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The role of Ward Committees in community participation: the case of Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality, Limpopo Province
No full textMAdminDepartment of Public and Development AdministrationParticipating in the community involves open dialogue and team effort to solve problems in order to make decisions that are better and more acceptable. The focus of this study is to investigate the role that ward committees play in promoting community participation in the Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality, Limpopo Province. This is an attempt to learn how community participation through ward committees can aid basic service delivery which in doing so the community will be effectively playing their part in the integrated development planning. The study was conducted in the Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality. For this study, mixed-method research was used.
The study adopted a pragmatism paradigm and utilized a descriptive and contextual design using questionnaires and interviews as a method of collecting data. The study population consisted of municipal officials, ward councillors, ward committee members, civic organisations, community leaders, and community development workers. Sampling methods such as non-probability sampling in the form of purposive sampling technique were adopted. International business machinery: The statistical package of social sciences (IBM: SPSS) latest version was used to analyse quantitative data collected through questionnaires. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative interview data narratively. To guarantee that all respondents may participate voluntarily and without being forced or intimidated, all ethical considerations were taken into account during the data-gathering process.NR
Perceptions of teachers and learners on assistant teachers in secondary schools at Maleboho Central Circuit, Capricorn District, Limpopo Province
No full textMEDEMDepartment of Educational StudiesThe concept of Assistant Teachers is new in South Africa. This concept was brought in South Africa due to COVID-19 pandemic. The Assistant Teachers are viewed as strangers in a school setting. Teachers and learners are not sure about their roles. It is evident that South African teachers need assistance in classrooms to be able to provide high standards of education. Using a qualitative research method, the study will investigate the perceptions of teachers and learners on assistant teachers in secondary schools at Maleboho Central Circuit, Capricorn District, in Limpopo Province. The study used a purposive sampling as a non- probability sampling technique procedure to select participants. The study sample comprised three learners, three teachers and three principals from three schools. Data was collected through interviews and observation method. Collected data was analysed thematically. It is assumed that assistant teachers are struggling to perform their duties due to the perceptions made by teachers and learners that hinder the continuity of teaching and learning. The study will assist the Department of Basic Education to provide the necessary support regarding the importance of having assistant teachers in respective schools.NR
Youth and land reform politics: A post-apartheid South African Perspective
No full textM. A. (Political Science)Department of Development StudiesSouth Africa’s post-apartheid government land reform programme is a central aspect and epitomises the constitutional measure to provide solid redress. Land reform policies and youth socio-economic concerns demonstrate how democratic political power has been used for the past twenty-nine years. Youth is the engine of every country and a critical mass of society. Emerging democratic administration is experiencing the highest level of youth crisis without accessing the basis of wealth, and land. This study explores the socio-economic predicament youth face on the land reform policies of post-apartheid South Africa. The qualitative research method and exploratory design were applied in this study. Purposive sampling was used to select participants and interviews were used for data collection. Content analysis with the help of Atlas.ti was used to analyse both raw data and documents. The study was premised on three objectives which were to analyse South Africa’s land reform policies and assess its implementation. The critique on the impact of the policy on youth socioeconomic emancipation processes, and also explores potential transformation opportunities for land reform and youth. The redistributive justice theory was applied to provide a roadmap and interpretation of the arguments regarding the phenomena under study. The findings of the study suggest that the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, the National Assembly, and the Congress of South African Traditional Leaders need to improve the facilitation of land administration for youth to gain access to land. The study concludes that there is a serious need for the promulgation of a youth land ownership policy after the almost a quarter of a century under a democratic South Africa.NR
The impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on teaching and learning: a case of secondary schools in Lulekani Circuit, Mopani District, Limpopo Province
No full textM.Ed. (Curriculum Studies)Department of Professional and Curriculum StudiesThe advent of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was unexpected the world over. On the 11th of March 2020, the World Health Organizations (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic (World Health Organization (WHO), 2019). COVID-19 first emerged in the Chinese Province of Wuhun in December 2019. The advent of COVID-19 was followed by stringent measures on attempts to curb the spread of the virus, among them was the lockdown measures. There were also various health responses on attempts to fight COVID-19, with various countries around the world implementing several Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM), which included movement restrictions, closure of schools and businesses and international travel restrictions (Spaull & Van der Berg, 2020). From 27 March 2020, South Africa was compelled into a national lockdown following all the business, private and public institutions being closed (Schleicher, 2020). Primary and secondary schools were the first to be closed on 18 March 2020 in an attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19. The current study is set to examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on teaching and learning at two selected secondary schools in Lulekani Circuit, Mopani District in Limpopo Province. A qualitative case study research design will be adopted for this study, where the interview guide will be used to collect the data through interviews. The study participants who will be purposefully sampled will include School Management Team members (SMT) – principals or deputy principals, Heads of Department (HoD), educators and learners of these selected two Secondary Schools. The data collected will be analysed using thematic analysis where text will be analysed and coded into themes. The findings on the perceived implications of COVID-19 on education will be presented as results. Recommendations and suggestions will be provided based on the findings. Recommendations will be provided to assist the Heads of Schools, the Department of Basic Education, and other relevant departments on how situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic could be dealt with in the future.NR
