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Negotiating identity: the experiences of black self-identified lesbian youth in township and rural contexts of KwaZulu-Natal.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.While lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth face the typical challenges of South African youth, their lives are shaped by unique and complex experiences of
discrimination and marginalisation within the family, school and in cultural and religious settings. The study reported in this thesis explored the experiences of 12 black self-identified lesbian youth of school going age in township and rural contexts of KwaZulu-Natal. The study sought to explore how they construct and negotiate their experiences in the way that they do. This qualitative study was located within the interpretive paradigm and used a narrative inquiry design, with grounded conversations, focus group discussions, photovoice and diaries as data gathering tools. Six participants were selected through snowball sampling from rural contexts and six from township contexts. Ten were raised by their mothers and grandparents, one by her mother and adoptive father and the other one by her biological parents. The two theories that informed data analysis in the study were queer theory and the feminist theory of intersectionality. Queer theory became an appropriate tool in unpacking and understanding the multiple interpretations and fluidity of participants’ sexual identity. Intersectionality offered insight into how these youth’s experiences were caught up in inequalities of power related to gender, race, age, and social backgrounds. Ten themes and three sub-themes emerged in the findings: Firstly, it was family networks as
either supportive or demoralising and the three sub-themes, namely: a) difference enriching family relationships, b) children raised to think that they are useless, a shame and worthless and c) dysfunctional families and hatred of difference. Secondly, “Understandings of (absent) fatherhood”. The third theme was about the village failing to raise a child. The fourth was about schools as unsafe spaces. The fifth theme was on the teachers’ perspective about “Use the boys’ toilets because you are boys”. Sixth, other learners told them that “You are not competition; you need to be reminded that you are a girl”. The seventh theme was reminding the participants about their culture, “Behave properly, as expected in our culture”. The eighth theme exposed rejection and isolation: the cleansing of the sin. The ninth theme revealed participants’ assertion and self-esteem through sport, art and healing. The tenth theme highlighted the violence, trauma and resilience that were experienced by the participants. A major focus became my struggle in dealing with the traumatic situations of participants, situations I had not been prepared for, which pointed to the need for a fully reflexive approach to such research. The study concludes with the responses to the research questions, in particular the factors that led to the emphatic proclamation of a lesbian identity by participants, and with proposals for action and for further study
Stabanising the eucharist: theological implications of the eucharist in the UCCSA for reimagining an inclusive and embodied community of faith.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Every person has a sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIE-SC). It’s an inclusive term that applies to every individual human being, irrespective of how they self-identify. Every person has a human right to sexual self-identity, whether as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Queer, asexual, two-spirit, heterosexual or cisgender (identifying with the same gender that one was assigned at birth). A contextual equivalent of the reclaimed word “Queer” in South Africa is Izitabane, a plural. It is an isiZulu expression that literally means, “here come the gays”. In this dissertation, I argue for the contextual use of this term. Izitabane members of the Church are still most often marginalised and rejected. It is appropriate to reclaim such terminology in our African context as a self-identity. The author is an active and committed member of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA). The UCCSA identifies itself as “a justice Church”. This Church ordains women, “welcomes all”, and affirms that prejudice based on sexual orientation (“homophobia”) is a sin. Yet, despite declaring itself a justice Church, its clergy are prohibited from conducting, concluding or blessing same-sex marriages, even though samesex marriage is constitutionally legal in South Africa. There appears to be a disconnect between the Church’s claim to be a justice Church that “welcomes all” and the full inclusion and acceptance (open and affirming stance) of Izitabane members.
