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Exploring the challenges small, medium and micro enterprises face in establishing business resilience to disruption and crisis.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.South Africa’s small business failure rate is amongst the highest globally. The increasing turbulence in the world makes it imperative that SMMEs proactively develop resilience strategies to face any disruption the future may present. Despite the field of research on SMME survival and growth being relatively mature, the study of business resilience in SMMEs has not received sufficient focus prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. By identifying the challenges that retail SMME owners face in making their businesses resilient to disruptive events from a holistic perspective, more comprehensive and viable solutions can be determined to address such challenges and build more resilient and prosperous SMMEs. This study conducts a qualitative exploration of the challenges faced by SMME owners in the retail sector in building resilience against disruptive events and crises. It examines resilience across multiple dimensions, including financial, operational, technological, business model, organisational, and reputational aspects. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 12 SMME owner-managers who were purposively selected from the research area of Westville/Reservoir Hills and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings highlighted several challenges to financial resilience, including difficulties with borrowing and assessing risk coverage and economic or resource-related barriers to diversifying revenue streams. Operational resilience was affected by issues such as supplier diversification constraints, reliance on backup power, weak social capital, and problems with labour management and security. Technological resilience was compromised by outdated systems and infrastructure. Business model and market position resilience faced hurdles in establishing alternative sales channels and adapting to changes in consumer behaviour. Organisational resilience struggled with developing employee skills and maintaining motivation. Reputational resilience was challenged by managing customer expectations and sentiment on social media, ensuring employee compliance with safety standards, and upholding sustainable practices
Selected speeches from three world leaders in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic: a comparative linguistics analysis.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This dissertation contributes to a growing body of critical political-discourse analysis (Chilton and Schaffner 1997, Chilton 2004, 2017, Jeftić 2020, Van Dijk 1997, Wodak 2015). Six speeches from three world leaders are analysed, viz., former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand), President Ramaphosa (South Africa) and former President Donald Trump (USA). The world leaders delivered the speeches to their respective nations at two different points during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The first three speeches react to the respective national outbreak of the pandemic; the second set of speeches were delivered after the “first wave” of Covid-19 had passed in each country. Using the critical discourse analysis framework (Van Dijk 1997, Wodak 2015), this dissertation focuses on discursive structures that make up meanings in a genre of political discourse. Linguistic analysis is used to highlight vastly different ways of engaging with the respective populaces. Analyses of the types of illocutionary acts and the use of pronouns substantiate that former president Trump predominantly self-represents as a powerful and competent protector who is in control of the situation. He consistently accentuates his administration’s authority in his speeches which can be characterised as coercive monologues about the “greatness” of his administration’s actions. The latter is corroborated by the analysis of modal verb usage. In stark contrast, Prime Minister Ardern and President Ramaphosa focus on the encouragement of solidarity. Both politicians emphasise knowledge-based joint actions and behaviour of the general population and the government alike, by promoting the observance of guidelines issued by expert entities. In their respective speeches, they enable their nations to conceptualise the Covid-19 reality as one of enablement and encourage their audiences to act out of moral duty and concern for others. Notably, President Ramaphosa stands out in emphasising shared feelings and knowledge to a greater extent than either of the other world leaders
Evaluating the Impact of Leadership Styles on Employee Performance: A Case Study of BDP International in KwaZulu-Natal.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Leadership is a critical factor influencing organisational success, yet its effects on employee performance remain underexplored at BDP International (Turner Shipping) in KwaZulu-Natal. This exploratory qualitative study investigates the leadership styles at BDP International, which is a logistics and supply company operating in KwaZulu-Natal, and their impact on employee performance. There were ten executive and middle-level managers selected from BDP International in KwaZulu-Natal using a purposive sampling technique who participated in this qualitative study. There is limited research on how leadership styles affect employee performance in KwaZulu-Natal’s logistics sector. This study focuses on BDP International to address this gap and provide context-specific insights. Data were collected from top level executives and managers at BDP International using semi-structured interviews. