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Early life factors associated with childhood trajectories of violence among the Birth to Twenty-Plus Cohort in Soweto, South Africa
No full textViolence against children (VAC) has devastating and long-term negative consequences on health, social and economic well-being at both the individual and societal levels. There is limited research on the life course experience of VAC, especially in Africa. This study aimed to identify trajectories of physical and sexual violence victimization in childhood and evaluate early life factors predicting these violence trajectories. This study used data from birth to 18 years from the ongoing prospective Birth to Twenty Plus cohort (Bt20+). Analyses included children who reported experiences (yes/no) of physical and sexual violence at a minimum of two time points between five and 18 years. Group-based trajectory modelling was employed to identify groups of children with similar patterns of violence over time, while multivariable logistic regression was used to establish early life factors associated with violence trajectory group membership. Separately, two trajectory groups of physical violence (adolescent limited (65.1%) and chronic increasing (34.9%)) and sexual violence (adolescent limited (74.1%) and late increasing (25.9%)) victimization were identified. Early life factors associated with a higher risk of chronic increasing trajectory group membership, after adjusting for covariates, were being male (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.67, 95% CI 1.31; 2.10) and having a mother with at least secondary education compared to higher education (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.08; 2.76). In addition, residing in middle, compared to low, socioeconomic households (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50; 0.92) was protective against membership in this group. Residing in high compared to low socioeconomic households, was the only early life factor whose association approached significance with membership in the late-increasing sexual violence victimization trajectory group (aOR 0.63, 95% CI 0.42; 0.95). In conclusion, children follow different violence victimization trajectories across their childhoods. Identifying early life factors predicting violence trajectories provides targeted prevention intervention areas that can mitigate children’s violence experience.
Grasping the regimes of language, space and identity in the visual of post-apartheid higher education in South Africa
No full textIn 2014, through the University of the Free State's (UFS) Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice (IRSJ), three South African universities partnered to collaborate on the pilot phase of a research project focused on understanding whether the Arts could enable social cohesion, as the 2012 National Development Plan (2030) had promoted. The project, which had been conceptualised by one of the authors of this article in early 2014,1 followed both experience and observation of the challenges with regards this concept in the Arts, Culture and Heritage sectors of South Africa. Subsequent reflection and questioning of some of the related challenges, problematised the role that higher education had in societal transformation, and accordingly, in the conceptual development of social cohesion: Were universities creating appropriate conceptual frameworks and praxes required for the post-apartheid South African context? The disruption created by the 2008 'Reitz Video' and the UFS's subsequent decision to critically explore the meanings and trajectories thereof as part of the university's
transformation process, opened an important space also for the interrogation of concepts like that of 'Arts' and 'Social Cohesion' in South Africa. The 'Reitz Video' when read as a 'Visual', signaled the need to not only understand and address racism more substantively, but also the need to understand the power of the visual in the disruption of outdated social imaginaries and, in the production of what the new social imaginaries could also be.
Backyard rentals gain ground: HSRC research helps shape Cape Town housing by-law reform
No full textOn 26 June 2025, Cape Town City Council approved important changes to its Municipal Planning By-law in support of small-scale rental housing. This regulatory reform marks a significant step forward for this housing sector, which delivers more affordable rental accommodation in cities than the public and conventional private sectors combined. HSRC researchers have contributed to this policy change through years of research and engagement.
Parental & caregiver involvement in South African education
No full textThis book is an edited collection of chapters that focus on parent and caregiver involvement in South African schools, bringing together research and practice. The authors explore research, experiences, and lessons about parental and caregiver involvement across the education system, from early childhood development to basic education. The chapters move across times, places, and themes, raising questions for the future of educational research on parent and caregiver involvement in South African schools. While there is a strong emphasis on educational research, there is also concern for interventions and prospective futures more broadly.
Spatial variations in perceptions, risks and impacts of COVID-19 in relation to socio-economic vulnerability in Gauteng, South Africa
No full textThis study aims to spatially characterize and explain the differences in people’s perceptions regarding the impact of COVID-19, based on socio-economic disparities in Gauteng using choropleth mapping and Geographically Weighted Poisson Regression (GWPR). Socio-economic factors such as race, education level, and age were spatially modelled to explain people’s perceptions of the effects of COVID-19. The results were spatially variable, and respondents in municipalities with a High Socio-economic Risk Index (e.g. Merafong, Mogale City, and Lesedi) reported worse conditions, less COVID-19 information, and greater despair during the pandemic.
This underscores the necessity for policymakers to prioritize resources and interventions in these areas to address underlying challenges effectively and improve people’s overall well-being. The findings also point to the complexity of socio-economic factors in spatially characterizing social risk and vulnerability, as attested to by
other studies during and after the pandemic. Additionally, the negative sentiments expressed by people from these locations highlight the need for more targeted interventions by the government to cushion the province’s residents from the continued negative impacts of COVID-19. The results also indicate where socioeconomic risks and vulnerability exist geographically, which may help allocate resources effectively to specific areas with the greatest needs.