Contextualizing a hapiness index as a measure of potability of water in a rural area of South Africa
No full textPhDRDVInstitute for Rural DevelopmentFor the health and wellbeing of people, access to high-quality, safe water is essential. However, safe water access is an international concern. According to United Nations Water, an estimated 3.6 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation, while an estimated 2.3 billion people lack access to safe water (UN Water, 2023). Rural communities continue to lag in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 targets on ensuring safe water access for all. This situation is in direct contradiction with the Free Water Policy of South Africa which adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) standard that everyone should have access to at least 25 litres per day of safe drinking water within a 200metre radius (WHO, 2020). Without a regular supply of Municipal treated tap water, the only viable option in water scarce rural communities is to rely on ground water sources.
Groundwater has historically been perceived to be safe; unexposed and hardly compromised as opposed to surface water. Due to factors such as a generally increasing water groundwater is now the most feasible option for a large part of the new water demand (Grönwall and Danert, 2020). This study revealed that both rural communities rely on borehole, tap and natural spring water for human consumption but are generally unhappy about the quality and inaccessibility of safe drinking water sources. However adequate understanding of groundwater contamination is normally far beyond reach of non-professionals. Thus, it was necessary for the researcher to collect groundwater samples for standard laboratory tests to check for contaminants that are not visible to consumers. The results revealed the following in both Ngwenani and HaMagomani with respect to borehole, tap and natural spring water: With respect to Chloride and Fluoride, the water is safe for drinking as both chemical constituents were either within normal ranges or below detection levels. However, with respect to Nitrate; Bromide; Phosphate; Sulphate and pH high percentages above permissible limits were recorded, indicating contamination thus making the water unsafe for human consumption. The results conclusively showed that groundwater sources are not safe and were in sync with consumer judgements that indicated unhappiness with the aesthetic properties such as odour, taste, smell or sediments.
Only about 10% of the consumers in Ngwenani and Magomani have access to basic water services. While a staggering 90% has no access whatsoever and relies on ground water (natural springs and boreholes) or buying borehole water for those without boreholes. Consumers in Ngwenani and Magomani are not happy with the quality of water they drink daily and their lack of access to basic water services. Consumers are not happy about the aesthetic properties of the water they drink, such as taste; smell; colour and sediments. This is based on the responses of the representative sample population or participants in this research. Water quality can vary greatly, and consumer judgments of water quality can differ from official quality assessments. The concept of happiness has gained increasing attention as a measure of well-being and quality of
life. This study explored the concept of happiness as a measure of quality with respect to drinking water in rural communities of South Africa. Then identified constructs of a happiness index based on consumer judgments of water quality, with the goal of developing a comprehensive and valid measure of happiness related to water quality.
These consumer judgements based on indigenous knowledge were analysed and super imposed on international and national drinking water guidelines and found to be in sync with standard laboratory testing.
The specific objectives that underpinned the research were: (a) To analyse the results of perceived quality of tap, borehole and natural spring water through standard laboratory tests. (b) To examine perceived satisfaction with sources and quality of delivery of potable water. (c) To determine the criteria children, youth and adults use to assess suitability of water for drinking. (d) To examine the measures rural households, take to make unsuitable water safe for drinking. (e) To suggest constructs of a happiness index based on the community’s view on their potable water.
Several community engagement sessions were held to collect, analyse and validate standard laboratory test findings with the grassroots community perceptions on the quality of water that they drink daily. This study applied the Creswell (2013) explanatory sequential mixed method design. Various participatory research techniques such as in-depth individual interviews; Focus Group Discussions (FGDs); storytelling and participatory observation were used to collect qualitative data for the same reason. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic content analysis and Atlas.TI for FGD derived data and observation results. Data was coded from in-depth individual interviews through ranking of attributes by source using ANOVA. On quantitative data, there was physical and chemical analysis of contaminants from the Standard Laboratory testing of samples from the main sources tap, borehole and natural springs. Further analysis was informed by comparing concentration results of chemical and physical contaminants in collected samples from tap; borehole; natural spring water with South Africa National Standards (SANS) and international World Health Organizations (WHO) guidelines on permissible limits in safe drinking water.