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis. First, the results of this exploratory study reveal that the five different themes identified as depicting the predominant leadership styles at BDP International in KwaZulu-Natal are as follow: (1) mixing of transformational, transactional and directing styles; (2) minimal employee involvement in decision-making, (3) pursuit of alignment of the company’s goals and objectives, (4) low fidelity two-way communication between managers and employees, and (5) limited engaging feedback for employee creativity, problem-solving and growth at BDP International. Second, the study has found five themes revealing how leadership styles affect employee performance. Transactional style for employee operational efficiency and performance culture, structured, constructive but irregular feedback not good for continuous employee improvement, driving employee job satisfaction through clarity of goals, structured expectations and rewards, leadership for employee retention and empowering and adaptive leadership to improve employee performance are the themes which depict the effect of leadership style on employee performance. Lastly, three key recommendations highlighted by participants in this study for enhancing and improving leadership practices are (1) Integrated and regular leadership development, (2) leadership development for new growth, and (3) holistic assessment of leadership effectiveness and progression. Future research may explore the long-term impact of leadership development, hybrid leadership styles, diversity, and digital transformation on leadership effectiveness in the logistics sector
Cross-country macroprudential policy coordination and financial stability in advanced and systemic middle-income economies.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Cross-country macroprudential policy coordination is increasingly recognized as a vital tool for mitigating international financial crises and addressing systemic risks in advanced systemic economies (ASEs) and systemic middle-income countries (SMICs). ASEs and SMICs control the largest financial systems, making them key sources and amplifiers of global financial disturbances. However, for effective policy coordination, these economies must first meet three essential prerequisites: strong financial integration, the availability of effective macroprudential policy frameworks, and the presence of common measures of systemic risk. This study aims to assess whether ASEs and SMICs satisfy these conditions. The study is structured around three core objectives. First, it examines the degree of financial synchronisation between these economies, utilising a dynamic factor model and Bayesian vector-autoregression model with data spanning 1960Q1 to 2023Q4. The results indicate that there is a common factor driving much of the variation in the financial cycles of ASEs and SMICs. Additionally, shocks in ASEs' financial cycles explain nearly 40% of future variations in SMICs' financial cycles, and vice versa, demonstrating significant financial synchronisation between the two groups. Second, the study assesses the effectiveness of macroprudential policies in these economies, employing the dynamic common correlated effects model and the panel structural vector model using data from 1980M1 to 2023M12. The findings reveal that tightening macroprudential policies lead to relocation effects—capital flows decrease in tightening jurisdictions but increase in those with looser regulations. Furthermore, countryspecific policies generally reduce credit and asset prices, while common policies stimulate these factors, uncovering trade-offs between different policy approaches. Third, the study constructs a common financial cycle to capture shared systemic risk, using the Markov switching dynamic regression factor model. It identifies asset prices, capital flows, central bank policy rates, and the Volatility Index (VIX) as key systemic risk drivers, with peaks in the common cycle coinciding with financial crises. Therefore, the common financial cycle captures the evolution of risk in these economies in ASEs and SMICs. Overall, the findings suggest that ASEs and SMICs meet the conditions for cross-country macroprudential policy coordination. Therefore, it is recommended that ASEs and SMICs establish a supranational prudential authority to coordinate and supervise macroprudential policies on behalf of member states. Furthermore, discussions should be held to develop mechanisms for effectively managing the trade-offs between country-specific and common macroprudential measures
