KovsieJournals - University of the Free State (UFS)
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Embodied theology with children with disabilities in South Africa
Full text linkThere is a fractured relationship between the Christian belief system and disability reality in South Africa. Disability provides the opportunity for an embodied theological discourse on being human and being spiritual, with limitation. This article is based on a research study that formulated a theological framework to support advocacy for children with disabilities and their familieswithin local congregations. Data was collected via focus groups with four Christian families impacted by disabilities. Disability is viewed not merely as a specialised ministry, but as an integral aspect of community life. An ecclesial theology emerges. The church is presented as an authentic community, with diverse abilities, reflecting a renewed vision of the imago Dei as diverse. The churchin South Africa is encouraged to value the contributions of families with special needs – and the disability theology they embody – in shaping discipleship, responding authentically to life’s challenges, and advancing the ongoing work of Christ in the world
Religious persecution
Full text linkBook reiew of: Religious persecution: Perspectives from theology and missiology Lilleaasen, R. and Sauer, C. 2025. . Christians under pressure: Studies in discrimination and persecution 3. Bonn. Verlag fur Kultur und Wissenschaft Culture and Science Publ. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher. ISBN 978-3-86269- 325-2
Intra-urban dualism and development control in land-use transformation: Geospatial insights from Kisii town, Kenya
Full text linkUrbanisation across sub-Saharan Africa is transforming the spatial structure of secondary towns, often generating uneven and fragmented growth. A key manifestation of this process is intra-urban dualism, where well-planned, affluent neighbourhoods coexist with densely populated, poorly regulated settlements. This spatial divide undermines orderly growth, deepens inequality, and places pressure on urban infrastructure. In Kenya, intra-urban dualism is increasingly evident, yet limited research has explored how it influences land-use transformation and sustainable development. Addressing this research gap is essential to understand how spatial inequalities shape urban growth trajectories and to guide equitable planning interventions. This study examines intra-urban dualism and land-use transformation in Kisii town, western Kenya, focusing on the contrasting neighbourhoods of Milimani (a low-density planned area) and Jogoo (a high-density unregulated settlement). Land-use and land-cover changes from 2005 to 2024 were analysed and projected to 2044, using ArcGIS Pro and QGIS. Building density, plot size compliance, and coverage ratios were quantified and validated through a one-sample t-test. Results show that Milimani has largely retained its planned form, whereas Jogoo has undergone rapid, unregulated densification driven by weak development control and fragmented land ownership. The study recommends data-driven, geospatially informed development control supported by adaptive zoning, participatory monitoring, blockchain-based permitting, and resilience audits to promote sustainable, inclusive, and transparent urban growth
Revitalising semi-rural historic commercial areas: Pedestrian-friendly and ecological principles in the Ürgüp Bazaar District, Turkey
Full text linkHistoric commercial districts are vital components of urban identity and cultural continuity. Yet, many, including the Ürgüp Bazaar District, have experienced physical deterioration, spatial irregularity, and a loss of urban vibrancy. This study aims to develop a comprehensive Urban Design Guide for Ürgüp Bazaar District, grounded in pedestrian-friendly and ecological principles to address these challenges. A mixed-method approach was adopted, combining literature review, field observations, PESTEL analysis, and a user survey involving 432 participants. Drawing from international revitalisation and transformation projects with similar historical and commercial characteristics, the study formulated context-specific strategies that prioritise walkability and green infrastructure. Observations indicated that narrow, obstructed sidewalks, building façade inconsistencies, and vehicle dominance severely limited public space quality. The PESTEL analysis emphasised political conservation restrictions, environmental vulnerabilities, and technological inadequacies, while the surveys highlighted user dissatisfaction with functional organisation and a strong demand for ecological and pedestrian-oriented improvements. As a result, the findings revealed critical deficiencies such as traffic congestion, lack of green spaces, poor pedestrian infrastructure, insufficient public amenities, and weak integration of socio-cultural activities, in line with the findings obtained and the strategies formulated within the scope of similar projects, an Urban Design Guide was developed for the Ürgüp Bazaar District. The Urban Design Guide aims to restore the historical and environmental values of the Ürgüp Bazaar District and support sustainable urban living. The study tries to contribute to academic discussions by proposing an integrated, evidence-based framework for the revitalisation of small historic commercial areas, particularly in semi-rural urban contexts
From the guest editors
Full text linkThere is widespread recognition that places provide contexts within which differences are produced and reproduced, and that places are not fixed containers. Henceforth, rural areas are recognised by southern urbanism planners in their own right as playing a role in their context/locale in the production and reproduction of different human subjectivities. As such, planning itself is a process that is spatially and temporally contingent, varying through time and over space in a range of situated and local knowledges that form the resource foundations for structuration dialectics and identity politics. The rise of “the ‘peri-urban turn’ which is a systems’ thinking approach for a paradigm shift in the Global South” and its ability to transform rural areas through dynamic and continuous interactions among social, economic, and environmental systems, raises even more urgency to explore the subject of transformation and rural areas. This special issue comprises papers that directly engage with the theme of rurality and spatial transformation, while others engage with issues related to the subject matter
The nomadic war machine of Gabor Maté\u27s Compassionate Inquiry
