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Exploring the authenticity and adaptation of instructional materials in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms.
No full textResearch Articles. Criminology and Forensic Studies.This paper explored the concepts of authenticity and adaptation of instructional materials in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms. The authenticity of instructional materials is a major and often overlooked factor in foreign language teaching. However, the adaptation of instructional materials is the process of adapting existing materials to a particular language learning context. The aim of this paper was to examine the benefits and limitations of both approaches. From an analysis of various theoretical approaches, it was found that there is an advantage to using both approaches when teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Materials should be authentic to the language and culture of the language in question, while at the same time taking into account certain considerations such as the students’ language proficiency level and the specific context of the class. The adaptation of materials should not lead to over-simplification, and both approaches should be used to ensure that the materials are appropriate for the learning context. In conclusion, the paper argued that both authentic and adapted materials have their advantages and disadvantages, and that an optimal solution is to strike a balance between the two approaches. It is important for language teachers to be mindful of the need to use materials that are both authentic to the language and culture, while at the same time taking into account the specific needs of the class. This paper has provided a brief overview of how authenticity and adaptation of instructional materials in EFL classrooms can be effectively managed
Exploring the livelihoods of ride-hailing drivers in Polokwane’s central business district.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This study investigated ride-hailing drivers' livelihoods in the City of Polokwane, Limpopo Province. This qualitative exploration provided an understanding of the industry's dynamics by directly incorporating the experiences and perspectives of drivers. Through in-depth interviews
with 15 ride-hailing drivers, thematic analysis and NVivo software revealed multifaceted challenges impacting income levels. Surge pricing, access to resources, safety concerns, competition regulation, driver incentives, financial planning, app efficiency, and the potential benefits of loyalty programmes all emerged as pivotal factors influencing the livelihoods of ride-hailing professionals. Beyond highlighting challenges, the study uncovers potential avenues for improvement, including exploring loyalty programmes. By assessing the feasibility and benefits of loyalty initiatives, the research opens a discourse on how such programmes could contribute to the livelihoods of ride-hailing drivers. As the ride-hailing industry continues to evolve, understanding these factors becomes imperative for developing initiatives that foster a sustainable and supportive environment for those driving the industry forward. The study not only contributes valuable insights into the complex dynamics inherent in the ride-hailing sector but also provides specific recommendations aimed at enhancing the overall well-being and financial resilience of the drivers
Youth and traditional leaders’ perceptions of intimate partner violence against women in rural settlements: insights from the mid-South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Intimate partner violence is an ominous societal issue that requires urgent attention in South Africa. According to research provided by Statistics South Africa (2021), 21% of women experienced physical abuse from an intimate partner during the survey period. The current study, which employed qualitative research methods, explored the role of traditional leaders in addressing the intimate partner violence (IPV) phenomenon in a rural area. A key purpose was to determine whether their influence and interventions might offer solutions to the uMnini and Kwa Thoyana communities regarding the phenomenon of IPV. Data were also generated by eliciting the perspectives of the youth as it has been argued that young people (age 18 – 35) are most affected by the IPV phenomenon. In the African culture, traditional leaders' power and responsibilities are rarely questioned, and rural communities are greatly influenced by the role that these leaders play in the lives of individuals and in the community as a whole. Theoretically, traditional leaders’ responsibilities and influence are quite wide and they are mandated to maintain the peace and ensure the well-being of all their people. Their role also extends to the diplomatic sphere as they need to liaise with their subjects and neighbouring leaders in matters of safety, security, and social harmony. The manner in which traditional leaders in the study area addressed intimate partner violence was explored by assessing the perceptions of the youth and traditional leaders themselves. The study further sought to determine if traditional leaders’ intervention could contain and resolve incidents of IPV. To this end, the impact of the disciplinary measures they had taken or proposed to ensure justice for victims of IPV, the nature of the support they offered these victims, and the manner in which offenders were