Unisa Press Journals (University of South Africa)
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The Role of Social Services in Realising Children’s Rights in and through Education
No full textSection 28(1)(c) of the South African Constitution (1996) unequivocally affirms that children are the only vulnerable group with an explicit right to social services. Nonetheless, the practical realisation of this right remains elusive for many children, leaving them without access to vital social services. Through the theoretical framework of transformative constitutionalism, this article posits that the evolving field of social services provision within school settings presents a promising avenue to champion children’s right to social services and a range of other children’s rights, and facilitate and promote their access to basic education. Utilising a qualitative research approach with an exploratory case study design, this study investigates whether providing social services through a programme in Botshabelo schools in the Free State effectively promotes the realisation of children’s rights. The results show that social services in schools can contribute to realising various children’s rights. It is recommended that there should be a symbiotic partnership between the Departments of Social Development and Basic Education with the latter endorsing and expanding the provision of social services within schools. This integration is recommended on the basis that it not only advances crucial human rights for children, such as child protection, social security, and a safe environment, but also shows promise in enhancing the academic performance of learners grappling with challenging circumstances
Advancing Farmers’ Vocational Education: Innovative Strategies and Practices for Integrating Financial Literacy Enhancement in China
No full textThis study proposes an innovative approach to vocational education for farmers in China, integrating financial literacy enhancement as a key component. Recognising the critical role of financial competence in rural economic development, we address the current disconnect between traditional educational methods and the practical needs of rural residents in the context of China’s rapidly transforming agricultural sector. Our research introduces a novel educational model grounded in embodied cognition theory, designed to bridge the gap between abstract financial concepts and the lived experiences of farmers. The proposed model emphasises experiential learning and contextualised instruction, featuring a multi-stage process that includes observation of daily agricultural and financial activities, hands-on practical training, conceptual explanation linked to farm operations, and applied learning in real agricultural contexts. This approach prioritises body-environment interactions and practical reflection, leveraging farmers’ daily experiences to enhance both vocational skills and financial literacy. Key innovations include the use of body metaphor mapping to explain complex financial concepts, the integration of financial education into broader agricultural training, and the creation of embodied learning environments that simulate real-world farming scenarios. The model aims to simultaneously improve farmers’ professional competencies and financial decision-making abilities, fostering a more holistic approach to rural vocational education. Our study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interviews with agricultural educators and quantitative surveys of farmers to develop and refine the model. Initial pilot implementations in select rural areas of China have shown promising results in improving farmers’ financial knowledge and decision-making skills. These findings offer practical insights for educators, policymakers, and agricultural extension services, demonstrating how vocational training can be reimagined to address the multifaceted needs of rural communities in China. By integrating financial literacy into broader vocational education, this approach has the potential to enhance farmers’ overall economic resilience and contribute to sustainable rural development. The study paves the way for more effective, contextually relevant educational strategies that can empower farmers with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly complex agricultural and financial landscape
Memes, Rhetorical and Oratorical Elements in Bulawayo’s Glory: A Discourse Analysis and Gender Theory Perspective
No full textNoViolet Bulawayo’s satirical writing in her portrayal of misogyny, misrule, and human rights violations in the novel Glory charts a new frontier in literary representation of the failed postcolonial African state. In her allegorical depiction of Jidada (Zimbabwe), a country mired in decades-old political violence, economic plunder, and socio-economic ferment, she draws from the rich resources of African oratory to present a hyperbolic masterpiece that both confronts and disrupts the acerbic nationalism of the country’s political elite. Using discourse analysis, meme theory, and oral traditional theory, the article examines how Bulawayo’s use of oratorical devices and social media-influenced narratology creates a courageous form of satirical political commentary. The article explores how her writing technique achieves a balance between Nguni folklore and other contemporary forms of narration without compromising her originality. Thus, the article considers how Bulawayo successfully blends traditional folklore and oral tradition with the Orwellian type of satire in Animal Farm without losing her own identity and voice as an African novelist. It concludes that the creative use of African traditional folklore, rhetoric, and contemporary memes creates a new form of protest writing that is both refreshingly adventurous and pioneering
Folklore and Sexuality Education: A Review of the Pedagogical Value of “Tselane le Dimo”
No full textSouth African youths experience high rates of HIV infections and unintended pregnancies. In an effort to mitigate these challenges, the Department of Basic Education introduced Comprehensive Sexuality Education in its syllabus with an intention to equip learners with the necessary skills to manage their sexual behaviours. Despite this intervention, educators in the townships have been reluctant to teach this topic. Teachers’ reluctance is informed by cultural and religious sensitivities towards discussing sexual topics with minors. This article proposes that the reluctance towards teaching sexual education topics can be managed by relying on alternative methodologies of knowledge impartment. Since time immemorial, African societies have used folktales to impart knowledge between generations. We use a functional approach to evaluate the pedagogical value of “Tselane Le Dimo” in teaching sexuality education. We are conscious of the fact that the folktale does not contain explicit references to sex, but we argue through a sociological evaluation that the language used in the folktale references sex when it is viewed through the lens of colloquial language that is commonly used by youth. This article employs a qualitative approach in the evaluation of the pedagogical value of the folktale “Tselane le Dimo.” An interpretive phenomenological analysis is used to analyse the folktale. We use this analysis approach with the view that this folktale can be used as a tool for making sense of lived experiences. The findings indicate that words used in this folktale carry euphemistic value, which makes it possible to make references to sexual activities without being blunt about it
Decentralisation and Water Governance in Africa: A Zimbabwean Case Study
No full textDecentralisation is widely seen as an effective method for empowering local communities in developing countries. This article discusses decentralisation within the context of water governance, using Zimbabwe as a case study. Its main argument is that although decentralisation is faced with challenges, it remains one of the most effective ways to govern water resources. At the core of decentralisation is the belief that citizens should have the opportunity to participate directly in governing resources in their communities. Within the African context, decentralisation becomes even more important considering the continent’s history of colonisation, where certain communities were marginalised and had little influence over the management of resources, such as water. The introduction of Integrated Water Resources Management aimed to address the inequalities inherited by post-colonial states. It advocated for a decentralised system of governance, and countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe incorporated it into their new water policies. In Zimbabwe, the 1998 Water Act aimed to address the inequalities caused by colonial rule. While the article argues for the importance of decentralisation in effective water governance, it also outlines the challenges faced in this process. For instance, it contends that in some countries, like Ghana, the government often interferes in the decentralisation process to assert its authority. In Zimbabwe, the main challenge arises from the ruling party, which perceives decentralisation, particularly devolution, as an obstacle to its control over the country
Implementing Guidelines to Manage Perinatal Depression: Exploration of the Healthcare Provider’s Perceptions
No full textPerinatal mental health guidelines are still lacking in more than 80% of low- and middle-income countries. World Health Organization has outlined the importance of an evidence-informed approach for developing and sustaining high-quality integrated mental health services for women during the perinatal period.