Critical analysis of knowledge produced through postgraduate mathematics education research in post-apartheid South Africa: the first decade.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The concept of 'knowledge systems' has led to a need for 'research on research'. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the knowledge generated by various knowledge societies, particularly within universities. This rationale drove the Project on Postgraduate Education Research (PPER) to investigate the research output in postgraduate education during the initial decade (1995-2004) following the end of apartheid in South Africa. Within the framework of PPER, this study scrutinized the body of masters and doctoral research conducted at 19 South African universities within the aforementioned period. The study aimed to address the following main research question: What forms of knowledge emerged from postgraduate studies in mathematics education research within South Africa during the years 1995 to 2004? Sub-research questions: 1.1 How were the titles of postgraduate studies in mathematics education (1995-2004) formulated and structured? 1.2 Which phenomena were more frequently explored, and which were less likely to be investigated within these postgraduate studies (1995-2004)? 1.3 What were the predominant research questions, and what assertions were made concerning these phenomena? 1.4 What were the prevalent research paradigms, designs, approaches, and methodologies employed in postgraduate studies on mathematics education (1995-2004)? 1.5 Which theories were commonly utilized and which were less frequently applied in postgraduate studies on mathematics education (1995-2004)? For each of the sub-questions mentioned above, the study delved into the identities of the students responsible for generating this knowledge, along with details about their degrees and affiliations with respective institutions. This study employed Giddens' structuration theory as its theoretical framework. It conducted an analysis of knowledge produced in a corpus of 190 postgraduate studies in mathematics education. This analysis encompassed various elements, starting from titles, research phenomena, questions, claims, methodologies, and extending to theories. The data from these theses was extracted using Suri's Methodologically Inclusive Research iii Syntheses (MIRS). Additionally, interviews were conducted with a sample of supervisors overseeing these theses. The main findings reveal that knowledge in mathematics education predominantly comes from white female postgraduates affiliated with historically white universities (HWUs). This challenges the prevailing notion that white males dominate research in this field. Notably, Wits University emerged as the primary contributor of mathematics education theses in the corpus, with a majority of these studies composed in English. When comparing this result with Khuzwayo's (2005) findings, which emphasized a focus on white education and teacher training in South African mathematics education research from 1948 to 1994, a similarity arises in terms of the demographic producing the majority of research by white postgraduates. However, this does not necessarily imply that white learners were the primary subjects of study. Instead, it suggests another way of 'objectifying' black learners and teachers, as Black Africans are frequently researched by predominantly white researchers. Additionally, the prevalence of white postgraduate students producing more mathematics education theses may result from the apartheid policy on mathematics education, where Verwoerd argued that Black African people did not need to study mathematics as it had no relevance in their communities. Verwoerd's stance remained largely unchanged in the first ten years of post-apartheid South Africa. In the domain of postgraduate studies, the construction of titles employs various linguistic devices, methodological approaches, indication of the results and epistemological stances. Among these linguistic devices, the colon is the most frequently employed. Mathematics education postgraduate studies predominantly centre around five key research phenomena: the affective domain, assessment, knowledge, cognition, and epistemologies, as well as pedagogy and technology/resources. These studies from 1995 to 2004 were primarily small-scale. Each of these phenomena is examined in terms of the research claims posited. Notably absent are studies with a focus on primary mathematics education and rural education. This finding aligns with the results of reviews conducted by Venkat, Adler Rollnick, et. al., 2009; Adler, Alshwaikh, Essack, & Gcsamba, 2017. However, the most recent review of mathematics education journal articles by Morrison, Graven, Venkat, and Vale (2023) indicates an increase in research on primary mathematics education. A prominent theoretical orientation in postgraduate studies is constructivism, particularly within HWUs. Additionally, the preferred approach in mathematics education studies conducted in South Africa between 1995 and 2004 was the case study research design
Enacting the literacy recovery curriculum in grade one: an action research study.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Grade One is a very important grade for each learner’s development in the education journey. This is a foundational grade that introduces learners to reading and writing and therefore provides the necessary grounding for the upcoming grades. There has been a reading challenge among learners in the school where I am a teacher, which was exacerbated by learning time losses during COVID-19. The Department of Education designed a literacy recovery curriculum as a recovery plan in South Africa for the learning and teaching time lost due to COVID-19. I observed that the Grade 1 learners struggled to recognise letters, build words and had little to no motivation to read during the implementation of the literacy recovery curriculum. The purpose of this action research study was to improve both my teaching practice and learners’ isiXhosa reading skills by systematically reflecting on my enactment of the literacy recovery curriculum in Grade 1.