reintegrated into society were explored. The study found that traditional leaders' perceptions of intimate partner abuse digressed significantly from those of the younger generation. This dichotomy was attributed to the conflict between traditional beliefs and customs and a drastically evolving and more democratically-minded younger generation. The traditional leaders focused on restitution and healing for married couples, while unmarried couples would be left to their own devices. Holding conservative beliefs, the traditional leaders supported the traditional court system which relies on dialogue and may even excuse acts of violence against an intimate partner as long as the marriage remains intact. In their view, their attitude of forgiveness and their focus on restitution were demanded by the traditional process of restorative justice. However, this attitude did not seem to imbue young community members with hope and trust in them, as they argued that they would rather approach the SAPS than a traditional leader for assistance in the event of IPV. The youth in Kwa Thoyana and uMnini admittedly struggled, or perceived that they might struggle, to access support in cases of intimate partner abuse. This perception stemmed from their view of traditional leaders’ roles as specific to land division and restitution issues. Additionally, many argued that they would never approach their parents for support due to the time-honoured tradition of respecting one’s elders. Lastly, the use of traditional medicines and the practice of inflicting curses on targeted victims were identified as factors that contribute to IPV, indicating the need for further research to determine effective intervention strategies
Phytochemistry of some South African medicinal Rubiaceae and Curtisiaceae species = Isayensi yezitshalo kanye nemikhiqizo yezitshalo yezinhlobo zemithi yeRubiacease kanye neCurtiasease zaseNingizimu Afrikha.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The investigation began by identifying which taxonomic groups from southern Africa are most prominently featured in ethnopharmacological practices. This involved collecting data from ethnopharmacological surveys and performing statistical analyses. Over-represented southern African taxa and the concept of over-represented genera are presented for the first time. The families and genera with the highest margins of over-representation were found to be Loganiaceae and Albizia in southern Africa as a whole and Sapotaceae and Solanum in South Africa. The families and genera with the highest margins of over-representation across disease categories are Ebenaceae and Albizia, Canellaceae and Dicoma, Combretaceae and Pterocelastrus, Ebenaceae and Bersama, Francoaceae and Erythrina, and Aristolochiaceae and Strychnos for plants used in the treatment of STIs, febrile and mosquito-vector diseases, microbial infections, pain, skin conditions, and female sexual/reproductive problems, respectively. The Rubiaceae family was found to be one of the 25 most over-represented taxonomic groups in Southern Africa. Plants in the family were targeted for investigation due to the availability of plant material. The study focused on the phytochemical investigations of three southern African medicinal plants, Coddia rudis (E.Mey. ex Harv.) Verdc., Keetia gueinzii (Sond.) Bridson and Curtisia dentata (Burm.f.) C.A.Sm. The ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry of the Rubiaceae species were first reviewed. The review was intended to be comprehensive, recording and discussing the notable findings of investigations on Rubiaceae species. Hundred and thirteen Rubiaceae species with ethnobotanical applications. Thirty-five species have nutritional applications. Twenty-three out of 34 anti-inflammatory and analgesic species, 17 out of 31 anti-viral and anti-bacterial species, and 13 of 27 Rubiaceae species used for sexual and reproductive problems have not undergone preparative phytochemical analysis. Only 52 southern African Rubiaceae were found to have undergone bioactivity investigations. Two hundred and thirty-three isolated compounds have been reported from 39 Rubiaceae species of southern Africa. Coddia rudis and Keetia gueinzii were selected based on proximal availability in the Pietermaritzburg region. Curtisia dentata was chosen due to findings during the review that plants in the Cornales order (of which C. dentata is a member) produce iridoid glycosides similarly to the Rubiaceae family members. The study yielded eleven bioactive known
compounds. Gardenoside, geniposidic acid, and astragalin were isolated from C. rudis leaves and kaempferitrin was isolated from K. gueinzii leaves. Phlorizin and (-)-epicatechin were isolated from C. dentata bark, and loganic acid, secologanoside, geniposide, juglalin, and sweroside were isolated from C. dentata leaves. The study represents the first report of the isolation of these compounds from the species in question. The isolation of phlorizin, a known diuretic with anti-diabetic activities, supports the use of the C. dentata bark to treat diabetes in traditional medicine. Furthermore, obtaining juglalin, which has been reported to inhibit the senescence of dermal fibroblast cells, corroborates the application of the plant in the treatment of various skin conditions. The results of the study are consistent with findings reported in literature that show the presence of biologically active iridoid glycosides in Rubiaceae and Cornales species.
Iqoqa.
