KovsieJournals - University of the Free State (UFS)
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Planning in a post-apartheid city and the complexities of participatory planning and governance: A case study of Windhoek, Namibia
Full text linkCities in the Global South continue to face complex planning and governance challenges, often exacerbated by outdated planning instruments that fail to respond to rapid urbanisation. This disconnect has led to growing dissatisfaction among urban residents in low-income areas, who increasingly demand inclusion in neighbourhood-level planning. At independence in 1990, Windhoek (Namibia) inherited a planning system designed primarily for the White minority elite, entrenching racial and economic divisions in urban development. Existing literature highlights that the continued, uncritical use of this legacy planning system has contributed to the exclusion of a vast majority of residents from formal planning processes. This article investigates the extent to which Windhoek’s residents are included in the planning of their neighbourhoods and explores how participatory approaches could address historical exclusion. A case study design was employed, using mixed methods: a questionnaire-based survey of 150 residents across three neighbourhoods (representing low-, middle-, and ultra-low-income areas), and semi-structured interviews with 20 urban planning professionals. Findings reveal a widespread perception among residents that current participatory mechanisms are insufficient, with many feeling inadequately consulted. Urban planners similarly acknowledged the need to build residents’ capacity to meaningfully contribute to planning processes. Based on these insights, the article proposes a participatory planning framework that seeks to bridge the divide between communities and planning authorities. This framework advocates for the integration of residents’ perspectives with the technical expertise of planners, aiming to support inclusive and responsive urban planning practices in Windhoek and similar postcolonial urban contexts
Developing an integrated framework for walkability assessment: A case study of Çankaya’s urban mobility
Full text linkDespite increasing recognition of walkability’s importance in sustainable urban planning, no integrated framework exists for its assessment and improvement. Previous approaches have not mathematically evaluated optimal design criteria, showing the need for a new strategy to systematically enhance pedestrian environments. This study proposes an integrated strategy combining two techniques – spatial network analysis and design-multivariate optimisation – to address this inefficiency. In the first step, spatial network analysis was used to classify walkability levels as high, medium, or low, with the low levels identifying pedestrian routes in need of improvement. In the second step, a design-multivariate optimisation procedure was applied to mathematically derive the best design criteria by enhancing key walkability factors. The study examines 117 neighbourhoods in Çankaya, Turkey, a densely populated and mixed-use urban district. Given the importance of walkability in such areas, the research aims to support local government decision-making, by providing valuable insights for urban planning and development. Results indicate high walkability levels in the district’s central areas but low walkability and connectivity between the centre and the eastern section. In the second phase, 20 streets were selected for further analysis, with data structured into a design matrix. Expert response to this matrix was used for multivariate optimisation, employing a second-order quadratic model to determine the optimal walkability design criteria. Findings highlight the value of combining and integrating network analysis with optimisation techniques to generate evidence-based solutions in urban planning. The proposed strategy offers practical recommendations for enhancing pedestrian infrastructure and establishing standardised design criteria, contributing to more sustainable, accessible, and pedestrian-friendly urban environments
The validity of old customary marriages entered into during the subsistence of a civil marriage. : You cannot have your cake and eat it, too, Ndlovukazi (Queen): Zulu v Mathe (unreported case numbers 2751/2021P; 2752/2021P [2022] ZAKZPHC 6 (2 February 2022))
Full text linkPrior to the passing of the Marriage and Matrimonial Property Law Amendment Act 3 of 1988, the legal position was that a civil marriage trumped any customary marriage. Entering into a civil marriage had two major effects, namely it dissolved any existing customary marriage, and it prevented a man from entering into any subsequent marriage with another woman. However, post-1988, the legal position was slightly altered. An earlier civil or customary marriage trumped any subsequent marriage. A man who was a party to a customary marriage could no longer enter into a civil marriage with another woman; that civil marriage would be invalid. This note discusses the case of the late Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini, and his various consorts. The first marriage in 1969 was a civil marriage. The subsequent marriages were customary marriages. As pointed out earlier, strictly speaking in law, these subsequent marriages were invalid owing to the earlier civil marriage to the first wife. This position remained the same in 1988. It must be borne in mind that the invalidity in question came about because of past inequality. South Africa is now a constitutional state that prides itself as the epitome of basic human rights, including equality and human dignity. It would be hypocritical to espouse basic human rights in the Constitution, while perpetuating past inequality in the context of the above customary marriages. In the case under present discussion, Zulu v Mathe, the court missed an opportunity to pronounce on the validity of customary marriages that were invalidated, due to inequality. Arguably, the court also missed the opportunity to pronounce on the validity of the late King’s last customary marriage, which was entered into in 2014, many years after the passing of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998. This case note is a critical discussion of this aspect of the judgment.