The action research study employed the Reading to Learn (RtL) pedagogy as an intervention strategy in Grade 1. It was situated within a pragmatic paradigm and adopted a mixed methods approach to view the phenomenon under study. There were 100 participants from the two Grade 1 classes in my school: 50 learners in each class, one class being the control class and the other being the experimental class, with myself as both a teacher and a researcher. The experimental class was my Grade 1 class, these learners received the RtL intervention strategy while the control class was the Grade 1B class which was taught by another teacher. They did not receive the RtL intervention strategy. I used three data generation methods, namely observation of my practice using video recordings, reflective journaling, and pre-and post-testing of learners’ reading competencies using the Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) tool. A ‘critical friend’ observed my lessons and provided feedback on my practice. The EGRA tests show that the results of the RtL class improved slightly more than the results of the control class on the post-test. However, it cannot be claimed that this was only due to the RtL methodology. My teaching practice changed to support learners’ literacy development in a differentiated way. I created a more supportive and engaging learning environment for my learners and I noticed that the learners in my class gained confidence and more motivation for reading
Management accounting techniques and the creation & sustenance of competitive advantage among Zimbabwe’s petroleum companies.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This study investigates the extent to which the implementation of management accounting techniques contributes to the creation and sustenance of competitive advantage among petroleum companies in Zimbabwe. The research aims to identify the management accounting practices employed within the sector, assess whether these practices lead to competitive advantage, and evaluate their overall effect on competitiveness. This investigation is particularly significant within Zimbabwe's volatile business environment, which is characterised by political instability, hyperinflation, and regulatory challenges. The research adopts a positivist paradigm, employing descriptive and causal research designs. A cross-sectional design was utilised to collect data from a census of petroleum companies in Zimbabwe, sourced from the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA). Data collection was conducted through a structured survey, with the subsequent analysis performed using multiple regression analysis, hierarchical regression analysis and Pearson's correlation to assess the relationship between management accounting practices and competitive advantage. The findings reveal that budgetary control, performance evaluation (both financial and non-financial), and decision support systems are the most frequently utilised management accounting practices within the sector. The study highlights that companies demonstrating higher engagement with these practices exhibit improved relative competitiveness and non-financial performance. Long-term decision support systems emerged as the most influential factor in enhancing competitiveness. The research makes significant theoretical contributions by contextualising the impact of management accounting within Zimbabwe's petroleum industry. A key outcome of the study is the development of the Competitive Advantage through Management Accounting Framework (CAMAF), which illustrates how implementing management accounting practices can strengthen competitive advantage. The study recommends that policymakers and industry stakeholders establish supportive frameworks to promote robust management accounting practices. It highlights the need for petroleum companies in Zimbabwe to integrate management accounting practices and invest in long-term decision-support systems to navigate economic volatility and sustain competitive advantage. It also emphasises prioritising non-financial performance metrics, such as operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Additionally, the study calls for clear regulations that promote transparency, efficiency, and public-private collaboration
Homophobic victimisation: understanding the gender prejudice faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This study focused on homophobic victimisation experienced by gay, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders living in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. In particular, the study investigated the victimisation experienced by participants based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It explored the contributing characteristics and factors that made them vulnerable to homophobic victimisation. It sought to understand the effects such homophobic victimisation had on them and to explore how participants navigate their identity to avoid further victimisation. It further explored participants’ perceptions about reporting victimisation to the police.
