KovsieJournals - University of the Free State (UFS)
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Revisiting the Past: A History of European Wives in Colonial Nigeria, 1920-1960
Get PDFThis article reconsiders the history of European wives in colonial Nigeria. It is an aspect of women’s studies that has elicited scholarly interest in the past three decades or so because of the peculiarities of the subject, gender and colonialism. The paper argues that the poor representations of this group in most colonial literature and male-authored memoirs were not an accurate reflection of colonial Nigeria. European women bypassed the hierarchies of Colonial Service and the trappings of imperial culture in Nigeria to create social inclusion and space. They also introduced British culture, diplomacy, cooperation and collaboration between the colonisers and the colonised. Using primary and secondary sources of data, official documents, journal articles, and internet materials to substantiate its claim, this paper reveals that European women’s history in colonial Nigeria was robust. It establishes that the policy change on White women’s exclusion in British West Africa was inevitable and existential because of interdependence, the challenges of malnutrition, and the desertion of soldiers. The paper concludes that the position of women cannot be overlooked in history, colonial society and culture
The economic rationale for the provision of technical/vocational education (TVE) in colonial Ghana: Implications for practice
Get PDFThe paper examines the economic rationale for the provision of technical/ vocational education (TVE) in colonial Ghana. It further highlights some key lessons drawn from the study, particularly, in term of the Ghanaian contemporary search for a more pragmatic policy formulation for TVE. Data were retrieved from primary sources in the form of archival materials and some secondary sources as well some interview sessions with two personalities who were actively involved in the provision of TVE during the period. Chronological and thematic analysis of the data were utilized. The study revealed that the missionary bodies and the colonial administration vigorously promoted TVE largely because of economic reasons. It further argues that this level of vigor could not unfortunately keep pace with the developmental needs of the country due mainly to overriding interest in literary/grammar education, lack of entrepreneurial training for graduates of the TVE institutions and virtual non-existence of local industries to absorb these graduates
Exploring non-profit organisations’ communication channels and message content
Get PDFCurrently, organisations have to decide which communication channel to use due to changes in the media landscape. Communication occurs through various channels, such as television, radio, print, email, phone, social media, and messaging apps. Each channel has its own set of rules, conventions, and nuances, which influence how messages are interpreted and received. This study investigated ways in which non-profit organisations in South Africa communicate their corporate social responsibility efforts. A survey questionnaire was distributed to 245 employees of nonprofit organisations in Gauteng province, South Africa, and data were analysed using SPSS software. The findings identified meetings as one of the most frequently employed approaches for internal communication. Further, this study found that NPOs preferred older or established means of communication over newer media. More specifically, non-electronic media such as meetings and word-of-mouth were used more than electronic media such as emails or SMS messaging, whereas social media was used less frequently than electronic media. This study adds to the existing literature on corporate social responsibility communication by highlighting the types of messages and diverse communication channels used by South African nonprofit organisations. It provides information that can be utilised to comprehend the different communication channels used by non-profit organisations
The Role of Digital Transformation in Enhancing Communication: A Case Study of OR Tambo District Municipality in South Africa
Get PDFThis study delved into the digital communication strategies of the OR Tambo District Municipality in South Africa, a region characterised by its rural nature and high poverty levels. The aim was to understand the character of the Municipality’s digital communication strategies, evaluate their efficacy, and propose evidence-based recommendations for enhancement. The study was predicated on the necessity for local governments to align their communication strategies with technological advancements whilst considering the socioeconomic realities of their constituents. The research employed a comprehensive examination of the current digital communication tools, platforms, and techniques utilised by the Municipality, and assessed their effectiveness based on their reach, accessibility, and impact. The study identified areas of strength and weakness in the current communication strategies and proposed recommendations for enhancing digital communication within the Municipality. The findings underscored the importance of inclusive and effective digital communication strategies in local governments, particularly in rural areas. The study concluded that the OR Tambo District Municipality could enhance communication, improve service delivery, and foster greater engagement with residents by effectively leveraging digital technologies. The research contributes to the burgeoning body of literature on digital communication in local government and provides a roadmap for other rural municipalities seeking to leverage digital technologies to improve their communication strategies