This dissertation explores the current SOGIE-SC landscape within the UCCSA based upon the ostensibly competing resolutions of its highest court, the General Assembly, and asks whether the theological distinctives in its understanding of Covenant and Eucharist can bridge that disconnect, since this is a matter of justice. It is especially pertinent since Izitabane persons suffer violence, harm, bigoted discrimination, ostracism and rejection for no other reason than innate sexual orientation and desired identity. Queering, or stabanising, refers to the intentional process of decolonising theological heteronormative patriarchy in faith and praxis. In this paper, through the lens of Systematic Theology, I discuss Queer theory, Eucharist and its Covenantal implications in the UCCSA, explore what it might mean to re-imagine the Eucharist and to stabanise Eucharistic liturgy. The research concludes with a working example of a reimagined, more inclusive, and stabanised Eucharist as an expression of our embodied Covenant
Local interpretations of COVID-19 communication and their influence on risk perception and self-efficacy in rural, township and informal settlement communities: a case study in KwaZulu-Natal.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Communication during a health crisis is important to ensure that the public is informed and is equipped with correctly affirming behaviours and actions that can ensure their safety. While acknowledging COVID-19 as a global pandemic, the reality is that prevention measures must be implemented in local, geographically, and culturally bounded contexts. The traditional approach to communication during public health emergencies, involving one-way broadcast messages, usually from government to communities, has been criticised for stifling public participation and failing to integrate local knowledge and contexts, thus leading to poor adoption of protective behaviours by communities. This study explores how communities in three different types of localities; township, rural and informal settlement in eThekwini Municipality in South Africa, interpret COVID-19 prevention communication, and how these interpretations influence their perception of risk and self-efficacy to adopt preventive behaviours. Such an understanding can shape the development of a more localised response to COVID-19 prevention, and hopefully, future pandemics. Theoretically the study is grounded within Colins Airhihenbuwa’s PEN-3 Cultural Model for Health Communication, which foregrounds the importance of culturally appropriate and compelling strategies for behaviour change. The PEN-3 Model negates the ‘culture-as-barrier’ bias but instead locates culture as central in determining individual, family and community health by investigating positive, neutral, and negative impacts of culture on health behaviour. Data were collected in two rounds: after the South African 2nd wave of COVID-19 in April and after the 3rd wave in November 2021, with communities in the three identified geo-spatial locations. A total of six virtual WhatsApp groups and six face-to-face community dialogues (55 participants) were conducted to explore local interpretations of COVID-19 prevention messages and how these can form pathways for the development of locally relevant COVID- 19 communication. Unsafe working environments, the public transport industry and attitudes towards the government’s COVID-19 strategy impacted participants’ evaluation of the threat and risk for COVID-19 infection. The cultural identity of communal living and support, embedded in Ubuntu, was challenged through prescriptive government-led pandemic communication, leading to widespread flouting of COVID-19 precautions. Community assets, agency and resources were ignored by the top-down communication approach, contributing further to the widespread lack of adherence to prescribed precautions. The overcrowded and unhygienic informal settlement environment rendered adherence to preventive precautions too hard, demonstrating the structural environment's moderating influence in decisionmaking and subsequent preventive action. Reverence for local community leadership structures over distant national government demonstrated the moderating influence of power dynamics at the community level, which work to enhance mechanisms for transparency and accountability. Patriarchal societal norms influenced men’s responses to pandemic communication, and the role of the family in potentially contributing to positive health outcomes was highlighted. The results point to a need for risk communication and community engagement at a more granular level. The study argues for a participatory communication process that amplifies community voices and reveals context-specific and culturally-informed perceptions that impact on decision-making around COVID-19. This culture-centred exploration ensures that health communication interventions are developed from a positive perspective, that extends beyond highlighting the negatives, but rather focuses on enhancing the positive through a recognition of the positive and unique aspects of a people’s culture. The study recommends the application of a culture-centred theoretical lens to communication during a health crisis, as opposed to the proliferation of individual-focused theories of behaviour change that characterised the COVID- 19 communication landscape, for future pandemic preparedness efforts
