KovsieJournals - University of the Free State (UFS)
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Values education in early childhood development for social transformation in South Africa
Full text linkThree decades into democracy, the conspicuous prevalence of immoral and unethical behaviour in South African society is indisputable. In 1997, this society was alerted to “a moral timebomb” (RSA, MRM, 2000) and a 2019 review report (DPME, 2019) confirmed the erosion of its social fabric and morality. Over the years, various initiatives and programmes aimed at inspiring or restoring morals, values and ethics emerged. However, these patchy, disconnected attempts have failed to stem the tide of social deterioration. Research indicates that interventions for behaviour and attitude changes are most efficacious in the early childhood phase. Accordingly, a doctoral study (Padayachee, 2022) proposed an early childhood development integral education and Ubuntu approach to foster the values of social responsibility and citizenship in preschoolers. The study included, in the exploratory phase, the category of values education, which is the focus of this paper. Data were gathered through focus group interviews with early childhood development staff, parents and community members in six pre-schools and analysed thematically. The findings on this specific category are presented to validate the argument that the explicit inclusion of values in early childhood development has the potential to build progressively a foundation for a moral and ethical society and possibly impact social transformation in South Africa
A hybrid ethical leadership model for township schools: Integrating classical, contemporary, and African leadership perspectives
Full text linkEthical leadership in education is essential for fostering fairness, integrity, and accountability. Principals face complex ethical dilemmas in South African township schools that extend beyond conventional school leadership due to limited resources, political interference, and community-based governance. Based on a qualitative integrative literature review and conceptual analysis, this study systematically examined peer-reviewed scholarship alongside seminal works to identify key ethical leadership dimensions. The process involved structured searching, screening, and thematic synthesis of relevant literature. The outcome is a hybrid ethical leadership model (HELM) that integrates classical theories (e.g., virtue ethics, moral person–moral manager), contemporary perspectives (e.g., transformational leadership, social learning theory), African ethical traditions (e.g., Ubuntu, relational ethics), and Bronfenbrenner’s socio-ecological systems theory. The model offers a context-sensitive, multi-layered framework for ethical decision-making that balances justice, care, role modelling, and governance, contributing theoretically and practically to leadership training and school governance in township contexts
The downing of Air Rhodesia Viscounts by ZIPRA in Zimbabwe\u27s armed struggle: Debating the strategic logic
Full text linkOn Sunday, 3 September 1978, VP-WAS Air Rhodesia Flight RH 825 Viscount “Hunyani” was shot down around 5:10 pm by a surface-to-air missile (Strela), killing 38 passengers on board, while 10 of the 18 survivors were shot dead by Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) guerrillas. On 12 February 1979, VP-YND Flight RH 827 Viscount “Umniati” was similarly downed by the same forces, killing all 59 passengers and crew on board. This article contributes to controversies surrounding the shooting down of civilian airlines as military targets in conflict situations. Grounded in oral interviews with former armed operatives from Rhodesian Security Forces (RSF) and ZIPRA guerrillas, together with reviews of primary and secondary sources, I unpack debates over these tragedies. The research widens knowledge horizons to the enduring legacies of Zimbabwe’s armed struggle, where former Rhodesians not only remain aggrieved by the Viscount losses but have sharp divisions in their accounts of these disasters. Although the downing of the Viscounts represented victory on the part of insurgents, surviving former ZIPRA guerrillas linked to these operations live in apprehension as they think that former Rhodesians are still determined to avenge the deaths. The research adds knowledge to issues of civility of airlines in war, race and ethnicity in conflict, as well as insecurity dilemmas which haunt former combatants long after the end of armed conflict
The effect of artificial intelligence as a peer-to- peer support tool on engagement, grades and pass rates peer-to-peer
No full textThe study examines artificial intelligence’s (AI) role in peer-topeer learning and its impact on student engagement, academic performance, and pass rates. The research provided insights into how AI influences student engagement and grades through a mixed-methods approach. The research methodology adopted an interpretivist approach that includes aspects of positivism. The design employs induction using qualitative and quantitative methods. The case study operates at a longitudinal time range to study temporal performance developments. The primary data collection uses analysis of external data. The findings indicate a slight improvement in grades (3-5%), lacking statistical significance (p > 0.05) and a significant level of engagement (95%). This statistic raises questions about the relationship between increased engagement and tangible academic outcomes. Students show enhanced engagement through AI-driven personalised learning pathways and continuous feedback systems. Through predictive AI systems, institutions can immediately identify students facing performance-related challenges. AI peer-to-peer support must become accessible to every student without restricting it to only at-risk students. AI application policies in universities must follow mechanisms that allow adjustment for various student peerlearning environments. Partnership with AI developers remains crucial to integrate technology momentum with teaching targets. All AI peer-support policies need to include ethical criteria to maintain responsible deployment. The results suggest that while AI platforms can complement traditional peer support services, further research is necessary to understand their long-term effects on academic performance and retention. Bottom of For
Advocacy planning in South Africa and its role in contributing to sustainable development/endeavours
