Unisa Press Journals (University of South Africa)
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The Nexus between Sustainable Procurement Orientation and Firm Performance
No full textBackground: This study evaluated the causal connectivity between sustainable procurement orientation and firm performance in Ghana. Objectives: This paper sought to determine if a causal connectivity existed between sustainable procurement orientation and firm performance in Ghana. Method: This survey deployed an interviewer-administered questionnaire to obtain primary data from 500 sampled firm managers from private and public businesses, using random and purposive sampling techniques in Ghana. A Partial Least Square-structural Equation Model was used to analyse the dataset.Results: The findings established a direct significant causal relationship between sustainable procurement orientation and firm performance with multi-dimensional indicators, such as financial performance, operational performance and market performance. Managerial implications: Managers should appreciate and understand that firm performance can further be boosted if sustainable procurement orientation is envisaged as a critical resource. Originality/value: This study deployed the reasonably new concept of sustainable procurement orientation on firm performance within the Ghanaian context. It is perhaps one of the first studies to address the nexus between sustainable procurement orientation and firm performance in Ghana
The Protection of Seychelles’ Exclusive Economic Zone Through Penal Law: Analysing Warnakulusuriya Fernando v Republic [2000] and Kanapathi v R [2022] in the Light of Article 73(3) of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
No full textSeychelles ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and Article 73(3) of this Treaty provides that ‘[c]oastal State penalties for violations of fisheries laws and regulations in the exclusive economic zone may not include imprisonment, in the absence of agreements to the contrary by the States concerned, or any other form of corporal punishment.’ Section 24 of the repealed 1986 Fisheries Act provided that a person convicted of fishing in Seychelles’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) without a licence was ‘liable to a fine.’ Although section 24 did not provide for imprisonment, in Warnakulusuriya Fernando v Republic [2000], the Supreme Court convicted the appellant and imposed a fine but also imposed a custodial sentence in default of payment of the fine. On appeal, he argued that the custodial sentence was contrary to Article 73(3) of UNCLOS. However, the Court of Appeal interpreted Article 73(3) as permitting imprisonment in such circumstances. In Kanapathi v R [2022] the Supreme Court convicted the appellant under section 11(1) of the 2014 Fisheries Act and imposed the mandatory fine and also ordered that in default of payment, the applicant was to undergo two years’ imprisonment. Because he could not afford to pay the fine, he had to serve a custodial sentence. He appealed against the sentence on the grounds that it was harsh. He also argued that the sentence was contrary to Article 73(3) of UNCLOS. All three judges agreed that the sentence was harsh and reduced it. However, one held that Article 73(3) of UNCLOS was applicable; another held that it was not applicable and the third one preferred not to express an opinion on the issue. None of the judges referred to Warnakulusuriya Fernando v Republic. Since this issue is very likely to re-emerge in the future, the author relies on, inter alia, the jurisprudence of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to argue that Article 73(3) of the UNCLOS does not permit imprisonment, including imprisonment in default for paying a fine
Migrating from Keimoes to Karlien Park: Stories from “Coloured” South Africa: 2023 CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH HISTORY SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
No full textDuring the 1970s and 1980s, many “Coloured” people migrated from Keimoes in the now Northern Cape Province to Rustenburg, which is situated in what is now the North West Province. Rustenburg was the nearest large “city” to Keimoes and the distance these people travelled is about 800 kilometres. They did not migrate en masse, but as individuals or families, or individuals later joined by their families. Initially, they resided amongst Blacks in what is now Phokeng. Through the assistance of the then deputy mayor of Rustenburg, Mr Johan Beukes, a white man who had established a Werkskring (Working Circle) for doing missionary work among “Coloureds,” they obtained land to build a church near the “white dorp” of Rustenburg. They built the church as a congregation of the then Dutch Reformed Mission Church, with their own hands, without spending money on contractors. The church was inaugurated in 1976. Around the church, the “township” of Karlien Park developed in what was set aside for “Coloured” inhabitation by the amendments to the Group Areas Act 41, which had already been proclaimed in 1950. Questions raised are: Why did the people migrate to Rustenburg? What was the impact of this migration on their mental health? Do they regret migrating? Do they want to go back? This article shares the findings of a study conducted to address those questions. Information was gathered through interviews with people who shared their stories of migrating from Keimoes to Karlien Park and still live in Karlien Park. The themes emanating from the information gathered are as follows: Families were torn apart by migration; those who migrated were skilled labourers; in Karlien Park, the migrants retained a strong “Coloured” identity; the relationship with non-migrants in Keimoes is complicated; and the Church took a central place in the migrated community
Student Learning Experiences and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic at the University of Free State: Reintegration after Disruption
No full textSouth African universities were closed nationally during the COVID-19 pandemic. On-campus learning was suspended, and on-campus student accommodation was closed from March 2020, with phased returns to campus continuing until early 2022. The study intended to identify categories of students whose learning and well-being were most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and provide empirical evidence to inform initiatives to support these students better. An online cross-sectional survey completed by 1 562 respondents studying at a South African university explored students’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on students’ learning and well-being, subjective social status, sense of coherence, and future anxiety. Multivariable regression models showed younger age (18 to 21 years), female gender, low subjective social status, and isiZulu and English home language were significantly associated with lower well-being. Regression analysis also showed a significant association between the dimensions of manageability and meaningfulness of sense of coherence and well-being and that high levels of future anxiety were associated with lower well-being. Half of the respondents (49.6%) reported that the pandemic has negatively impacted their overall student experience. However, more than half (51.2%) prefer online to face-to-face learning and found it less time-consuming (63.5%). The results could assist universities in introducing appropriate support services targeting young female students with low subjective social status to support the mental health and well-being of those most affected by the pandemi