Four female Khoesan language translators across three centuries of Cape history: A morphogenetic analysis
Get PDFFemale translators are highly atypical in South African colonial history. Yet four important female translators appear on the scene who, interestingly, all translated or interpreted into or from Khoesan languages. Therefore, apart from their marginalised position as women, these translators are also linked to marginalised languages. These translators are Krotoa, a Khoe interpreter employed by colonial administrator Jan van Riebeeck, Zara Schmelen, a Nama mission assistant and Bible translator, and Lucy Lloyd and Dorothea Bleek, so-called Bushman researchers and relatives of the famous philologist Wilhelm Bleek. This article is interested in the ways in which the work of these early female translators expressed social conditioning and in the characteristics of their agency within a restrictive social space. The hindering and enabling factors involved in these women’s practice of translation and interpreting is analysed and particular attention is paid to the ideological characteristics of their work. In the analysis of the social characteristics of translation, Margaret Archer’s morphogenetic approach is employed. Archer’s approach involves an investigation of structure, culture and agency and the ways in which these contribute to cycles of social change (morphogenesis) or maintenance (morphostasis). With regard to agency, the analysis is guided by Archer’s terms primary agency (which results from social rank), corporate agency (which results from social organisation) and social actorship (which results from the unification of personal identity with social roles). The research finds that chance and male sanctioning were present in these women’s involvement in translation, but that a strong exercise of agency was present which was personally motivated. Agency involved no organisation, however, and neither sought nor achieved social change. Yet, three of the four translators were able to achieve social actorship, whereby their role as translators was successfully united with their personal identity
Estimation and Web-GIS geovisualisation of a suitable solid waste disposal site: Case study of New City, Harare
Get PDFWith the ever-increasing human population, there is a need to develop new urban settlements for human habitation. For these new settlements, it is imperative to optimally site different land-use zones, including solid waste disposal sites. The aim of this article is to determine suitable sites for locating a landfill in a new developed city in Zimbabwe around Mt. Hampden, named the New City. The New City will have various residential, commercial, and industrial areas. This entails the need for a proper site selection of a landfill to reduce the negative social and environmental effects such as contamination of water bodies and proliferation of diseases such as malaria. GIS and remote sensing were the major methods used in mapping the suitable areas. Multi-criteria evaluation and weighted overlay analysis methods were used in the landfill site selection process. Factors used for landfill site selection were rivers, settlements, roads, protected areas, and soils. A suitability map was generated, showing five potential sites that are suitable for landfill siting in the New City. Moderately suitable areas cover approximately 8%. A further 73% of the total land area in the study area is highly unsuitable for siting a landfill. A real-time Web-GIS monitoring interface was developed to monitor land use on the selected area, because the New City is a new area under development. Using a Web-GIS interface makes data easily accessible to environment planners, ecologists, spatial land planners, and other decision makers
Lessons learnt from teaching an Applied Drama and Theatre pedagogy online in a digitally divided South Africa
Get PDFAn Applied Drama and Theatre pedagogy is rooted in principles of embodiment, participation and collaboration, praxis and immersion in social contexts. Over the past fourteen years, the Drama for Life department at the University of the Witwatersrand prioritised the implementation of an Applied Drama and Theatre teaching andclearning practice that is premised on our bodies operating within social and cultural contexts. Furthermore, the experiential pedagogy is reliant on physical presence and human contact for the purposes of reflection, transformation and education. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, this complex pedagogy faced a threat. How can we migrate an Applied Drama and Theatre curriculum to online learning platforms? Can we fully honour its pedagogical objectives remotely? The study explored how Applied Drama and Theatre educators re-envisioned and implemented strategies to maintain the integrity of the embodied pedagogy as it moved online. These collective approaches transpired amidst a disruptive digital divide within a South African context, which impacted connectivity, access and the hopes of a synchronous learning experience. From 2020 to 2021, the ethnographic study tracked and observed Drama for Life and its Applied Drama and Theatre educators as they; 1) responded to the pandemic and identified its threats to the pedagogy; 2) through processes of experimentation, transitioned the curriculum to online learning platforms; and 3) reflected on their discoveries, challenges and interim solutions throughout the journey. The study found (based on literature and data) that the pandemic provided higher education institutions and practitioners with an opportunity for directed change. Central to the collective strategies remained student centredness and pedagogical alignment. Although certain aspects of the Applied Drama and Theatre pedagogy have undeniably been compromised online, the study demonstrated that with increased efforts to bridge the digital divide, the strategies can be navigated continually with a carefully negotiated balance
The nexus between monetary and fiscal policies and construction output in Tanzania
Get PDFThere is insufficient knowledge on the influence of monetary and fiscal policies elements on the construction sector output in Tanzania. Monetary and fiscal policies elements are paramount in decisions pertaining to project viability or feasibility. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship of monetary and fiscal policies elements with the construction sector output in Tanzania. Accordingly, this study adopts a correlational research design to examine the extant relationship between various elements of fiscal and monetary policies and construction output. Time-series data was obtained from Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics and Bank of Tanzania, covering a period of twenty-three (23) years from 1998 to 2021. The data obtained was tested for stationarity, followed by correlation and regression analysis. Results reveal that construction output is negatively related to commercial bank’s weighted interest and inflation rates. On the other hand, construction output is positively related to exchange rate, government expenditure on construction, and total tax on product. Multiple regression analysis revealed similar results, with the exception of exchange rate which has turned out to be negatively related to construction output. Nevertheless, the relationship of construction output and all elements of monetary and fiscal policies is not statistically significant. The study provides knowledge on the nexus between monetary and fiscal policies on the construction sector output within a previously unexplored Tanzanian context. This can help developers make informed decisions on investments in times of high or low inflation and interest rates, and during an upsurge of exchange rates. It also informs the public on how the government regulates the construction output by increasing or decreasing expenditure on construction
Editorial
Get PDFThe academic world has undergone significant transformations as we navigated the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The global pandemic has forced academic institutions to rapidly adopt new ways of teaching, learning and conducting research. In this editorial, we present a curated list of articles from various authors, highlighting different facets of the changes experienced in academic institutions.In this issue of our academic journal, we present a collection of articles exploring various aspects of higher education during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. These articles provide valuable insights into the challenges students and educators face and the strategies and solutions developed to address these challenges. The articles are presented under three themes: challengesand opportunities towards an engaged university during COVID-19; student wellbeing and belonging; student-staffparticipation, technology and praxis. 
A decolonial reading of the Third Chapter of the Gospel of John in Moffat’s Translation of the Catechism into Setswana (1826)
Get PDFThe Setswana language is one of the Southern African languages that was “reduced” into a written language through the translation of Christian literature by the London Missionary Society. The introduction of the Setswana spelling book in 1826 epitomised the vernacularisation and standardisation of Setswana. In 1826, Robert Moffat also translated the first Setswana catechism. Rev. William Brown’s Catechism served as a source text. He also added the third chapter of the Gospel of John and the Lord’s Prayer. This paper focuses on the second section of the 1826 Setswana catechism, namely the third chapter of John’s Gospel. It is argued that translation does not happen in a vacuum; rather, it also has the ideological intentions of the translator. Through the translated texts, Moffat performs a technology of power by eroding, dislocating, and disassociating the Batswana from their epistemic and spiritual heritage. The paper applies a decolonial lens to analyse the theme of conversion (metanoia) in the Gospel of John, as translated by Moffat