No full textIn this article it will be argued that Gabor Maté’s published/online works, along with Maurizio and Zaya Benazzo’s documentary film The Wisdom of Trauma (2021), collectively comprise a digital nomadic war machine; one that works to heal the trauma otherwise precipitated by the State Apparatus’s majoritarian channelling of certain desires for profit. As will be discussed, Maté’s analysis of trauma not only rhizomatically connects Michel Foucault’s theorisation of disciplinary/bio-power society with Gilles Deleuze’s conception of control society, but also extends an earlier minoritarian vector of healing – ranging from Jean-Martin Charcot’s to Francine Shapiro’s works. And while this vector initially sought to address the increasing trauma deriving from disciplinary/bio-power’s normalising judgement, and more recently has focused on vestiges thereof in our neoliberal/digital societies of control, its extension has a bearing on democracy, because the persistence of such trauma inhibits the agency required for the functioning and development of this political system
Teas, symphonies and the culture industry: unpacking Bridgerton\u27s musical legacy
Full text linkThis paper re-examines Theodor W Adorno\u27s critique of the culture industry through a close analysis of the musical and aesthetic logic of Bridgerton (2020- ). Drawing on Adorno\u27s essays ‘The radio symphony’ (1941) and ‘On the fetish character in music and the regression of listening’ (1938), it traces how the series reproduces the same mechanisms of standardisation and pseudo-individualisation that characterised radio music in Adorno\u27s time. In Bridgerton, orchestral adaptations of popular songs aestheticise repetition, offering the illusion of refinement while diminishing the listener\u27s capacity for critical engagement. Classical music becomes a decorative and affective device, subordinated to narrative function rather than autonomous contemplation. The paper argues that Bridgerton exemplifies the persistence of the culture industry\u27s logic: the transformation of art into administered pleasure. By translating Adorno\u27s mid-20th-century concerns into a contemporary televisual context, the analysis reveals how the commodification of listening continues to erode the emancipatory potential of musical experience
A Benjaminian analysis of the built environment: toward a critical theory of architecture
Full text linkWalter Benjamin was a critical theorist and lover of architecture, and he spent most of his career studying urban spaces and places. In this paper, we use his theory of architecture to develop a normative critique that can be used to analyse public architecture in the context of the South African built environment. In this regard, we argue that architecture has to function simultaneously as a cultural sign and a material presence, and that failure to meet these criteria will result in the creation of oppressive structures. Since the advent of modernity, architecture has, for the most part, failed to function as both a cultural sign and a material presence. This is especially true of public architecture in contemporary South Africa, and the consequence is that public buildings continually fail to meet their objectives. By way of demonstrating our analysis, we apply our framework to the Mangaung Intermodal Transport Facility (MITF), a public building located in the Central Business District (CBD) of Bloemfontein that was designed in the spirit of modern architecture. Infamous as an oppressive structure in the urban fabric, we aim to use our analysis to better understand why this is the case. By developing and applying our Benjaminian critique, we hope to bring to light some of the challenges facing the South African built environment, and call for a deeper understanding of the architecture that is being produced in, and for, the country\u27s communities
WhatsApp Business as a digital engagement tool: Factors influencing success among South African small and micro-retailers
Full text linkThis study explores how South African enterprises utilise WhatsApp Business for stakeholder engagement and identifies the key factors that influence the success of these digital communication strategies, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated digital transformation. A qualitative phenomenological research design was employed, using semi-structured interviews with 12 retail enterprises (six micro and six small businesses) across various retail categories in South Africa’s Gauteng province. The participants were selected using heterogeneous sampling to capture diverse perspectives. The thematic analysis identified eight key factors influencing successful stakeholder engagement through WhatsApp Business: clear communication objectives; integration with complementary social media platforms; professional yet conversational messaging; consistent communication frequency; personalised interactions; strategic use of WhatsApp Business features; regular measurement of effectiveness; and leveraging the platform’s accessibility and affordability. The findings extend stakeholder theory to digital communication as a sub-discipline, demonstrating how WhatsApp Business enables small and micro-retailers to build and maintain stakeholder relationships through strategic communication. The study contributes to understanding how resource-constrained businesses can implement digital engagement strategies effectively
REVISITING THE ESSENTIALIA FOR CONCLUDING A VALID CUSTOMARY MARRIAGE IN SOUTH AFRICA: THE CASE OF B.C.G V S.J.M [2024] ZAFSHC 92
Full text linkIn South Africa, the requirements for a valid marriage are well established in both common law and statutory law, rendering the process relatively straightforward. However, the validity of customary marriages remains less clear due to the uncodified nature of customary law. Although the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 has introduced some codification, section 3 remains open-ended, creating interpretative uncertainty and legal complexity. This ambiguity has allowed varying understandings of what constitutes a valid customary marriage, which some parties may exploit to evade marital obligations. This note revisits the essential requirements (essentialia) for a valid customary marriage by analysing the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act and the recent judgment in B.C.G v S.J.M. The court held that a written lobola contract is not essential for validity if other customary rites have been fulfilled. Importantly, where the written contract cannot be located, the existence of the marriage may still be proven through oral evidence, including testimonies from the spouses and witnesses to the negotiations or celebration. The judgment underscores the critical role of judicial interpretation in disputes concerning the validity of customary marriages and highlights the ongoing need for customary law to evolve in harmony with constitutional principles