Laboratory test results of water samples drawn from natural springs in Magomani and Ngwenani villages of Vhembe District revealed that they are contaminated with respect to Nitrate, Phosphate and Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC). Results of laboratory tests of water
samples drawn from public taps in Magomani and Ngwenani villages of Vhembe District showed that the water is heavily contaminated with respect to nitrate, phosphate and DOC. The temperature of tap and borehole water samples from both villages is above normal according to
international standards. Therefore, the water in both villages is not aesthetically pleasing to drink or quench thirst. Also, results of laboratory tests of water samples drawn from boreholes in Magomani and Ngwenani villages of Vhembe District uncovered that Nitrate and DOC concentration levels are above normal. The main drinking water sources, generally perceived to be safe in both communities are contaminated and the water is unsafe for human consumption.
Both communities are unhappy with the available drinking water. They rely on visual assessment to assess water quality by checking aesthetic qualities such as colour odour, presence or absence of sediments and taste. Focus Group Discussions held on treatment of water assessed as unsuitable for drinking, revealed methods consumers use such as boiling, storing and sedimentation, household slow stone filter and domestic chlorination. Domestic chlorination ranked as least common while boiling was the most common home water treatment strategy. These coping strategies were shared and recorded during the In-depth individual interviews and community Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). These Household Water Treatment (HWT) options are believed by consumers to reduce contamination such as waterborne pathogens sufficiently to protect health. HWT methods shared by participants of the study ranged from scientific to cultural or traditional local customs.
The problem is without sufficient potable water, rural communities in Ngwenani and Magomani cannot thrive; they are being exposed to water borne diseases, are failing to sustain healthy societies, maintain human dignity and have no improved quality of life. Consumers are exposed to unsafe water, there is no tool to measure water quality in rural homes, yet every single day, children, youths and adults must make an informed decision or assessment of the potability of the water they drink. Consumers often use visual assessment as a basis to pronounce water as either suitable or unsuitable for drinking (WHO, 2006). Regardless of using methods such as visual assessment of water to assess potability, dysentery and diarrhoea have a 20% higher incidence in South African rural areas, as compared to urban areas and its severity in some instances leads to death among residents, which medical reports attribute to strong microbial, chemical, or faecal water contaminants (Cole R. , 2017). Therefore, clean and safe water for drinking remains a sustainable development challenge in Ngwenani and HaMagomani.
To construct a happiness index based on consumer judgments of water, a combination of objective and subjective measures can be used. This involves integrating scientific assessments of water quality with consumer perceptions to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of water for drinking. This study suggests both objective and subjective measures as constructs, for a contextualised happiness index. Developing constructs for a happiness index with respect to water quality in rural areas of South Africa will help in the creation of a contextualised tool to evaluate the quality of water used in rural areas for drinking and cooking; help the South African
government reach SDG 6 targets as it has a mirror image of the views of local rural folk on the quality of water they use daily; educate communities on the consequences of using unsafe water and map the population that is unable to access safe water.
Active involvement of communities helped tailor the constructs of a Happiness Index with respect to water according to consumer needs and preferences. This confirmed that postgraduate degree research can be channelled to engage communities in finding solutions to community identified challenges. An improvement in water service delivery would increase their happiness levels.NR
The impact of talent acquisition on municipal service delivery - the case of Ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality
No full textM. Admin.Department of Public and Development AdministrationThe public sector institutions in South Africa face numerous difficulties in providing public services. Both public and private sector institutions must now provide their clients with services of the highest calibre in this day and age of public administration. When a customer's demands are not met or the expected level of service is not met, this may give rise to complaints about the delivery of public services, which can occasionally lead to communities engaging in boycotts, riots, and protests. This may have an adverse effect on employee motivation and lower workplace morale. To ensure that the good service standard is constantly met in public sector organizations and to support the success of municipal service delivery, talent acquisition is consequently of the utmost importance.
