Unisa Press Journals (University of South Africa)
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“Now The Yard is Crawling with Bushman Stories:” A Comparison between Thematically Related |xam Folkloric Texts from the Bleek and Lloyd (1911) and Von Wielligh (1919–1921) Collections in Relation to Accusations of Plagiarism
No full textDespite the potential value of the |xam folklore recorded by the Afrikaans land surveyor and author Gideon R. von Wielligh during the late 1800s, his work has predominantly been dismissed as unscientific and unreliable. In contrast, the archive of German linguist Wilhelm H. I. Bleek and his English sister-in-law, Lucy C. Lloyd, enjoys a great deal of attention from a wide array of disciplines. Sigrid Schmidt goes so far as to argue that Von Wielligh’s recordings are merely plagiarised versions of Bleek and Lloyd texts, and identifies various narratives where there are thematic similarities between the two archives to support this claim. This article illustrates the importance of Von Wielligh’s recordings through a comparative close reading of two central texts from the Von Wielligh and Bleek and Lloyd collections, which Schmidt identified as sharing enough similarity to warrant being described as plagiarism. This close reading hinges on the concept of “nuggets,” as proposed by David Lewis-Williams in the study of |xam narrative. Furthermore, this close reading is positioned within the broader frame of holographic archaeology, which is a methodological frame I conceived in an earlier piece to validate the linguistic data in the Von Wielligh collection. Seeing that the |xam folkloric material at our disposal is already sparse, I hope to highlight through this comparative reading the relevance of all recorded material—and not simply that of Bleek and Lloyd—in an effort to derive more understanding of and enjoyment from |xam heritage texts
Deconstructing L.B.Z. Buthelezi’s Poetry: Analysing Cultural Authenticity and Western Influences in IsiZulu Literary Expression
No full textThis study employed a qualitative systematic descriptive literature review, guided by deconstructive theory, to explore the interplay between cultural authenticity and Western influences in modern isiZulu poetry, with a specific focus on the work of Buthelezi. Drawing on Derrida’s concepts of différance and textual instability, the study examined how Buthelezi’s poetry both affirms and questions traditional isiZulu identity in a contemporary context. Modern isiZulu poets, such as Buthelezi, often reference canonical figures like B.W. Vilakazi, yet their intertextual engagement with these predecessors is underexplored. This article analysed thematic and stylistic connections between Buthelezi’s “Lapho Imihla Yami” and Vilakazi’s “Ma Ngificwa Ukufa,” highlighting recurring motifs of death, spirituality, and cultural heritage. While Buthelezi adopts traditional isiZulu poetic forms and diction, he also reinterprets these elements to address present-day socio-cultural issues, thus engaging in a creative dialogue rather than imitation. The review drew from scholarly sources, including peer-reviewed journal articles, dissertations, periodicals, and government reports. Inclusion criteria were poems written by Buthelezi or Vilakazi that addressed themes of cultural identity, spirituality, and Western influence, and were accessible in either isiZulu or English. Exclusion criteria included poems lacking thematic relevance, authorship verification, or academic referencing. Therefore, by applying African literary criticism and intertextual theory, this study revealed how Buthelezi’s poetic work repositions Vilakazi’s legacy within a modern framework. The findings contribute to the broader field of African literary studies by demonstrating how intertextuality fosters cultural continuity, creative innovation, and identity formation within isiZulu poetic traditions
The Right to Development: The Missing Link in the South African Constitutional Order After 30 Years of Democracy
No full textThe aim of this article is to explore the extent to which the silence on the Right to Development (RTD) in the South African Constitution represents a critically missing link in the country’s constitutional framework after 30 years of democracy. To this end, the article examines the implications of this silence in three key areas: its consistency or lack thereof with the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, its implications for the Africanness of the Constitution, and its effect on addressing the issues of poverty, social justice, and inclusion within a single constitutional provision. Ultimately, the article establishes that the silence on the RTD is detrimental to the country’s constitutional order after 30 years of democracy. While the article has its focus on the South African legal landscape, it is, however, hoped that the findings will inform constitutional drafting, revisions and amendments in other African countries to ensure the inclusion of the RTD
Green Finance Development, Governance Quality, and Environmental Sustainability: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa
No full textPurpose: Studies on the relationship between green finance (GFS), government effectiveness (GOVI), technology (TECH), and environmental quality (EVQ) focus on developed regions due to their high carbon dioxide emissions, robust institutional frameworks, and well-integrated green finance mechanisms. However, despite sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) low emissions, the region faces severe climate vulnerability due to lax governance and limited access to green finance. This study examines the impact of GFS, TECH, and GOVI on EVQ in SSA from 1999 to 2023, addressing a key literature gap. Green finance is measured through financial development indicators, while environmental quality is assessed using sustainability metrics, reflecting the multidimensional impacts of economic activities on EVQ.
Methodology: Using the pooled mean group autoregressive distributed lag (PMG-ARDL) model, the study addresses key methodological issues in previous studies, such as endogeneity and serial autocorrelation. This approach enables a comprehensive analysis of both long- and short-run relationships between GFS and EVQ.
Findings: Results reveal that GFS promotes sustainable development through investment in technology and education, which enhances environmental conservation and biodiversity. However, foreign direct investment negatively impacts EVQ due to lax regulatory framework allowing detrimental environmental practices by multinational corporations. The results emphasise the need for institutional reforms to align investments with stringent environmental frameworks and sustainable economic growth objectives.