To elicit data, a qualitative interpretive phenomenological approach was adopted. Purposive sampling was used to select 5 gay, 5 lesbian, 5 bisexual and 5 transgender participants. The researcher employed in-depth interviews as the primary source of the data collection method. The data was analysed through a thematic analysis process. This involved identifying themes from participants’ responses as they emerged. The findings revealed that the participants experienced extreme bullying based on their sexual orientation. The homophobic victimisation participants have suffered were violently inflicted on them through physical assault through beatings, psychological bullying through derogatory name calling, sexual assaults and violations through physical sexual attacks, sexual harassments and sexual intimidation. Participants reported being victimised based on their same-sex attraction, gender identity and non-conformance to traditional gender role beliefs. Respondents echoed that strong cultural and religious tenets enforced traditional heteronormative behaviour through; the regulation of heterosexuality and the ostracizing of homosexuality, and contributed to their own internalised homophobia and homophobic victimisation they experience. The mental, emotional and psychological harm reported by participants demonstrated the lasting negative effects that such victimisations has on them. The findings also revealed the various strategies and coping mechanisms participants have had to adopt to prevent further victimisation. Participants’ perception of reporting victimisation to the police revealed that that the fear of re-victimisation and poor police service deterred them while some participants felt it was their right to be protected by the South African Police.
This study recommends that society change the narrative of enforcing heterosexuality as the norm and be more inclusive to other sexual orientations. Globally, this can be achieved through scrapping laws that criminalise same-sex behaviour; media representation of homosexuality should be more inclusive and not just sensationalizing reports of homophobic attacks; education sectors need to include other sexual orientations into their teaching programs; and training for people within the criminal justice system is required in order for them to treat victims of homophobic attacks with the respect they deserve
Contribution of correctional libraries to rehabilitation and intergration of offenders to the community in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Rehabilitating offenders through education is a fundamental constitutional imperative in South Africa. Yet the contribution of correctional libraries to the development and employability of offenders remains underexplored and inconclusive. Crucially, the Desistence theory stresses the need for holistic development of offenders, while the Transformative Learning theory underlines the role of critical reflection in fostering personal transformation in offenders. Equally, the Context-Mechanism-Outcome model posits that organisational and social contexts should be constantly monitored as they impact significantly on correctional education programmes and outcomes. In this context, the purpose of this study was to assess the contribution of correctional libraries to the development of offenders in Mpumalanga Province. Through a multiple case study design and sequential explanatory approach, a combined total of 607 respondents was derived by using stratified random sampling and purposive sampling. The latter included library managers, librarians, facilitators, former offenders, community members and employers. Data were collected through a combination of quantitative and qualitative research instruments involving self-administered questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Quantitatively, the study confirmed that 90% of learners (offenders) received Library and Information services in their centres, though such services were limited by staff shortages and a lack of funding. Strategies used by librarians and facilitators to mobilise learning resources included partnerships (24%), referrals (12%), book exchanges (13%), donations (35%), and loan systems (15%). Offenders had access to functional literacy programmes (90%), vocational skills training (85%) and higher education opportunities (20%). On average, 65% of the learners were generally satisfied with the quality of education in their centres. Career transition preparations included career exhibitions (15%), on-the-job training (22%), direct applications (30%) and partnerships with sector education and training authorities (26%). Stakeholder responsibilities included training delivery by Sector Education and Training Authorities, accreditation services by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, policy advice by the Department of Higher Education, tutorial support services by peer educators and employment facilitation by community organisations, government agencies and prospective employers. Qualitatively, evidence from semi-structured interviews confirmed that library and training programmes were provided through basic education, vocational education, higher education and pre-release programmes, as well as informal learning activities on the job. Prime examples were agriculture, baking, carpentry, construction, beauty and hairdressing, electricity and welding. Key training delivery strategies included peer educators, referrals, in-service training, internships, learnerships, experiential learning and mentoring by prospective employers. Common barriers to learning and career transition included limited budget