Identifying indigenous non-agricultural uses of soil in selected communities in KwaZulu-Natal, their safety for use and understanding the soil properties that govern these uses.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.South African communities, especially in rural areas still practise indigenous soil use e.g. applying soil paste as sunscreen and geophagia among others. This study aimed to document non-agricultural uses of soil in communities such as Elandskop, KwaNxamalala, Willowfontein and Pietermaritzburg central in uMgungundlovu district. Information on soil uses was collected through key informant interviews and a baseline survey. The baseline survey was conducted through administering 50 questionnaires in each area. Ten soil samples (used for geophagia and cosmetics) were then collected from each area to analyse for soil physicochemical and biological properties using standard analytical techniques. The safety of soils for use was also assessed through microbial (bacterial, fungal, and total coliform counts, then E.coli identification) and heavy metal determination. Results showed that the soil uses that were ranked as most common were cosmetics, geophagia, medicinal followed by construction as the least used. Cosmetic soil was mostly used as sunscreen or skin cleansers. While geophagia was practised for enjoyment, cravings, and as nutrient supplement. The main side effects of geophagic soil were observed to be constipation, appendix infection and development of gull stones, while side effects to cosmetic soil use were skin irritation, drying and blemishes. Chemical analysis showed that the cosmetic soils had pHs in the acidic range (4.7 - 6.07), which corresponded with normal skin pH. The CEC was however deemed too low (3.04-24.11 Cmolckg-1) for these soils to be effect as cleansers as they would not be able to adsorb impurities from the skin. Geophagic soils also had acidic pH ranges (3.73 – 5.84), which corresponded with pH of human saliva, whilst their CEC was also low (3.6 – 25.41 Cmolckg-1) and typified that of low adsorption kaolinitic clays. Cosmetic soil users preferred red coloured soil as effective sunscreens. This was confirmed by mineralogy analysis that revealed a high presence of haematite in these soils, which has low UV transmission. Both quartz (which was supported by course soil textures) and haematite featured regularly in the cosmetic and medicinal soils, but these soils however lacked metals like zinc oxide and titanium oxide found in commercial sunscreens, making them less effective as sunscreens. The high levels of quartz in cosmetic and medicinal soils can also potentially cause skin abrasion when applied regularly. Geophagic soil colours varied from white through pale yellow, reddish yellow, yellow brown to light grey; which typified a range of minerals from kaolinite, quartz, calcite, and haematite. High levels of quartz however pose a risk to dental enamel damage and intestinal wall abrasion if consumed in excess, while haematite is a beneficial source of nutritional iron. It was recommended that users select finer textures to consume or apply onto their body to avoid the negative effects of high quartz levels.
The E.coli bacterium was found in samples from Elandskop, KwaNxamalala, and Willowfontein, but not in those from PMB central. This could be because vendors in PMB central heat-treated their soils before selling, which helped kill these harmful bacteria. Some geophagic samples also had coliform (381-741 CFU/ml) counts that were above the limit (<200 CFU/ml) set for fresh vegetables, indicating a risk of pathogenic diseases. It was recommended that soil users from other areas should also use heat-treatment to minimise pathogenic contamination in their samples.
Cosmetic soils generally had lower concentrations of trace metal elements compared to similar studies in South Africa. Some of these elements e.g. Pb (0.13 - 6.67mg/kg), Zn (-0.14 - 0.87 mg/kg), Cd (-0.04 - 0.34 mg/kg) actually had concentrations below the recommended safety limits and were thus harmless in cosmetic soils making them safe for use. Geophagic soils mostly had low and safe levels of Cu (-0.88.-1.50 mg/kg), Zn (-0.31-1.15 mg/kg) as well as Cd (-0.0067-0.31), Fe (-3.58 to 15.85 mg/kg), Ni (-0.39-1.27mg/kg), making them essential sources of these nutrients as opposed to being toxic. However, Pb (0.27-5.93 mg/kg) and Mn (-0.19-9.56 mg/kg) levels in geophagic samples were above their safety limits set by WHO/FAO making them unsafe in this regard. Consumers must thus watch out for lead poisoning when consuming geophagic soils
Preserving an Artistic Journey an analysis of how archival documentary films preserve cultural history, combined with the development of a short archival film documenting the life and artistic contributions of the late South African sculptor, Michael Gasa.