Uphenyo lwaqala ngokuthola ukuthi iliphi iqoqo elikhulu kakhulu elihambisanayo e-Afrikha eseningizimu elisetshenziswa emisebenzini yezimbiza. Lokhu kufaka kukho ukuqoqwa kwemininingo kumasaveyi okusetshenziswa kwezimbiza kanye nokwenza uhlaziyo lwezinombolo. Ukuba khona okwedlulele kweqoqo elicwaningwanyo eningizimu ne-Afrikha kanye nomqondo wokuba khona ngokwedlulele kwezinhlobo kuyadingidwa ngokokuqala ngqa. Imindeni kanye nezinhlobo okunemikhawulo emikhulu yokusetshenziswa ngokwedlulele kwatholakala ku-Loganiaceae ne-Albizia eningizimu ne-Afrikha njengengxenye ephelele kanye ne-Sapotaceae ne-Solanum eNingizimu Afrikha. Imindeni kanye nezinhlobo okunemikhawuko emikhulu yokusetshenziswa ngokwedlulele phakathi kwamaqoqo ezifo i-Ebenaceae ne-Albizia, i-Canellaceae ne-Dicoma, i-Combretaceae ne-Pterocelastrus, i-Ebenaceae ne-Bersama, i-Francoaceae ne-Erythrina, kanye ne-Aristolochiaceae ne-Strychnos kwezitshalo ezisetshenziswa ekwelapheni ama-STI, ukushisa kanye nokutheleleka kwesifo somiyane, ukutheleleka ngamagciwane, ubuhlungu, izimo zesikhumba, kanye nezinkinga zabesifazane zezitho zangasese/zokukhiqiza inzalo, ngokwehlukana kwakho. Umndeni we-Rubiaceae watholakala ungomunye wangama-25 osetshenziswa ngokwedlulele emaqoqweni ahambisanayo eNingizimu ne-Afrikha. Izitshalo esizemndenini zazihlonziwe ukuphenywa ngenxa yokuba khona kwesakhi sesitshalo sazo.
Ucwaningo lwagxila ekuhloleni isayensi yokusebenza kwezitshalo kanye nemikhiqizo yazo yezitshalo ezintathu ezise-Afrikha eseningizimu, i-Coddia rudis (E.Mey. ex Harv.) i-Verdc., i-Keetia gueinzii (Sond.) Bridson kanye ne-Curtisia dentata (Burm.f.) C.A.Sm. Ukusebenza kwezimbiza kanye nesayensi yezitshalo kanye nemikhiqizo yazo kwezinhlobo ze-Rubiaceae kwaba okokuqala ukubuyekezwa. Ikhulu kanye neshumi nantathu lezinhlobo ze-Rubiaceae okusetshenziswa njegezitshalo ezinezinhloso ezahlukene, ezifana nokudla, imithi kanye nemipheme nokunye. Izinhlobo ezingamashumi amathathu nanhlanu zisetshenziswa njengezinokudla. Ezingamashumi amabili nantathu kwezingama-34 izinhlobo ezilwisana nokuvuvuka kanye nokwehlisa izinhlungu, bese eziyi-13 kwezingama-27 izinhlobo ze-Rubiaceae ezisetshenziselwa izinkinga zezocansi kanye nezokuzala azikatholi ukulungiselelwa ukuhlaziywa ngesayensi yezitshalo kanye nemikhiqizo yazo. Ama-Rubiaceae angama-52 kuphela aseningizimu ne-Afrikha atholakala ukuthi asephenyiwe ukusebenza kwawo okunempilo. Amakhulu amabili kanye namashumi amathathu nantathi ezingxubevange ezehlukanisiwe asebikiwe ezinhlotsheni ze-Rubiaceae ezingama-39 zase-Afrikha eseningizimu.
Uphenyo ngesayensi ephathelene nezitshalo kanye nemikhiqizo yazo yaveza izingxubevange eziyishumi nanye ezaziwayo zokusebenza kokuphilayo. Isimuncwana se-Gardenoside, i-geniposidic kanye ne-astragalin kwahlukaniswa kusuka emahlamvini e-C. rudis kanye ne-kaempferitrin kwahlukaniswa emahlamvini e-K. gueinzii. I-Phlorizin kanye ne-(-)-epicatechin kwahlukaniswa egxolweni le-C. dentata, futhi isimuncwana esi-loganic, i-secologanoside, i-geniposide, i-juglalin, kanye ne-sweroside kwahlukaniswa emahlamvini e-C. dentata.