Towards an emergent theory of reimagining church in a racially divided society: Building theory from different cases
Full text linkHow to build an emergent theory on changing social imagination of church in the context of South Africa? Emergent theory involves building theory, not testing theory. The author uses the so-called Eisenhardt method of building an emergent theory. Rigour in the Eisenhardt method rests on five criteria: “how” and “why” research questions, using theoretical sampling, well-identified theoretical constructs, identifying mechanisms of transformation, and boundary logic. The author builds an emergent theory on how to change social imagination based on three cases, namely Dion Forster’s study on the social imagination of forgiveness, Jaco Botha’s study onreimagining outreach by White theology students, and Wynand Breytenbach on transformation of ecclesiological imagination of a congregation in liturgy
A framework for the adoption of decentralised waste-water treatment systems for developing countries: A case study of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Full text linkThe adoption of decentralised waste-water treatment systems presents a viable solution to the growing sanitation and infrastructure challenges faced by developing countries. Among these systems, constructed wetlands (CWs) have gained attention as cost-effective, environmentally sustainable options for treating domestic waste water. This study aims to develop an adoption framework to guide the implementation of CWs as a decentralised waste-water treatment approach in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. A quantitative research design is employed, using a structured, closed-ended questionnaire distributed to 120 professionals, including civil engineers, planners, local authority officials, government representatives, community leaders, and non-governmental organisations. To identify respondents, the study employs a snowball sampling technique, which is effective for accessing specialised or hard-to-reach populations through participant referrals. Ninety valid responses (75% response rate) were analysed using SPSS for descriptive statistics, reliability testing (Cronbach’s alpha), Relative Importance Index (RII), One-way Anova, and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The EFA results reveal three principal dimensions influencing CW adoption, namely institutional and public health factors; financing, regulation, and technical capacity, as well as human and contextual conditions. The findings have significant theoretical, practical, and policy implications – advancing understanding of decentralised waste-water adoption and offering guidance for institutional reform, funding strategies, and community engagement to support sustainable sanitation infrastructure. The resulting framework, which integrates PESTLE factors, stakeholder roles, and procedural steps, provides a replicable tool to inform decision-making for decentralised waste-water management in developing urban contexts. Although limited to Bulawayo, the framework provides a replicable model for similar urban contexts in developing countries
The framing of climate change in the editorials of two Nigerian newspapers, 2021-2025
Full text linkThis study examined newspaper editorials on climate change and its impact on public health in Nigeria from 2021 to 2025, using a sample from The Guardian and The Punch newspapers. Based on the theories of agenda-setting and framing, a sample of 46 editorials selected out of a population of 3284 were analysed for the type of editorial, the dominant frames, and the slant of the editorials. In terms of the type, news editorials and speculative editorials were used most, with the environmental frame the dominant frame. In terms of the slant, most of the editorials were in support of more concerted efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change on public health. Despite the number of editorials published during the period under review, there was a dearth of editorials on climate change. The fact that just more than 1% of the total number of editorials published in both newspapers during the period focused on climate change is an indication of the (lack of) relevance of the topic. Given the implications for public health as a result of climate change, it is clear that, in the context of agenda-setting, the frequency of coverage should increase significantly for climate change to enter the public discourse. Based on the findings of this and other studies, a human interest focus is necessary to make the topic less abstract and more relevant to the audience’s daily lives
