Unisa Press Journals (University of South Africa)
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The Impact of COVID-19 on Female School Leadership in the Tshwane South District in South Africa : Women Leading Schools in a Crisis
No full textFemale school leaders in South Africa experienced challenges during the pandemic because of gender stereotypes. This study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on female school leadership. Qualitative methods were used to interpret female leaders’ attitudes, experiences, and understanding of specific circumstances. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews supported by analysis of school documents. Findings revealed that female school leaders relied on their self-confidence, networking, and use of COVID-19 policy to overcome challenges. This study presented that the use of different leadership styles also made a positive impact on female school leaders. They experienced challenges such as failure to execute their leadership positions due to gender stereotypes and lack of community and district support. There is a need for the government to develop approaches that would address the impact of COVID-19 across sectors. Future studies should examine support for school leaders
An Appraisal of the Borrowing of European Values to Systematically Convert Customary Law into “Constitutional Customary Law”
No full textCustomary law has survived centuries of colonial onslaught whereby it was seen as uncivilised and in need of reform. Customary marriages were not viewed as marriages but as unions. Today, however, they enjoy recognition as marriages. The Constitutional Court stated in Alexkor v Ritchsveld that customary law would no longer be viewed with the eyes of the common law in the post-constitutional era but would be equal with the common law. It is argued, however, that the position of customary law has not changed since the enactment of the 1996 Constitution. It was hoped that this would bring change as it was an affirmation that customary law is recognised. However, the old order repugnancy clause only allowed customary law to be recognised only if it was consistent with rules of natural justice and public policy. This happens through using the right to equality and dignity in their Western setting rather than interrogating them and trying to infuse an African understanding and interpretation of these rights. Similarly, the LLB curriculum needs to be decolonised because it remains Eurocentric and produces judges and lawyers who also see customary law as a problem and see the common law as the solution. There is, therefore, a need to embrace African law as part of a dispute resolution avenue
Barriers and Strategies to Improve Men’s Uptake of HIV Care Services in Rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A Qualitative Approach
No full textThe 2017 Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS Blind Spot report echoes the challenges as well as the benefits of men’s effective utilisation of HIV services. However, men have been consistently missing from the HIV care cascade, leading to poor health outcomes in men and ongoing transmission of HIV in young women in South Africa. This study sought to understand key barriers to effective uptake of HIV services among men and potential strategies to address these challenges. Ten semi-structured telephone interviews and three workshops were conducted (from July to November 2020) with a purposive sample of men aged 21–65 years (N = 26) from rural KwaZulu-Natal. Broad themes were identified from the interview transcripts and analysed inductively. Masculine norms, stigma, and fear of an HIV identity were major barriers to the uptake of HIV testing among men as well as hesitancy due to perceived risks. Participants living with HIV identified various sociopsychological, structural, and COVID-related factors inhibiting the uptake of and adherence to HIV treatment. Besides condoms and circumcision, no participants had prior knowledge of pre-exposure prophylaxis. Participants suggested that men need tailored HIV/AIDS messaging and education (led by men living with HIV) about the benefits of HIV testing, treatment, and prevention. Importantly, they believed that community delivery of HIV services would encourage more men to engage in care. To achieve zero new infections and zero AIDS-related deaths of men in South Africa, efforts should be directed to developing tailored emotive educational and community-based interventions that address identified barriers to improve men’s utilisation of HIV care services
Revisiting Religion and Homophobia: Narratives of Agency and Resilience in Nigerian Queer Fiction
No full textReligion, especially Christianity and Islam, continues to be indicted for fomenting anti-queer tenors and validating the ostracisation of queer-identifying and gender non-conforming people. The interrogation of the roles of African Traditional Religions (ATRs) in queer narratives is important; thus, I examine Buki Papillon’s An Ordinary Wonder, a text which characterises an intersex protagonist, to underscore the ways ATRs are projected as supportive of diversity and encouraging of agency and resilience against oppressive and defining structures in Nigerian fictional narratives. Drawing from Gloria Anzaldúa’s theories on queerness and spirituality, I submit that ATRs are intricately tied to belief systems and cultures, and may thus avail positive outcomes in the discourse of religions and non-normative identities. As an attempt towards queer advocacy, Papillon’s work is an intervention to decolonise non-normative identities in a society that still suffers from the demonisation of African traditional beliefs and religions
Women’s Participation in Grassroots Development: Insights from the Integrated Development Plan in Kayamandi, South Africa
No full textThis article investigates participatory development in South Africa and focuses on a Stellenbosch municipality as a case study. It identifies gaps related to women’s participation in grassroots development projects within the framework of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) in South Africa. The objective of this study is to investigate the level of women’s participation in development projects and identify factors that undermine women’s participation at the grassroots level and the participatory approaches used to enhance women inclusion. These approaches aim to capacitate and empower them to achieving sustainable development and gender justice. The study employs a qualitative case study design and fieldwork-driven approach to analyse the ways in which South African municipalities use participatory methods to engage communities in development projects. The data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, observations and fieldnotes from fieldwork. The research draws on the theory of participatory development to frame the analysis of women’s participation in grassroots development processes through the IDP. The study offers valuable insights into the connection between participatory development and gender inequalities in South African communities. It provides recommendations for policymakers, NGOs and development practitioners to adopt more inclusive and gender-sensitive strategies in sustainable development efforts
Cyberethical behaviour of high school students in selected schools in uMhlathuze Municipality
No full textCybertechnology has become a basic aspect of schools and universities with students’ habitual use of these tools to communicate, learn, and play. However, schools and universities have faced numerous issues as a result of cyberethics activities in various settings. The study aimed to examine the cyberethical behaviour of high school students in selected schools in uMhlathuze Municipality. The objectives of this study were to explore the level of awareness about cyber ethical behaviour among the participants; identify the forms of cyberethics behaviour shown by the participants; demonstrate the application of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to the participants’ cyberethical behaviour intentions; and ascertain the challenges that high school students face to act ethically when using the Internet and cybertechnologies. The study adopted a quantitative approach and a survey research design. Probability sampling was used to enrol grade 11 students from three conveniently selected high schools in the uMhlathuze municipality of KwaZulu-Natal. Data were collected by means of 214 questionnaires that were distributed to the participants. The study discovered a substantial number of challenges related to effective cyber ethical behaviour. The findings indicated a need for awareness of cyber ethical technology and how to mitigate its misuses. In addition, the study contributes to existing literature on the application of the TPB
Factors Associated with Adequate Antenatal Care among Pregnant Women in Rural Indonesia
No full textAntenatal care (ANC) is crucial for the health of both mother and child. However, information on ANC in rural Indonesia is limited despite its essential role. This research examined the determinants of adequate antenatal care among rural Indonesian pregnant women. A cross-sectional study analysed pregnant Indonesian women aged 18-49, focusing on adequate antenatal care (ANC) during the third trimester. The study included sociodemographic variables and component factors (knowledge, motivation, social support, and health services). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.