Method: The study explored healthcare providers\u27 perceptions of implementing guidelines to manage perinatal depression in primary healthcare settings in Namibia. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual design was applied to collect data from a purposively selected sample of 12 healthcare providers. This involved two focus groups with healthcare providers. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts was conducted simultaneously with data collection.
Findings: The study highlighted three major themes for successfully implementing the guidelines to manage perinatal depression: the significance of implementing the guidelines, integration of the guidelines into perinatal care settings, and barriers to implementing the guidelines.
Conclusion: Healthcare providers were aware of poor maternal mental health provision within perinatal care settings and were ready to implement the guidelines to manage perinatal depression. Professional training and continuous education on perinatal depression are fundamental components in fostering quality of care and community awareness, as well as improving stigma within the community and healthcare providers
From Victim to Victor: A Woman’s Journey of Trauma and Agency in Francois Smith’s The Camp Whore
No full textThis article analyses Francois Smith’s novel of the Anglo-Boer War, titled Kamphoer in Afrikaans and translated into English as The Camp Whore. Smith’s novel draws on, but diverges from, Nico Moolman’s The Boer Whore, as Smith explores Susan Nell’s personal life through a novelistic approach and explores how the confrontation with one of her rapists may have played out. This article examines the interplay of war, sexual assault, and female agency. I argue that although Susan encounters feelings of pain and violation during her experiences, she transitions from being a victim and marginalised character to being empowered. Susan gains empowerment through her education, her profession as a psychiatric nurse, getting revenge on her perpetrator, and narrating her experience, thus taking back control over her life
Justice or Injustice: An Analysis of Selected Stories in Petina Gappah’s Rotten Row
No full textTaking a purely literary analytic approach, this article explores use of the notion of justice in Petina Gappah’s collection of short stories entitled Rotten Row. Each story begins with a quotation from the Bible and reflects on the abortion of justice in the context of applied system; Roman-Dutch law, mob justice, karma or Ngozi (retributive spirit). The article explores the ironies represented in the stories with regard to the expectations of the execution of justice and what actually happens. Gappah seems to be calling on humanity to reflect on their actions in as much as they impact on other people no matter how insignificant they may seem. This serves to redefine the causes and effects of crime which in turn redefines victims, perpetrators and victors in various crime contexts
Exploring the Obligations to Complete Insurance Reforms in Lesotho
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In 2014, Lesotho reformed the insurance business sector by adopting the Insurance Act 12 of 2014 and repealing the Insurance Act 18 of 1976. These reforms resulted from the government’s recognition that the Insurance Act of 1976 was outdated and not in keeping with modern insurance principles and practices. This state of affairs made it difficult for the government to regulate and supervise insurance companies. However, in 2019, the Revenue Appeals Tribunal (Tribunal) decided an important case that revealed that the executive branch had not fully implemented these reforms through the Central Bank of Lesotho. In the Insurance Act of 2014, the Central Bank of Lesotho is defined as the Commissioner. There are gaps in the Insurance Act of 2014. This article investigates the gap in the insurance legislation identified by the Tribunal and the obligations of the Commissioner to complete the reforms. It argues that the Commissioner is compelled to fill this gap in the law for at least two reasons. First, the Commissioner has national and international legal obligations to define funeral insurance policies and fully implement the insurance reforms. Second, it is submitted that with the advent of the Pension Funds Act 5 of 2019, the need to complete the insurance reforms is even more significant because this will enable pension funds to cost-effectively procure long-term insurance products, such as funeral benefits, for the advantage of their members and their members’ beneficiaries
Limiting the Use of PIE in our Constitutional Democracy: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back?
No full textEviction jurisprudence has taken some interesting turns in our constitutional democracy when it comes to the applicability of PIE in various contexts. Very recently, the court in Stay at South Point Properties (Pty) Ltd v Mqulwana and Others held that PIE is not applicable to the eviction of students from student residences at higher education institutions because this type of accommodation is not considered a ‘home.’ This article reflects on whether limiting the use of PIE in this context is a step in the right direction given some pivotal judgments that have sought to ensure the eviction of vulnerable occupiers takes place in a humane and dignified manner. It is argued that bringing the rei vindicatio back in the context of eviction from residential premises should be approached with caution because it runs the risk of undoing the progress made in our constitutional democracy when it comes to proscribing arbitrary evictions. Moreover, the lack of sound justification for not recognising this type of accommodation as a home, is exactly the reason it may be necessary to maintain some court discretion in determining whether the eviction of students from student residences is just and equitable