allocation, understaffing, protocols, capacity, shortage of learning resources, stigmatisation, limited access to learning technologies, and learner disengagement. Quality assurance measures included accreditation, curriculum design, staff development, digitisation, records management, learner assessment, and training management. In light of these results, the study concluded that while librarians, facilitators and stakeholders contributed significantly to educating offenders, additional efforts are needed to improve career transition outcomes. Through a transformative learning perspective, the study enhances understanding of the strategic role of librarianship in correctional education, particularly in developing countries such as South Africa. In contributing to the current body of knowledge on correctional education, the study recommended a context-specific Library and Information Services model to help improve both mobilisation and sharing of learning resources among Correctional centres in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.Abstract only available in English in PDF document
Households’ knowledge, perception, and behavioural intention of the effects of waste disposal on water quality in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Improper waste disposal in water is a growing problem that has received little attention in Southern Africa. Deterioration of water quality presents burgeoning threat to human beings and all living organisms. Lack of knowledge and awareness; negative attitude and perception; poor waste practices and negative behavioural intention influence the current waste management activities. This study investigated households’ knowledge, perception, and behavioural intention of the effects of waste disposal on water quality. A systematic sampling technique was adopted to collect data using questionnaires. A total of 384 questionnaires were administered in four villages and analysed using SPSS version 29.0 and Excel. T-test was used to compare mean values and standard deviation of all variables. In addition, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and probit regression analysis were utilized to determine households’ knowledge, perception, and behavioural intention towards waste disposal in water. Water quality assessment and MiniSASS were used to compare with the perceived environmental, health, and social risks. Most (66.6%) of respondents were females and 62.9% were unemployed. The majority (89.0%) of respondents revealed that they were not currently paying for waste disposal services and 83.8% revealed that the municipality never collected their waste. About (96.6%) of respondents were not satisfied with the current municipal waste removal system. Almost (99.0%) of the respondents generated all classes of waste and 77.0% of respondents disposed of their waste in water bodies. Nearly, 86% of respondents were aware that accumulation of disposed waste in rivers causes health risks and 94% of respondents were not knowledgeable nor aware that the municipality and government render public support in the form of awareness campaigns. The findings of the study also revealed that 74% of respondents had a positive attitude on disposing of waste in water bodies creates jobs for municipal workers or EPWP and 72% had a negative attitude on the willingness to travel to the landfill site to dispose of waste. On behavioural intention, about (86%) of respondents were in favour of transporting waste to the disposal location is cumbersome and most of the respondents (54.3%) were not in favour of ‘to deal’ with waste in future, I am willing to get in touch with organizations, municipality, and government officials. Furthermore, the results of probit regression analysis revealed that households’ knowledge and awareness was influenced by education level; gender and employment status, households’ attitude was influenced by income level; monthly waste disposal payment, municipal collection services and satisfactory level, and the perceived risks were influenced by households’ knowledge. Moreover, the results of PCA revealed four factors that were extracted based on the responses of households which included disposal methods; campaign factors; community pressure and water quality. The majority (73%) of respondents perceived that aquatic organisms cannot survive with less dissolved oxygen. Most (93%) of respondents perceived that high chemical oxygen demand (COD) leads to cancer-related diseases. The results also revealed that 76% of respondents perceived that children drown in polluted river due to poor turbidity. Water quality parameters (pH; nitrates; phosphorus; Electrical Conductivity (EC); COD; water temperature; turbidity; Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Dissolved Oxygen (DO)) had potential health risks and did not fall within the permissible limits of WHO. Based on MiniSASS results, the most abundant taxa during dry season were Oligochates as they successfully inhabit polluted water. It is therefore recommended that regular monitoring of river water quality should be conducted across all villages; environmental awareness and health education should be intensified in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality; extension of waste collection services in rural areas; establishment of collection points with lockable and labelled containers according to waste type; recycling should be encouraged and promoted; waste sorting and separation at the source should be implemented prior to disposal; provision of storage containers (Skip bins); establishment of local recycling infrastructures in villages and, developing and strengthening of regulations and by laws on water quality