A total number of 350 pregnant women aged 18–49 years old enrolled in this study. Almost half (47.1) % of women received adequate ANC (≥ eight visits) during their pregnancy, and about 79.1% of participants had adequate ANC (4 or more visits). Mothers with higher education and married were more likely to have adequate ANC (AOR = 1.52; 95% CI [1.12–3.46]) and (AOR = 1.17; 95% CI [1.01–3.32]), respectively. Poor knowledge toward ANC (AOR = 0.41; 95% CI [0.12–0.65], low motivation (AOR = 0.73; 95% CI [0.31–0.97]), poor health service (AOR = 2.76; 95% CI [1.85–4.32]), and poor social support (AOR = 3.24; 95% CI [2.11–5.34]) was negatively associated with adequate ANC. The intervention aims to improve access to maternity care for women in rural Indonesia by enhancing social support, reproductive health awareness, and expanding safety net service
Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Services and Associated Factors among HIV-Positive Women at Mzuzu Central Hospital, Malawi
No full textOne of the major causes of death among women worldwide is cervical cancer (CC). The majority of the cases occur in underdeveloped nations, especially among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the uptake of CC screening and the factors that are related to it in these HIV-positive women at Mzuzu Central Hospital, Malawi. The study used a quantitative methodological approach. Secondary data for 397 women was extracted from hospital registers. It was then entered and analysed using STATA. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, multivariate analysis, and chi-square analysis were performed to test the association between the outcome variable and the independent variables. The results showed that a significant correlation between subsequent screenings and positive outcomes was found by multivariate analysis using ordered logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.546; 95% confidence interval (CI) [4.718696, 6.373458]). A significant correlation between the number of screenings performed and marital status was found using chi-square analysis. Compared to married and widowed women, the proportion of divorced and single women who underwent multiple screenings was lower. In conclusion, the study found that among HIV-positive women in Mzuzu, Malawi, a complex interaction of demographic factors influenced the results of CC screening. Age and marital status showed varied effects, even though further screenings were positively associated with favourable outcomes
Racism and the Development of Pentecostalism in South Africa: A Socio-Historical Analysis
No full textThe historical role of the church in South Africa regarding the development of colonial racism and apartheid is well documented. South African Christianity and the concomitant ecclesiastical developments and counter-developments were directly influenced by the changing socio-political circumstances. The mainline or historical churches, including Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians, were members of the South African Council of Churches that rejected and opposed apartheid. Some Pentecostal denominations were fundamentalists who believed personal salvation and private prayer would save the country. In practice, these Pentecostal churches were either largely silent or apolitical about the apartheid situation, or they isolated and segregated themselves. In reality, whether they acknowledged it or not, they were part and parcel of the system of white benefit and black oppression. This paper, therefore, attempts to investigate this phenomenon and also to put forward a theological praxis in the context of diversity
South African Women Missionaries in the Diamond Fields and Their Work amongst Migrant Workers.: 2023 CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH HISTORY SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
No full textIn the late 19th and early 20th century, following the discovery of diamonds in what is now known as the Northern Cape, many flocked to the Diamond Fields in the hope of finding employment. The mines within these areas made use of residential compounds to house and control the migrant labour force which they employed. This was proposed as a means by which any theft of diamonds could be curtailed. The result of this strategy was a closed community of men from different areas who would return to their home communities once their contracts had come to an end, usually after a three-to-six-month period. As the Dutch Reformed Church became aware of this situation, an opportunity for mission work was perceived. In response, several of the Women’s Missionary Union missionaries were sent to Hope Town, Saulspoort, Beaconsfield, and Kimberley in order to work among these migrants, as well as the other locals of the area. The perspective of these women missionaries with regard to their experiences among the migrants offers an interesting and previously overlooked insight into the ways in which the church engaged with mission work to migrants, as well as how different groups of missionaries approached the topic. This paper will engage with archival documents such as the Mission News Letter (the Huguenot Mission Society’s newsletter, which was written and administrated by women) as well as the missionary records of the Woman’s Missionary Union with the aim of examining the mission work which was done among the mine workers in the Diamond Fields from the viewpoint of women missionaries, with the aim of bringing their narrative to the fore