture. By analysing Sexton’s poetic corpus alongside biographical and critical studies, the essay argues that her self-destructive tendencies were deeply intertwined with her tumultuous relationships, which both reflected and perpetuated patriarchal structures. Despite this, Sexton did not dwell in passivity but explored the complexity of the “toxic love” dynamics in her poetry, striving to assert agency within a world that sought to strip her of it. Paradoxically, while Sexton critiqued the oppressive dynamics of patriarchy, she also actively participated in and reproduced them in her work, embodying a dual role as both victim and perpetrator. This complexity is central to understanding how Sexton navigated her agency within a deeply sexist society. In this sense, Sexton’s poetry evolves into a battleground for power negotiation, a realm where she not only resisted patriarchal control but also used the very tools of the system to her advantage. By focusing on the psychological and societal dimensions of her “toxic love” motif, this article probes the intersections between gender, identity, trauma, and artistic expression in Sexton’s work. It sheds new light on her continued struggle with patriarchy and self-destruction, offering insights into how her poetry engages in a complex, dynamic contest for autonomy and survival within an oppressive cultural framework
State Responsibility towards Civil and Political Rights in Africa: A Reflection of the Right to Liberty and Security of Persons in Zimbabwe under International Law
No full textThe right to liberty and security of persons has long been observed from the perspective of people with disability, asylum seekers and refugees. State responsibility for upholding the right to liberty and advancing civil and political rights has not been fully explored. Additionally, no comparison has been made regarding how this responsibility is fulfilled among the specific countries studied. This paper examines the right to liberty in Zimbabwe compared to South Africa and Kenya. Therefore, a comparative justification of implementing best human practices from the South African experience and reflection on the adverse legislative framework from the Zimbabwean and Kenyan perspectives will be analysed. Furthermore, the paper aims to focus on the state’s role concerning the right to liberty from an African perspective while providing a context for some challenges encountered in fulfilling this role. The paper aims to contribute to the scholarship on the right to liberty and state responsibility in Africa
Judicial Delineation of Local Government Spatial Planning Powers in South Africa
No full textThe indistinct division of spatial planning-related powers and functions in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, often leads to the overlap, conflict, and confusion of responsibilities between the national, provincial, and local spheres of government. Due to much uncertainty, municipal planning powers are a subject of massive intergovernmental contentions, coupled with an array of litigations. This article, therefore, examines the judicial delineation of local government spatial planning powers in South Africa. Through a critical analysis of relevant case law and legislation, particularly the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013 (SPLUMA), this study explores the tensions between local government autonomy and the national and provincial regulatory frameworks pertinent to spatial planning powers. The research reveals that the judiciary plays a pivotal role in shaping spatial planning policy, often balancing competing interests and constitutional imperatives. Accordingly, judicial recourse has delineated spatial planning powers and asserted the autonomy of municipal planning. The findings highlight the need for legislative clarity on the division of spatial planning powers, the importance of an integrated and viable co-operative spatial governance, professional development initiatives, a more proactive approach in judicial interpretation of spatial planning laws, and meaningful community participation in spatial planning processes, to cumulatively ensure that local governments promote equitable development. This study contributes to the ongoing debate on local government powers and spatial planning in South Africa, offering valuable insights for policymakers, scholars, and practitioners
Language in Culture: Lectures on the Social Semiotics of Language, by Michael Silverstein, edited by E. Summerson Carr, Susan Gal, and Constantine V. Nakassis and Language Debates: Theory and Reality in Language Learning, Teaching and Research, edited by Ana de Medeiros and Debra Kelly
No full textInsights from Conducting Community- and Health Facility-Based Cancer Research in Sub-Saharan Africa
No full textThis article reflects on the process of conducting community- and health facility-based research on cancer awareness and early diagnosis in selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa, namely, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. We draw from two research projects: the African Women Awareness of CANcer project and the African aWAreness of CANcer and Early Diagnosis programme. Drawing on reflections from the project management team, field notes and minutes from team meetings, we describe key challenges and lessons learnt. Our results constellate around six core features of community-based and health facility-based research, namely, entry and access, sampling, geographical and infrastructural challenges, safety and security, overburdened and under-resourced health facilities, and contextual nuances. Conducting community- and facility-based health research in sub-Saharan Africa has context-specific challenges and opportunities which have an impact on the planning and conducting of such research. Doing rigorous research in sub-Saharan Africa requires locally relevant, collaborative, timely and creative solutions, and mutually beneficial community partnerships
The Protective Role of the Reasonable Accommodation Principle in the Dismissal of Employees with Disabilities in South Africa
No full textSouth Africa’s current labour law aims to redress the apartheid government’s discriminatory system, including the discrimination against people with disabilities. In South Africa, many persons with disabilities still suffer the indignity of unfair dismissals due to their disability, despite their constitutional rights to equality and fair labour practices. However, the right not to be unfairly dismissed, enshrined in the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, must also be considered within the practical realities of the employers’ operational needs. This is broadly known as the principle of reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation ensures that persons with disabilities are properly accommodated in the workplace and safeguarded against arbitrary dismissals because of their disability. It further provides an opportunity for these employees to carry out their normal duties, in accordance with their job requirements, with minimal challenges. However, if reasonable accommodation measures are exhausted and dismissal becomes inevitable, dismissal must comply with the requirement of fairness. The Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 (EEA), augmented with the Code of Good Practice on Employment of Persons with Disabilities, establishes the principle and measures of reasonable accommodation. This ensures barriers faced by employees with disabilities are reduced or eliminated, thus minimising the chances of dismissals. However, the protective role of reasonable accommodation, as evident from judicial interpretation, requires legislative and policy development to meet the needs of persons with disabilities fully. This paper explores the role of reasonable accommodation in protecting employees with disabilities from dismissals by primarily focusing on the EEA and relevant case law