In order to effectively impact the rendering of public services, this study intends to evaluate how talent acquisition can be employed in employee motivation. This study implemented a mixed-methods research methodology to acquire data and analyse the role that talent acquisition plays in employee motivation—and ultimately in the success and efficacy of municipal service delivery. The research project also examines how recruiting practices are impacted by the human resource management process, which can assist in the provision of effective, efficient, and reasonably priced services, notably in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. The study also made use of the pragmatism paradigm and an exploratory research design. All these tools were used to guarantee the correctness and dependability of the collected data. In the eThekwini Municipality, improving the process and approach for talent acquisition is the study's main goal. Additionally, it was useful in providing suggestions for upcoming practices, procedures, and personnel acquisition rules. The eThekwini Municipality, together with other local government institutions as well as the provincial and national spheres of government, must undertake this study in order to support the adoption of tried-and-true talent acquisition procedures. According to the survey, there are a lot of gaps because of dissatisfied workers. These employees either believed that the procedures did not support their professional development inside the organization or were impacted by local policies. The research also advocated for the Municipality to support programs for employee growth and development to enhance the provision of municipal services. The study also suggested changing a few municipal rules to better support staff members both professionally and personally. By raising worker morale, this improves service delivery.Hlomisa Skills Academ
The role played by Makhadzi in resolving marital conflicts in Vhavenda Culture, Thulamela Municipality: an indigenous
No full textPhD (African Studies)Department of African StudiesAlthough makhadzi is not recognised by the current generation of married couples, her role remains valid since marital conflicts are increasing. The study explored the stabilised role of makhadzi within Vhavenḓa culture. The uncontested role of makhadzi depended on the environment where indigenous life was apprehended by Vhavenḓa cultural group. The current generation is affected by global cultures which weakens the local cultures resulting in the undermined role of makhadzi. The study identified five research questions namely: How is the current persona of makhadzi in the contemporary generation? How is the rationale for floating makhadzi within the married families? What are possible causes of conflicts in marriage? What is the role of makhadzi in resolving marital conflicts? Which modern strategies can be used to resolve marital conflicts by makhadzi? The study utilised qualitative research methods to explore the role of makhadzi in resolving marital conflicts within Vhavenḓa cultural group. Interviews were used to collect data and thematic analysis was used to analyse data.The findings revealed that the persona of makhadzi was tarnished and she is no longer valued. The new generation does not understand the role of makhadzi. The study recommends that for the normal functioning of makhadzi the government should decolonise education and provide education which upholds indigenous knowledge systems in South Africa.NR
The Adoption of Learning Management Systems by Private Schools during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Limpopo Province of South Africa
No full textMCom (Business Information Systems)Department of Business Information SystemsLearning Management Systems (LMS) are becoming essential to the educational process. The continuous adoption and usage of LMS addresses multiple flaws of the traditional education system. LMS became a crucial part of any educational process during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, as the circumstances made it unsafe to continue with the formal face-to-face educational process. The purpose of the study was to investigate the adoption of learning management systems by private schools during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Limpopo Province of South Africa to come up with an LMS framework that the schools could use to guide the adoption and usage of e-learning during abnormal times such as COVID-19 pandemic. This study adopted a mixed methods research methodology and utilized a cross-sectional survey and case study research designs. The study population included teachers and learners in Limpopo Province private schools. Probability and non-probability sampling methods were employed through cluster and purposive sampling techniques to arrive at the study sample. Survey questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data, while structured interviews were used to collect interview data. Quantitative data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive statistics included frequency distributions, mean, and measures of dispersion, while the inferential statistics used the ANOVA, multiple regression analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient, and F-test. This was computed with STATA version 16. Qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis. Both quantitative and qualitative results were converged to obtain a comprehensive assessment. The study found that ICT infrastructure availability and positive organizational and environmental factors are significantly related to LMS adoption. The challenges to LMS adoption include students’ lack of e-learning skills, negative attitudes, teacher unpreparedness, and inequalities among learners and educators. These results indicate that for schools to adopt LMS effectively, they should consider the needs of their institutions, choose user-friendly platforms, ensure that LMS are scalable, provide technical support, encourage engagement, and regularly monitor system usage and performance. The study's limitations were not addressing the long-term effects of LMS use on education or the comparative effectiveness of different LMS. This could also provide a valuable foundation for longitudinal studies tracking the effects of LMS adoption over timeNR
Economic optimization of assurance in stochastic yield analysis of water resource systems
No full textMESHWRDepartment of Earth SciencesAllocation of water from South Africa’s already straining water resources systems is a complex task given the ever-increasing water demand. The situation is made worse because of diminishing suitable sites for water resources infrastructure development, limited financial resources, and effects of climate change. To mitigate failure of water supply and ensure progressive water allocation, South Africa adopted a risk-based water allocation system in which it allocates water at different assurances of supply. Since assurance of supply is inversely proportional to yield, some water authorities tend to allocate water at relatively excessive high assurances of supply to mitigate total failure of water resources. This practice of allocating water at excessively high assurances of supply in turn reduces the amount of allocable water from the water resource. Consequently, the practice in turn results in either emerging users being denied access to water and/or lowly prioritised users being curtailed more early/frequently to satisfy the highly prioritised users. This study, therefore, examined prospects of optimizing existing water resources by specifically investigating the prospects of increasing the economic benefits from a water resource through reduction of its assurance of supply.