THE NEW SOCIAL CONTRACT AND THE RHETORIC OF POVERTY IN THE JURISPRUDENCE OF SOCIOECONOMIC RIGHTS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Full text linkSouth Africa’s Constitution is hailed for the extensive, fully justiciable socio-economic rights in its Bill of Rights. In the context of apartheid history and the travaux préparatoires of the interim Constitution of 1993, these rights created a new social contract between the state and the electorate. We argue that this contract imposes a duty on the state to efficiently provide basic amenities as the foundation for redressing historical economic inequalities. However, 30 years after apartheid ended, the laudable promises of the social contract have not materialised. While many non-legal factors account for this situation, we argue that lacklustre judicial review plays a considerable role. Using literature review and critical analysis of six purposively selected decisions of the Constitutional Court on socio-economic rights, we reveal how judges use legal rhetoric to defer unduly to the executive branch of government. We posit that judicial deference and its accompanying rhetoric hamper the socio-economic revolution envisaged by the Constitution in South Africa
Biblical stewardship and electricity management in Ghana
Full text linkThe article discusses managerial challenge in Ghana’s electricity sector. The analysis relies on field interviews and general observation, supplemented by extensive reviews of related literature, including annual reports by sector managers and energy access data available on the web. The article finds that, over the years, the sector was not well managed, due to government’s appointments of party affiliates instead of those who do qualify to manage it. Noncommittal of sector managers has led to less productivity and less generation of energy. Even in a situation where there is enough generation, high levels of technical and non-technical losses reduce supply. The situation is worsened by high cost of production, and obsolete infrastructure caused by inability of sector managers to raise necessary capital, in order to invest in the sector. The article proposes how the incorporation of the biblical concept of “stewardship” into the theory of electricity management might help address the challenge.
 
Occupation-related anxiety symptoms among teachers in Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa
Full text linkBackground: As the prevalence of mental disorders continues to increase, the workplace has been identified as one of the key sources of mental disorders. Over and above anxiety triggers that emerge from the teaching profession itself, societal and behavioural challenges among young people often extend to the school environment, which increases demands on teachers who have to manage such behaviours to make the classroom a place to operate. However, there are limited studies on the mental health status of teachers. Purpose of the study: The purpose was to screen for anxiety symptoms and identify risk factors among teachers in three school districts of Tshwane Municipality.
Methodology: The study used a cross-sectional design survey and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) tool to screen for anxiety among teachers in the three districts. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, which was analysed descriptively. The Pearson chi-square association test was applied to explore the development of anxiety symptoms and a range of sociodemographic variables, using a p-value of 0.05. The eight variables significantly associated with anxiety development were included in a multivariate logistic regression model.
Results: The sample of 387, consisting of 97 males and 290 females, was drawn from 13 high and three primary schools. The number of teachers per school ranged from 4 to 45, with a mean of 19.45. The majority (n=220, 57.44%) were employed in high schools, and the mean period in the teaching profession was 13.4 years. The majority (56%) were married. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 47.55% (n=184). Six variables that were significantly associated with the development of anxiety symptoms were directly linked to the teaching environment.
Conclusion: The high prevalence of anxiety symptoms is directly linked to the teaching environment, which highlights the need to improve the workin
Stability amidst student protests? Evaluating the strength of racially diverse social systems through Bronfenbrenner’s theoretical lens
Full text linkThe complexity of race-related student protests is a challenge facing universities worldwide. Race-related protests disrupted a university campus in central South Africa in February 2016. These protests allowed the institution to evaluate how interpersonal relations amongst diverse students in residences activated its prior support function in the face of a campus crisis. Although a considerable number of researchers have utilised Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to analyse the influence of peer interaction on student success, various shortcomings have made it difficult to derive a good understanding of the destabilising effect of a campus crisis on the developmental ecology of university campuses – something this study aimed to address. Purposive sampling was used to select participants for 14 focus group discussions immediately after the 2016 protest period. A thematic content analysis identified three overarching themes: enclosure versus exposure, communication and crisis, and discomfort and support. The study findings concluded that the interpersonal relations amongst diverse students can continue to enhance the developmental ecology of campuses challenged by the destabilising effect of race-related protests if specific principles are upheld during the unrest