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This study examines the role of archival documentary film in the preservation of cultural history and includes the production of a short archival documentary on the life and art of the late South African Sculptor Michael Gasa. The dissertation addresses the research problem, "What issues and insights about the role of digital archives in the preservation of South African cultural history are raised via the production of an archival documentary and an archival website on the life and art of the late sculptor Mr Bonginkosi Michael Gasa?". This study hopes to show, through the presentation of research and the curation of archival material, not only the importance of the role archival documentary film and the digital platform play in the preservation of heritage but also how this archival project promotes the idea of an African gaze, which Campt sums up as referring to 'a method of perceiving, understanding, and reflecting on the world, culture, and experiences through the eyes of an African' (2021). This is essential for preserving an authentic cultural voice and heritage. This study is conducted by following a practice-led slant, meaning the research primarily leads to new information about the practice. Practice-led research focuses on understanding the nature of practice and generates new knowledge that is meaningful and applicable to that practice. The primary goal of this research is to enhance understanding of practice or to contribute knowledge within the practice itself. (Candy; 2006) When conducting a study, the outcomes of practice-led research can be presented entirely in written form, without requiring a creative component. This approach integrates practice as a key element of its methodology and often aligns with action research. This differs from studies that incorporate physical artefacts or creative works as part of the submission, it puts an emphasis on advancing theoretical or
practical insights about the practice itself. (2006) In this case, the practice will investigate the key elements that go into the production of an archival documentary and, secondly, the digital archiving of the project online. The study is designed using a case study approach, following the creative journey of Mr. Bonginkosi Michael Gasa, a sculptor who passed away on 18 April 2019 at the age of 55. The film about Mr. Gasa will be reported in the closing chapters of the study, which will also serve to elucidate the critical, theoretical, and cultural matrix from which the film emerges. The documentary film will be preserved on a website created using a free website builder, SITE123 and YouTube, both platforms serving as an online
repository, curation, and record of Mr. Gasa's sculptures. Moreover, this paper and study hope to show that archives exist to be used for present and future generations and, in this way, can contribute to preserving our national cultural heritage
A criminological exploration of queerphobic violence and victimisation of self-identifying queer sexual minority in KwaMashu Township.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.South Africa is internationally celebrated for its progressive Constitution, which guarantees fundamental human rights, freedom, and equality. However, the country grapples with pervasive crime, violence, and ongoing discrimination, including hate speech and hate crimes, particularly against queer individuals. While the Bill of Rights prohibits discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation and mandates national legislation to prevent such discrimination, a gap exists between these legal protections and the lived realities of queer communities, especially in township settings. This study focused on queerphobic violence and victimization experienced by self-identifying sexual minorities in KwaMashu Township, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. It explored the nature and consequences of victimisation, perceptions of queerphobic violence, the adequacy of available support and interventions, and the strategies employed by queer individuals to navigate their safety in this context. Using a qualitative approach, the study purposively sampled 15 queer participants from the Imvelo Yesizwe Organisation in KwaMashu. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analysed thematically. Findings revealed that significant victimisation of queer individuals is rooted in societal prejudice, lack of knowledge about diverse sexual orientations, and inadequate education about homosexuality. The study highlights the urgent need for educational initiatives to address misconceptions and reduce violence against queer communities in township settings
The silencing of black intellectuals in apartheid South Africa: an historical study drawing from the lives and experiences of Es’kia Mphahlele, Archie Mafeje and Bernard Magubane.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Through studying the lives and experiences of Es’kia Mphahlele, Archie Mafeje, and Bernard Magubane, this thesis seeks to bring to light the silencing of black intellectuals in apartheid South Africa. Drawing from the lens of Social History and Small-Scale Histories: Biography, Microhistory, and Autobiography, this study focuses on the early lives of Es’kia Mphahlele, Archie Mafeje, and Bernard Magubane, including their educational backgrounds, and examines the conditions that these intellectuals faced growing up in apartheid South Africa, which influenced their perspectives and ideas. This study also examines the writings and ideas of these black intellectuals who critiqued apartheid and the contributions they made to the country’s liberation struggle while living in South Africa. It also focuses on how the apartheid state tried to suppress their ideas and silence them. It further focuses on their decisions to go into exile and the lives of these black intellectuals in exile. Moreover, it considers the focus of their writings during their period living outside South Africa. This thesis also considers the post-apartheid period and these black intellectuals’ lives and experiences in South Africa from the 1990s. In addition, it examines their lives and work after their return, up to the point of their deaths. Finally, this study reflects on the intellectual legacies of these three intellectuals