Ucwaningo lumele umbiko wokuqala wokwehlukanisa lezi zingxubevange zalezi zinhlobo okukhulunywa ngazo
Principals’ meaning of and practices for supporting teachers in promoting inclusive classrooms.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The purpose of the study was to explore principals’ meanings of and practices for supporting teachers in promoting inclusive classroom in primary schools of the uMgungundlovu District. The duty of the principal is to provide every learner in the school with access to education and to develop the learners’ leadership potential. It is therefore vital to find out how principals understand the inclusive classroom in supporting teachers to promote the inclusive classroom in the selected primary schools, to find out the roles that principals play in the child’s life and in the teachers’ life in terms of support and also the difficulties they (principals) experience in the process of promoting an inclusive environment in the classroom. The study was theoretically underpinned in transformational leadership and Bronfenbrenner’s ecological system theories, in order to explore the leadership practices of the principals. The study used a qualitative case study design within the interpretive paradigm. Qualitative research seeks to explain and understand social phenomena in its natural settings. It concentrates on the meaning people have built concerning their world and the researcher is viewed as the primary tool for data generation and analysis. Face to face semi-structured interviews were employed to generate data. A sample of four participants from the four selected primary schools was purposefully chosen, which constituted the research participants. Ethical considerations, including confidentiality and anonymity, were maintained throughout the research study. The study reviewed related literature from national and international perspectives on leadership practices, in order to understand how principals, support teachers in promoting inclusive classroom. The research findings have revealed that principals play an important role in transforming their respective schools into learning environments that are conducive for teaching and learning through their leadership. The principals considered leadership as a collective effort and practiced collaborative decision- making. Furthermore, the principals’ understanding, and experience enabled them to build good interpersonal relationships with teachers, learners, and other stakeholders. The study has also identified several challenges pertaining to leadership in the inclusive classroom, lack of resources and limited official visits. This study presented the recommendations for practice and for further research
Identity, heritage and tourism: the memorialisation of Joshua Nkomo in Zimbabwe.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Tourism can be significantly influenced by iconic individuals, both historical and contemporary. These individuals can act as magnets of tourism drawing visitors to a destination for them to experience a feeling of connection with the iconic person or what they stand for. The relationship between the state and the transformation of iconic individuals into tourism products has an important effect on the way tourism is experienced and perceived. The state and tourism organisations often use iconic individuals to promote the country to the world and shape the way tourists view and engage with a destination. Therefore, it is important to study the implication of transforming iconic individuals into a tourism product. This study explored the interplay of identity, heritage and tourism in turning the late Joshua Nkomo’s memoir, a significant political figure in Zimbabwean history, into a tourism attraction and even destination. Joshua Nkomo, a popular nationalist during his lifetime, was a key player in Zimbabwe's anti-colonialism struggles from the late 1950s to independence in 1980. Nkomo served in several post-independence government capacities in Zimbabwe, but his most notable position was that of Vice-President, which he held until his death in July 1999. The main aim of the study was to comprehend the complexities and implications of transforming the legacies of a political actor, whose biography was both ascribed with notions of villain and heroism in post-colonial Zimbabwe, into a tourism brand. The study adopted a qualitative research approach where data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Purposive sampling and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with fifty participants who included government agencies, tour operators, tourists, and local communities. Information from theories, including the Identity Theory, Social Identity Theory, Social Constructionism Theory, and Critical Heritage studies served as the guiding framework for the study. The results show that Joshua Nkomo received the same memorialization benefits upon his death that are typically given to people of his stature in Zimbabwe as "national heroes," but attempts made after the year 2000 to further this memorialization by turning him into a tourism brand have raised questions and problems not conventionally related to brand creation in cultural heritage tourism. The findings indicate that political actors produce tourism brands through contestations that occasionally pit politics and history against traditional tourism and brand creation techniques. While worldwide, a country's relationship with others is vital in the formation of a brand, in Zimbabwe, historical legacies play a significant role in influencing the attitudes of local tourists. Conflict in the tourism industry is inevitable at every stage of product development. Therefore, involving all stakeholders in Zimbabwe's heritage management and tourist development was found to be the best approach to tackle such challenges. The study concludes that multivocalism/a variety of viewpoints is a key component of value addition in the growth and advancement of heritage tourism. Therefore, the government should foster individual and group identities by providing public areas for people to memorialize their loved ones in a way that is meaningful to them. Joshua Nkomo’s memorialisation in the form of museums, a statue monument and a grave had a significant impact on the country’s tourism landscape just as he was loved by both his family and multitudes of Zimbabweans
Towards a feminist theology of (in)-decent work in the context of human trafficking and migration: journeying with economic migrant women in India in their struggle for a life of dignity.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The objective of this research is to work towards developing a feminist theology of trafficked
dignity and (in)-decent work, trying to seek answers to the main research question, What are
the conceptual components of embodied dignity within contexts of trafficking, female
economic migration and indecent work in the informal economy?