Small-scale rental housing in Southern Africa: from neglect to nurture
No full textIn the rapidly urbanizing context of the Global South, the growth of private rented accommodation tends to take the form of small-scale rental housing (SSRH) provided by individual homeowners and micro-developers. This has played a vital role in mitigating urban housing shortages, enabling access to the city for low- and middle-income households, and bolstering local economies. Yet, this largely informal and unplanned phenomenon also creates health and safety risks for tenants, mounting pressure on public infrastructure, and shortfalls in municipal revenue collection from the economic value created. We argue that most governments and related stakeholders in Southern Africa fail to recognize the contribution of SSRH to national housing systems and solutions. We also illustrate how national housing policies, regulatory frameworks and institutions are unfit for purpose, and how they can do more harm than good. A radical shift toward an enabling approach is required. We conclude by identifying several research priorities for the future.
Human-wildlife conflict in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe: more than just a conservation concern
No full textThe growing global human population has intensified competition for space and natural resources, leading to frequent human-wildlife conflicts. Habitat loss has not only caused a decline in biodiversity but pushed numerous species toward extinction. This qualitative study was conducted in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to examine human-wildlife conflict (HWC) in Southern Africa, addressing the key questions concerned with the nature of HWC in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, the efforts SADC states have made to reduce HWC, and policies guiding HWC reduction in the region. The study employed case studies and document analysis exploring specific conflict scenarios, wildlife behavior patterns, and human responses, providing insights into conflict dynamics shaped by socioeconomic factors like land use and cultural attitudes. Through thematic analysis patterns and issues were identified. Document and policy reviews assessed the effectiveness of current strategies, highlighting similarities and differences in policy implementation across SADC. Gaps in wildlife conflict and disaster risk management policies in the SADC region are identified, as well as key challenges among others include limited incorporation of traditional knowledge, limited community involvement, and failure to balance conservation with local community needs. A coordinated regional effort is needed to effectively address this issue.
The state of youth in Langa 30 years into democracy: perspectives of older residents in Langa township
No full textOver the past decade, researchers have increasingly focused on the experiences of the youth in South African townships, highlighting the complex and interconnected challenges they face, such as unemployment, poor-quality education, gangsterism, substance abuse and health issues (Barrar 2010; Charman 2016; Mthembu 2016; Tshishonga 2019; Webb 2021). A study by Erin Barrar (2010) investigated unemployment among township youth aged 16 to 32. The study highlighted that unemployment dampens youths’ optimism but also revealed their shared aspirations for education. Barrar further noted that limited role models and information
networks trap many young people in cycles of despair, low self-esteem, mental problems and unmet potential. Andrew Charman’s (2016) study focused on the informal economy, mapping entrepreneurship across nine townships in South Africa. Charman compared South African township youth with immigrant youth entrepreneurs using data from a business census and surveys of over 3 000 micro-enterprises and firms. The findings show that micro-enterprises may be potential employment entry points for township youth, but that challenges persist. For example, immigrant youth often outperform local youth in establishing and growing small businesses due to their stronger social networks, technical skills, knowledge of markets and business acumen. A study by Ntokozo Mthembu (2016) explored the developmental impact of unemployment by showing how it fosters delinquency and idleness among township youth. The findings of the study underscore the psychological toll of unemployment and the urgent need for interventions to address individual and systemic barriers to employment. Ndwakhulu Tshishonga’s (2019) study assessed how and why intergenerational poverty persists among post-apartheid youth. The study contrasted the experiences of the ‘born-free’ generation with those of older generations, emphasising the need for structural reforms to break cycles of marginalisation. In his study, Christopher Webb (2021) emphasised the barriers of place-based stigmatisation, revealing the narratives of how young urban township residents navigate challenging labour markets with limited opportunities. A survey study of 30 unemployed township youth introduced a digital perspective and investigated job-seeking efforts by youth in Mfuleni, Cape Town (Kunene 2019). Despite the
internet’s potential, the study concluded that limited resources and digital skills undermine its effectiveness, highlighting a significant digital divide. The quality of education in township schools has received some attention from education specialists. For example, Tracey McKay (2019) reports that South Africa’s education system has shifted from being racially segregated under apartheid to being divided along class lines. In contrast to wealthier families, poor South Africans, predominantly black and living in rural areas,
townships or poorer provinces, are confined to under-resourced schools.
HIV prevention among men in Sub-Saharan Africa challenges and innovations
No full textPaper presented at Lecture, Introduction to Global Public Health University of Iowa, 2 DecemberN/
Support for immigrant welfare inclusion in South Africa: socio-political drivers of policy preferences
No full textThe South African welfare system is one of the largest and most progressive in Africa. But fierce societal tensions have emerged over whether immigrants should be included in this system. The study examined public preferences for immigrant welfare inclusion in South Africa, a unique socio-political landscape that provides an insightful case study. Three different drivers of policy preferences are explored: (i) left-wing economic orientations, (ii) social trust and (iii) anti-immigrant stereotypes. Nationally representative data from the 2020 South African Social Attitudes Survey (N = 3,133) was used. Anti-immigrant stereotypes emerged as the strongest predictor of policy preferences, demonstrating the powerful role of zero-sum narratives in shaping public opinion. Left-wing economic orientations – often associated with support for inclusive progressivism in European contexts – was a predictor of exclusionary attitudes. The paper concluded with implications for future research as well as policy recommendations, advocating for targeted interventions to address stereotypes and
promote social trust.