Competition and risk-taking behaviour in South African commercial banks.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The study investigated the relationship between banking competition and risk-taking behaviour of the commercial banking sector in South Africa. This research employed two main theories to explain the relationship between banking competition and risk-taking behaviour, namely the Competition Fragility View and Competition Stability. Competition Fragility theory is to justify the increase in banking competition is the increase in bank risk-taking incentives. While the competition stability theory suggests that in less competitive markets, banks charge higher interest rates, which increases loan default risk. There is an ongoing debate on how competition affect the bank risk taking behaviour. This study observed competition in five dominant commercial banks in South Africa. The study uses a panel dataset spanning twenty years, from 2002 to 2022. The level of banking competitionwas measured by Lerner index and H-Statistic for Panzer Rosse. The fixed effect and random effect models were employed to analyse the effect of competition on South African bank risk-taking behaviour. The fixed effect panel threshold regression model was used to examine whether there is any threshold effect on the relationship between competition and bank risk-taking behaviour in South African commercial banks. Bank risk-taking behaviour amongst three banks was measured by non-performing loans, liquidity risk, capital adequacy risk and the Z-score. The control variables are bank- specific, which are performance and bank size. The macroeconomic context comprised gross domestic product (GDP) and inflation (INFL). The result on the degree of competition estimated by both Lerner index and H-statisticranges between 0 and 1. This indicates a monopolistic competitive banking system amongst South African commercial banks. The results support the hypothesis that competition has an effect on South African banks' risk-taking behaviour. The finding on possibility of a threshold effect suggests a non-linear relationship between competition and risk-taking behaviour. The double threshold suggests more complex interactions where the effect of competition changes significantly at certain points. The research therefore recommends that competition should be encouraged on the South African banking sector. Furthermore, the South African Reserve Bank and policymakers should consider policies such as free entry to the market, lower capital requirements and uncapped interest ratesto encouraged new banks to enter the market
Measuring and communicating the value of special libraries in KwaZulu-Natal provincial government departments, Pietermaritzburg.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The study examined the various methods used to measure and communicate the value of special libraries in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provincial government departments (PGDs), Pietermaritzburg. The main purpose was to measure the value of special libraries (SLs) in PGDs and communicate this value to management to advocate their need for redevelopment. In terms of literature to demonstrate the value of SLs, there is a paucity of research that explores this problem, especially in the South African context in which the study was based. The models that underpinned this research were strategic measurement, service quality (SERVQUAL), library quality (LibQUAL), and total quality management (TQM) models. The study adopted the pragmatic paradigm and applied a convergent parallel design through a mixed-methods approach. A sample of 369 employees was drawn from a population of 7,866. In addition, six information professionals (IPs) and six heads of departments (HODs) were purposively chosen as participants in the research. Online questionnaires were used to collect data from library users while interview schedules were used to conduct online interviews with the four IPs and the four HODs who participated. To ensure the reliability and validity of the research instruments, pre-tests were conducted with employees who did not form part of the sample. Computer software, that is, SPSS and NVivo, was used to analyze descriptive statistics and thematic content from the findings. The major findings of the study reveal that there was significant awareness of the existence of the SL in the departments; however, the libraries are not being utilized regularly. The lack of library utilization may be due to the quality of the library being below the expected measures by users and below the zone of tolerance as per the desired-minimum (D-M) standard. However, there was a positive gap between service quality expectations and perceptions, which indicated that users expectations were surpassed. Most SLs in government departments are operating with an outdated library policy or framework. Furthermore, there was a lack of methods used to measure and communicate library value to management. According to library users and librarians, not enough attention was paid by management to the development of the library. Conversely, management confirmed the importance of having an effective library and that there is a budget allocated for the libraries in their departments. While there was a significant awareness of the importance of SPLs in PGDs, the lack of an adequate budget to develop these libraries makes them less effective in