This dissertation analyses ways in which notions of ‘trafficking’ reconfigure notions of ‘dignity’
and ‘indecent work’ for trafficked and migrant working women. It explores how these
conceptual components can contribute to a theology of dignity for the trafficked and decent
work for female economic migrants. It further explores the theological/religious dimensions
of dignity in the embodied experience of women who have been vulnerable to or have
experiences of trafficking. This dissertation explores the broader context of neoliberal
globalisation and its intersections with human trafficking, labour migration and gender. It
asserts women’s rights to decent work and invites the wider community to be in just solidarity
with female economic migrants. This research makes five arguments.
First, it argues that an over-emphasis on the feminised image of the trafficked with strong
anti-prostitution foundations stemming from the abolitionist discourse takes away focus from
the structural and systemic inequities that pushes women out from their homelands to
migrate in search of work and better life that renders them vulnerable to trafficking and other
forms of exploitation.
Second, it argues that an over emphasis on trafficked women as passive victims takes away
the focus from recognising her agency for taking informed decisions for herself in the recovery
phase. A paternalistic approach in the anti-trafficking paradigm can render women to
secondary victimisation and exploitation.
Third, it argues for creating intentional spaces for dialogues between the dominant groups
with strong anti-trafficking and anti-migration foundations and groups that promote women’s
agency in her choice of work, including sex work. I contend that in the anti-trafficking
paradigm, women’s right to decent work, that includes amongst many other concerns, safe
working places, ethical practices, fair wages, provision of social security and health care get
less attention in the presence of abolitionist and bureaucratic feminism. Fourth, it argues for the affirmation of dignity and personhood of women as resourceful
agents of their empowerment and as economic contributors to their families and
governments of the host and home countries. With women sending remittances back home,
women’s contribution to their homes and home countries must be recognised and their
dignity must be affirmed which gets overshadowed in comparison to their male counterparts.
Fifth, this research argues for women’s active participation in the knowledge production
process. Having women’s perspective and insights that comes from their lived experiences, is
critical to influence policy, development praxis, sociology, theology and praxis. The
recognition of women as the best knowers of their social realities and having them as
collaborators in research is emphasized and practiced in this research. The knowledge and
agency of women from Global South needs to be recognised and affirmed. Decolonising
knowledge systems, I argue is necessary in research and academia, to influence development
work. This research has taken a preferential option for women in the margins of the society
and academia. It has drawn women’s epistemological knowledge and standpoint in the
research process within the discipline of liberation biblical hermeneutics. This is process
directed research. Much of my emphasis in each chapter is on the research process itself. The
research process is as important, perhaps more so, than the research product. At the
beginning of each chapter, I reiterate my research process, ensuring that each aspect of my
research is understood to be part of an integrated process.
With Feminist Standpoint Theory, Intersectional Feminism and Liberation Theology as the
core theoretical and theological foundations, this research engages with the scholarly work
of post-colonial feminist scholars, theologians and biblical scholars on human trafficking,
migration, labour, neoliberal economic globalisation, body, human dignity and solidarity. The
methodological foundations are within the discipline of Qualitative Critical Feminist Research
paradigm and has engaged in doing Feminist Interviews, Informal Encounters, Focus Group
Discussions and Contextual Bible Studies.