Contribution: By focusing on SSA, a region facing severe climate vulnerability and ecological challenges, the study provides practical policy recommendations for achieving zero-emission targets by 2060 by enhancing green finance integration, strengthening institutional frameworks, and fostering technological innovation. Additionally, the results emphasise the importance of public awareness, policy enforcement, and green energy adoption to mitigate environmental degradation
Unmasking Coloniality: Perspective by Incongruity in Naipaul’s Miguel Street
No full textVarious debates and contradictions characterise the life and fiction of Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul. While many critics view Naipaul as a prominent figure who perpetuates colonial narratives through his literary oeuvre, this article proposes an alternative perspective, particularly in the context of Miguel Street. To deviate from the lens of colonial racism and clichés, this article employs Kenneth Burke’s concept of “perspective by incongruity” as an alternative reading of the text. In so doing, Miguel Street is thus interpreted as a collection of short stories that unveil the coloniality of existence within Trinidad’s flawed modernity. Perspective by incongruity is a rhetorical resource that unmasks coloniality’s inhumanity by subverting and challenging known pieties in the novel. This article demonstrates how Naipaul uses character portrayals to shock the audience to the tragedy of humanity under coloniality, thus connecting the text to broader social and political realities. Arguably, the success of Miguel Street lies in violating the audience’s expectations and introducing ambiguity into their perceptions. Naipaul inadvertently assumes the metaphorical role of an evangelist who asks the audience to alter their orientations and give them new meanings. As such, the article examines Burke’s rhetorical tool of perspective by incongruity as an alternative lens in interpreting the short stories without seeking to sanitise Naipaul’s debatable legacy
Rape, Sexual Abuse Investigation and the Use of DNA Evidence in the Northern Cape, South Africa
No full textGender-based crimes such as rape and abuse have increased exponentially, as shown in the quarterly South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics. In Northern Cape, in particular, these crimes seem to be increasing rapidly, and socio-economic factors such as high unemployment and substance abuse seem to be the main contributing factors. Crime statistics from the last quarter of 2023 showed that 103 sexual offences were reported. This represents 1.4% of the overall reported sexual offences in South Africa. These statistics are very concerning and require police to develop novel strategies to stop rape and sexual abuse. The number of unsuccessful prosecutions due to lack of or insufficient evidence such as Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is particularly worrying. A qualitative research approach including the phenomenological research design were adopted during research for this article. Fifty-five (55) participants) were purposively sampled. In addition, unstructured key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussion (FGDs) were adopted for data collection. The collected data were analysed using inductive Thematic Content Analysis (TCA). This article focuses on the effective use of DNA evidence during the investigation process of sexual offences in Northern Cape, South Africa. It also highlights the importance of incorporating DNA evidence to improve the accuracy and efficiency of sexual crimes investigations. The article also seeks to explore the significance of DNA analysis in the investigation of sexual assault crime
“A Prince among Men”: Re-examining the Relationship between the Church of England in South Africa (CESA), Hedrick Frensch Verwoerd, and the Apartheid State (1954–1966)
No full textThe Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was constituted to help South Africa deal with the crime of apartheid. Faith communities were called to account for their actions or inactions because they, too, were actors during the apartheid era. The Church of England in South Africa (CESA) argued that it had been politically neutral. It defended its participation at Prime Minister Hedrick Verwoerd’s funeral as an act of Christian charity and not an indication of its support of the state. This article interrogates this assertion in light of primary written archival sources. It will be argued that the church was not politically neutral during the apartheid years but actively sided with the state and opposed the Church of the Province of South Africa’s (CPSA’s) prophetic stance towards the state. It assisted Verwoerd in political disputes with the Anglican Church and, after his death, mourned him as a friend, not just a statesman. It will be argued that contrary to its submissions and its classification in the TRC Report, the Church of England in South Africa was a supporter of apartheid
Church Unity in Post-Apartheid South Africa: The Formation of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (1897–1999)
No full textThis article seeks to investigate the process that brought the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa into being in 1999; how did it happen without comprehensive discussions and agreement under the guise of mutual authentic reconciliation? The union was the end of a movement that took over 100 years to achieve. The discussions between two Presbyterian denominations were dominated by tensions and disagreements throughout the years in a context of increasing racialisation and apartheid. Yet, it was considered to be the appropriate resolution of differences, which had originated in racist South Africa, at the time of the inauguration of the first democratic government in 1994. The political change motivated black churches’ confidence to reach out to their white sisters and brothers on an equal basis while churches of European origin, such as the Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, faced the future with a degree of fear and trepidation. The decisions that were implemented gave the impression of a union carried through in a rush devoid of clear definitive policies for the uniting denomination. Issues of power were at work, including resistance to change, the unacknowledged threat of change, and the continued domination of settler/colonial and missionary influences which enabled the avoidance of serious authentic discussion regarding reconciliation. The article indicates that greater awareness and care need to be taken regarding historical, cultural, economic, pastoral, and political concerns as prerequisites to union and safeguards built into the process of ongoing union. This study is based largely on primary sources. There are detailed records available. The Reformed Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa General Assembly (GA) papers were not published along with their proceedings of the GA. Greater detail is found in the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa sources, hence the greater number of quotations. However, the minutes of the Special Commission on Union and the closing General Assembly of the PCSA (1999) are not available. This article makes a contribution to ecumenical history of Christianity in South Africa and further afield as it discusses different emphases in similar traditions which became matters of controversy. It also elucidates some of the pitfalls in discussions which may endure beyond union if agreed-upon processes and policies are not put in place before union is consummated. It is interdisciplinary in nature