helping to achieve organizational goals. Some of the libraries under study were found to be strategically aligned to organizational goals. However, there were no methods used by IPs to measure the value of SLs and there was a lack of communication channels to convey the value of SLs to management. The study also established that various aspects of the library and its service affect how users determine the quality of the library. The functions of SLs are diverse based on the objectives of the parent organization. The roles of IPs in a special library involve determining the various methods that support the organization and its employees by enhancing information access. The study concluded that the value of SLs in PGDs is visible; however, the lack of support from management in the development of these libraries hinders the ability of IPs to showcase the significance of these libraries to the organization. The study recommended that SLs in PGDs adopt and implement the proposed strategic framework for measuring and communicating the value of these libraries. Lastly, suggestions for further research were provided such as the need for further research under the same topic conducted with employees from the regional offices of these departments to get their perspectives on the significance of having a library that is only situated at their head offices.Abstract only available in English in PDF document
Implications of climate variability and change on urban environmental security: a case study of Lagos Mega-City in Nigeria.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The adverse ecological, political, socio-cultural, and economic consequences of climate variability and change have been documented by scientists in different parts of the world. Therefore, its implications on growing urban societies could affect stability and security in these locations. Thus, in the quest to support the closing of the capacity gaps and to enhance the body of knowledge in the emerging field of urban security in developing economy countries, this study examines the implications of climate variability on the urban environmental security of Lagos Mega-city in Nigeria. The study identifies the impacts of changing climate alongside rapid urbanisation on urban societies and is essential in promoting urban environmental sustainability that stimulates the process of encouraging climate adaptation and building resiliency in cities. The focus on vulnerability is vital given that the urban poor bear a disproportionate burden in dealing with climate variability and change associated with negative socio-economic impacts on livelihoods, infrastructure and basic services, and the natural resource base, especially in the context of limited resources and coping options. Adaptation strategies such as seeking alternate employment and livelihood opportunities, the sale of goods and services, leveraging remittances and external support, and accessing natural resources are undermined. Lagos Mega-city is a continuously growing city located on the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. The city’s location and rapid population growth make it susceptible to the impacts of changing climate. Subsequently, the study engaged a mixed methodological research design to achieve its objectives. This involved both qualitative and quantitative methods, encompassing exploratory and descriptive approaches. Primary data was collected by undertaking face-to-face interviews using the questionnaire that targeted adults in 400 households from the purposively chosen three communities in the Mega-city. The households were selected from spatial maps using Geographic Information System (GIS) tool and Geospatial Modelling Environment (GME). Other data were collected from three focus group discussions comprising community leaders and fishmongers. Also, information was retrieved through interviews conducted with six key informants who were mainly stakeholders in the government sectors in the city. The analysis of the data from the household interviews was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while the qualitative data from the focus group discussions and key informant interviews were subjected to content analysis. The results and discussions emanating from the data analysis techniques employed were supported by relevant literature on the themes of the study. The study revealed widespread awareness of the issues concerning climate variability and change in the city due to the perceptions of the increasing variations in the intensity of rainfall, temperature, urban heat, level of flooding, and change in seasons in the city. However, there was negligible knowledge and understanding about what contributes to the increase in climate variability and change. Also, the study indicated that changing climate alongside rapid urbanisation features were perceived to be responsible for increasing biodiversity depletion and the enhancement of negative socio-economic impacts on the residents with implications on their livelihoods. Furthermore, the study showed that the communities in the city were engaged in diverse adaptation strategies to counter the impacts of climate variability and change. The study recommends sensitisation of residents on climate issues, initiation of effective urban governance, building climate-resilient infrastructures, and provision of climate variability and change policy as a sustainable urban environmental security approach essential for tackling changing climate issues in the city