This dissertation explores the broader context of women from the Global South who in the
presence of unjust and inequal systems and structures move out of their homes that could
lead to women’s mobility in unsafe passages. I explored the micro and macro factors of
women’s economic migration from critical studies on human trafficking and migration from a
post-colonial feminist lens. Women’s subjective experiences of their migratory journey informed this research about women’s trafficking and migration experiences. It further informs women’s strategies for resistance, liberation and empowerment. I examined their
strategies of survival, sustenance and solidarity in host cities to address injustices and
exploitation that they face at workplaces and in the community. To create transformative
pathways for a just world, I firmly believe that our collective action must be centred towards
being in just solidarity with vulnerable and marginalised populations
Substance abuse in a primary school context: a collaborative educator self-study in the Umgungundlovu District.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Substance abuse in primary schools is an emerging, sensitive and critical issue that is threatening South African youth who are the future of our country. The purpose of this study
was to address substance abuse in a primary school in the uMgungundlovu district by conducting a collaborative self-study on educators’ experiences of substance abuse. The study
was conducted in a primary school in the uMgungundlovu district in Edendale, KwaZulu–Natal Province. Key findings revealed that my personal history contributed to my interest in
substance abuse as an educator. The reflections with my colleagues (critical friends and I) also revealed our discovery of the commonly abused substance Zanex, violent behaviour of
learners, lack of concentration and difficulty in disciplining substance abusers. The findings further highlight that driving forces behind substance abuse in our context include social media, individual experiences, family, community, poverty and unemployment. Lastly, the findings highlight that substance abuse can be mitigated through psychological support, community intervention programmes, departmental support, sister departments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The study is significant as my personal growth and professional development have improved by engaging in collaborative self-study as a research design. The study recommends that greater attention should be provided to educator training on the implementation of policies and the collaboration of the community in mitigating substance abuse. This study also promotes self-study as a comparatively new genre of research, which has the potential to improve educator professional development and positive transformation of the learning environment
Aspects of the ecology and conservation of vultures in South Africa.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Vultures play a crucial role in ecosystems as scavengers by consuming carcasses and preventing the spread of diseases. However, vulture populations worldwide face anthropogenic threats causing drastic declines, with several species now facing extinction. In response to this, various conservation efforts have been implemented to safeguard vultures. The overarching goal of this thesis was to evaluate the effectiveness of these conservation efforts through a comprehensive examination of vulture ecology and conservation strategies. We reviewed the use of questionnaires to understand stakeholder perceptions and global threats to vultures. Additionally, public attitudes towards wildlife marking techniques and the implications for vulture conservation were explored. Furthermore, we evaluated the effectiveness of vulture rehabilitation, release and monitoring initiatives by comparing the behaviour and survival of rehabilitated and wild vultures. The systematic review of questionnaire-based vulture research revealed critical insights into stakeholder perceptions globally. The study highlighted the multitude of threats facing vultures in different regions. We found worldwide misconceptions among stakeholders, including the belief that vultures attack livestock. These misconceptions exacerbate retaliatory killings, highlighting the need for focused education initiatives to protect vultures. Across
Africa, poisoning, poaching, and cultural use of vultures pose significant challenges to their conservation. The exploration of public perception of wildlife marking techniques, particularly patagial tags on vultures, revealed predominantly positive attitudes towards marking wildlife. Despite broad support for wing-tagging vultures, variations in reporting vulture sightings highlighted the importance of promoting active monitoring and awareness. Analysis of the Endangered Wildlife Trust Vulture Resighting Database proved patagial tags valuable in collecting long-term data on vulture movements. However, concerns about the durability of tags and the high number of vultures not resighted after tagging raised questions about their potential impacts on vulture survival. The study of vultures treated at Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre indicated the successful reintroduction of poisoned and injured vultures into the wild despite challenges, including post-release mortality and possible behavioural impacts of the rehabilitation process. Future research should prioritise tailored conservation strategies, including stricter regulations to limit substances that are harmful to vultures and community-based initiatives for responsible carcass disposal. Increasing public awareness, citizen science projects, and advancements in tracking technology are crucial for improving conservation efforts and halting the decline of vulture populations
The role of internal auditing in mitigating noncompliance and irregular expenditure within eThekwini Municipality operations.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Act 1 of 1999, government institution management must make sure that all financial policies established by organisations, as well as rules and regulations, are followed. This research explores the role of Internal Auditing in mitigating noncompliance and irregular expenditure within eThekwini Municipality operations. The fact that non-compliance and irregular expenditures still prevail within the municipality in spite of the existence of the internal auditing and compliance unit points to the need for research. Many people have concerns regarding the influence and function of the internal audit unit within the local governments as a result of the consistently rising number of irregular expenditures. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of internal auditing in mitigating these issues and propose recommendations for improving internal auditing processes to address non-compliance and irregular expenditures within the municipality. The study followed a quantitative research approach to understand the drivers of irregular expenditures and the role of internal audit unit by asking respondents to share their day-to-day experiences with auditors and their role. Data collected using quantitative approach was examined with the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) program, and the results were displayed as means, frequencies, percentages, and standard deviations. Through the "drop and pick" method, respondents were given a questionnaire with closed-ended questions and replies evaluated on a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive analysis was used to examine the data gathered using the instrument for measuring so that inferences could be made. The study found that inconsistent spending may result from a lack of workshops and training on policies and challenges. It is also confirmed that the departments have controls in place to minimise possibilities of irregular expenditures but some of the controls are not effective because they are not properly designed or properly implemented. Another issue that can make it hard to implement designed controls in local government is the issue of political influence. It is advised that the division of internal audit offer instruction on the new policies that have been suggested as well as direction on how to proceed. The results of the study corroborate previous research on the role internal audit plays in supply chain operations and in lowering the amount of irregular spending in the municipality