Combination Social Protection Programme as an HIV Prevention Mechanism: Experiences of Youths in Resource-Constrained Settings of Gauteng Province, South Africa
No full textRegardless of the tremendous growth of combination social protection as a human immunodeficiency virus prevention mechanism in South Africa, little is known about the ways in which combination social protection improves prevention outcomes for youths. In this article, we report on the experiences of youths participating in the combination social protection. In the study, which was conducted among Black African youths in the City of Johannesburg township settings of Soweto, Alexandra, and Orange Farm, we adopted a qualitative approach. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of youths participating in the combination social protection and their views on how the programme changed their risk behaviour and sexual practices. We used a purposively selected sample to identify participants for semi-structured qualitative interviews. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with thirty youths and focus group discussions with six non-governmental organisations practitioners and five Department of Social Development officials. The data were analysed by implementing Creswell and Creswell’s strategy of qualitative thematic analysis. The findings show that when youths are equipped with prevention informational resources, economic capabilities, and social assets, they are empowered with agency and purposefulness that may alter their intentions to engage in risky sexual behaviour. It is also revealed that, by providing space for youths to engage on issues of gender and differential access to health and economic opportunities, the programme advanced the empowerment of female youths. Thus, combination social protection could be part of the country’s comprehensive social work package for empowering youths in poor localities
Professional Boundaries in Working with Young People: The Perspectives of Child and Youth Care Workers in Durban, South Africa
No full textProfessional boundaries are a set of guidelines, expectations and rules that set the ethical and technical standards between the child and youth care workers (CYCWs) and young people. Professional boundaries are important to establish and maintain, as they assist to build the therapeutic relationship between the professional worker and client. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the perspectives of CYCWs in relation to professional boundaries in residential child and youth care centres (CYCCs) in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. To achieve this aim, the study was guided by a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive design. A purposive sampling technique was employed, and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 14 CYCWs. The analysis suggests that, while CYCCs have developed professional boundaries, there remains a great need for the provision of clear rules and regulations about professional boundaries, and life-long training (in-service professional development) focused on boundaries and support from management
Exploring Amahubo Akwazulu: Bridging Past, Present, and Future through Indigenous Zulu Music
No full textThis article delves into the cultural significance of Zulu war chants, known as amahubo, and their transformative power. These chants embody ideals crucial to Zulu identity, such as unity, patriotism, loyalty, and dignity, making them profound musical expressions. They represent the vibrant cultural, social, and historical dimensions of the Zulu personality. Through qualitative content analysis and a review of existing literature, this article uncovers the rich tapestry of amahubo. Drawing on communicative theory, it argues that preserving cultural elements is vital for societal vibrancy. The article analyses how traditions, values, and practices are transmitted across generations, ensuring cultural continuity. It highlights the dynamic evolution of amahubo, showing their pivotal role in shaping Zulu cultural identity, especially among the youth. Beyond their historical function, these war chants serve as platforms for addressing contemporary social issues, becoming vehicles for social commentary and engagement. The article presents three examples of amahubo sung on different occasions, demonstrating their diverse roles. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of amahubo as dynamic expressions of cultural continuity and agency within the Zulu community, bridging the past, present, and future as vibrant carriers of Zulu cultural heritage
Examining Illiberality and Vanquishment in One Selected isiXhosa Folktale Titled “UNomadlavana” (The Ragged-Clothed Girl)
No full textIsiXhosa folktales continue to embrace the didactic and pedagogical dimensions among young men and women through knowledge that is entrenched in senior citizens or the elderly. This does not exclude young men and women narrating the same isiXhosa folktales among themselves. In this article, the didactic and pedagogical value of an isiXhosa folktale is examined using intersectionality as a theoretical framework in light of recent and long-standing catastrophic phenomena such as HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 deaths that have left many children destitute, resulting in a string of orphans and child-headed families that are difficult to overlook. “UNomadlavana,” the folktale appearing in the appendix of this article, with its English translation, is purposively selected from a published repository and appreciated hereunder as a principal source of data to unravel the persecution and injustice experienced by an orphaned young girl called Nomadlavana. The sociological approach that merges elements of folklore studies, sociological analysis, and intersectionality, and is used as a methodology to uncover the perennial notion concerning stepmothers and orphans, is probed as an interconnected phenomenon, while illiberality and vanquishment of orphans are placed under the spotlight. Ultimately, illiberality and vanquishment are revealed as deeply rooted social problems affecting many unknown and known families, and suggest the need for awareness in a bid to abolish flawed stereotypes pertaining to orphans and stepparents
Battle for the Bay Revisited: The 2021 South African Local Elections in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
No full textThe 2021 local election in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) saw a change in the fortunes of the two leading political parties, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), in the context of a low-turnout election. The DA lost its advantage from the 2016 election and fell back into a tie with the ANC in the number of councillor seats. The equal position of the two leading parties led to an outsized role for smaller parties, including a minor party, the Northern Alliance, currently holding the mayor’s office in an ANC-led coalition. The authors use the lens of Gavin Davis’s theory on race-based campaigning to analyse the election results and the “violent democracy” framework of Von Holdt to analyse the political situation in the townships, where violence coexists with relatively high levels of political pluralism and participation. Also analysed is the challenge of coalition governments at the local level, and suggestions for electoral reform are offered