The study therefore conducted a comparative analysis on the Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS) to assess if the yield of the system could be increased for more economic benefits by either reducing the assurance of supply only or by adopting an infrastructural development. To achieve this objective, the study compared the net benefits derived from the Berg River Voelvlei Augmentation Scheme (BRVAS) infrastructural development project that would increase the yield of the WCWSS by 23 x106 m3/a, and the net benefits that could be derived from an increase in yield due to reduction of assurance of supply by a margin that would result in a yield similar to that of the intended BRVAS infrastructural project. The second section determined incremental yields from Tzaneen Dam and their corresponding net economic benefits due to reduction of assurance of supply. The third section tested if the optimum assurance of supply of Tzaneen Dam was sensitive to other water resources systems characterized by different hydrological regimes. To conduct this sensitivity analysis, incremental yields and corresponding net benefits due reduction of assurance of supply from, Midmar, Goedertrouw, Mokolo and Boegeberg dams were determined.
The comparative analysis demonstrated that the yield of the WCWSS could also be increased by reducing the assurance of supply from the existing 1 in 50 years (1:50) to 1 in 30 years (1:30). It also demonstrated that adoption of reduction of assurance of supply as a method of increasing assurance of supply more economic benefits when compared to yield augmentation through infrastructural interventions as reduction of assurance of supply had a net benefit of R 96.2 x106 while the BRVAS infrastructural intervention had a net benefit of R 15.5 x106. Results established that Tzaneen Dam could be optimised at 1:18 assurance of supply. It was therefore concluded that not all reductions of the assurance of supply result in an incremental increase of the net benefits. Results from the sensitivity analysis revealed that each water resources system is unique as different water resources used in the sensitivity analysis, Midmar, Goedertrouw, Mokolo and Boegeberg Dams had their optimum assurances of supply at 1:12, 1:12, 1:8 and 1:10 levels, respectively.
Both the comparative analysis and the sensitivity analyses acknowledge the role played by water availability in socio-economic development, however, for ease of analysis due to challenges of quantifying contribution due to sufficient or insufficient water, the socio-economic aspect was not included in the analysis. Overall, the study highlighted that the economic benefits of a water resource may be optimized by reducing the assurance of supply up to a certain level. The study therefore recommended that this practice should also be considered as an alternative method of increasing water availability from a system.NR
Knowledge, awareness, and beliefs of women regarding cervical cancer screening in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province
No full textMPHDepartment of Public HealthCervix cancer is rated the fourth most common cancer globally and leads to high mortality rates in
women worldwide. In South Africa, cervical cancer is the second most rated cancer with 9,8%
cases of death and 12,1% of incidents. Cervical cancer can be treated and prevented when most
women get screened. Although healthcare facilities in South Africa provide cervical screening
services, few utilize this service. The study's purpose was to investigate the knowledge, awareness,
and beliefs of women towards cervical cancer screening in the Vhembe District in Limpopo
Province. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, awareness, and beliefs of
women towards cervical cancer screening in the Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. The study
was conducted at Mashamba village in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. A qualitative
exploratory and descriptive research design was utilized. Nonprobability purposive sampling
method was used to select 30 participants from the village of the study. Data were gathered through
face-to-face semi-structured interviews using a developed interview guide. At 24 semi-structured
interviews data saturation was reached. Data were analysed using the thematic analysis method.
Four themes emerged from the data, these include women’s knowledge, awareness, perception,
and beliefs regarding cervical cancer screening. These all have negatively affected women’s
motivation in seeking early cervical cancer screening, which includes limited knowledge, poor
awareness, and misconception, cultural and religious beliefs. Intervention that encourages early
cervical cancer screening includes health promotion methods, strategies to create awareness
regarding cervical cancer screening, and community health education which will consider women’s
cultural and religious views. In conclusion to promote cervical cancer screening, the study
recommends the following strategies: increase of health education, awareness campaigns,
vaccination programs and increase of staff, equipment and facilities to screen cervical cancer in
clinics by the Department of Health to curb the prevalence of cervical cancer amongst women.NR