Full text linkThis commentary briefly examines the literature on legislation and policies that impacted the town and regional planning discipline in South Africa, both before and after the transition to democracy. It explores what the discipline seeks to achieve in terms of living environments for both urban and rural communities. It explains the role of advocacy planning in promoting greater public participation in policy formulation and planning systems. The commentary emphasises the role of planners in advocating for inclusive and context-sensitive planning within communities, living environments, and working environments. It emphasises that the understanding of advocacy planning from a South African context and to a certain extent practising it, empowers communities to understand the benefits of planning and policy that influence their living environments
Perceived influence of urban green infrastructure on quality of life in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria
Full text linkQuality of life (QoL) in urban areas is closely linked to the availability and quality of green infrastructure (GI), which provides essential ecosystem services that enhance well-being. As cities worldwide strive for environmental sustainability, urban green infrastructure (UGI) has become a key strategy for mitigating environmental degradation and improving urban liveability. While research has established the benefits of UGI in both developed and developing contexts, hardly anything is known about how residents’ perceptions of UGI quality influence their QoL, particularly in developing nations, including Nigeria. This study investigates how Lagos residents perceive the quality of existing UGI and its impact on their QoL. A survey of 1,560 residents, selected through multi-stage sampling, reveals that respondents generally view the current available UGI as insufficient relative to their expectations. Specifically, the inadequacy of well-maintained green spaces, limited leisure areas, and poorly equipped parks contribute to this negative perception. Findings from descriptive statistics and regression analysis highlight that well-equipped green spaces, urban parks, and relaxation areas are key determinants of QoL. This emphasises the need for targeted improvements in UGI to enhance urban living conditions not only in Lagos, but also in other developing cities facing similar challenges
From the editors
Full text linkThe South African Planning Institute (SAPI) Conference, “Planning Africa 2024: Sustainable futures – From theory to practice”, brought together experts in urban and regional planning to explore novel approaches for supporting sustainable urban development. The conference addressed ten key sub-themes, including sustainable development planning within the African context, informality, public transportation and paratransit systems, escalating climate-related challenges, infrastructural aspirations, indigenous knowledge systems, local governance, just urban transitions, resilience, and diverse planning systems across Africa. It provided a dynamic platform for professionals, researchers, and policymakers to exchange ideas and experiences, encouraging active discussion on the critical challenges and opportunities in sustainable planning. This special issue highlights select contributions from the conference
The Rights/Interests Distinction: New Lessons from SACCAWU v Phala (JA136/23) [2024] ZALAC 62 (27 November 2024)
Full text linkThis case discussion examines the significance and application of the distinction between rights disputes and interests disputes in labour law, using the recent ruling in SACCAWU v Phala (JA136/23) [2024] ZALAC 62 (27 November 2024) (Woolworths case) as a focal point. The study traces how this fundamental dichotomy has shaped labour relations development from the Industrial Court era to the current Labour Relations Act framework. It demonstrates how the Woolworths case exemplifies this distinction’s continuing utility and growing complexity. The case originated from Woolworths’ strategic shift from full-time to flexi-time employment, leading to disputed retrenchments and ultimately a Constitutional Court ruling of unfair dismissal. The subsequent Labour Appeal Court judgment mainly illuminates how modern workplace disputes often resist simple categorisation as either rights or interests disputes. The analysis reveals that while the Labour Relations Act does not explicitly codify the distinction, it effectively operationalises it through its regulatory framework and dispute-resolution mechanisms. The research concludes that this distinction remains valuable for determining appropriate dispute resolution methods but requires increasingly nuanced application in contemporary contexts. It furthermore recommends more explicit legislative guidance with a view on addressing hybrid disputes and suggests developing specialised mechanisms for cases that contain elements of both rights and interests disputes
Unhiding in plain sight: Reimagining the parable of the persistent widow
Full text linkThis article reinterprets the parable of the persistent widow, moving beyond its traditional focus on prayer to highlight the widow’s strategic agency. Using socialscientific and historical methodologies, the study argues that 1st-century Jewish audiences would likely have viewed the widow not as a passive victim but as a resourceful and resilient figure. Drawing on Jewish texts, rabbinic literature, and the Babatha archive, the analysis shows how the widow navigates patriarchal systems to protect her legal rights. The concept of “unhiding” is used to challenge androcentric readings, revealing the active role of women in biblical narratives. This reinterpretationreimagines the widow as an active protagonist, whose persistence showcases her ingenuity and dignity within a male-dominated society
The Trinity and the economy: The God who cares about human welfare
Full text linkThis article investigates how Trinitarian theology can ground an economic ethic oriented towards human welfare, by synthesising Michael Novak’s moral capitalism and Kathryn Tanner’s economy of grace. Focusing on the household (oikos) and oikonomiamotifs, the article proposes a “prosperous oikos” model that integrates individual initiative and responsibility with solidarity, redistribution, and ecological stewardship. The article employs qualitative literature analysis and constructive theological reflection to evaluate tensions and complementarities between Novak and Tanner within a Trinitarian framework. The article argues that theintra-Trinitarian relations of love and mutuality provide a normative shape for economic institutions and practices that prioritise communal well-being. Practically, the proposed model recommends policy-relevant measures such as co-ownership, progressive social provisioning, and local ecological communality, while emphasising the formation of moral dispositions. The article concludes thata Trinitarian-based oikonomia can reorient market logic towards human flourishing without collapsing either moral agency or social solidarity