Research Output Repository (HSRC)
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South Africa’s state-owned entities are flagging: how innovation, research and development could revive them
Get PDFSouth Africa has about 700 state-owned enterprises. They operate across sectors like transport, energy and public utilities, and some are among the largest employers in those sectors. Entities like these are created and controlled by a country’s government to provide essential services and drive economic development. In South Africa, they were formed in the 20th century, when the government recognised the need to support local industries by providing services such as rail transport, financing and electricity.N/
Why the violence?: translocal justifications of violence in student protests
No full textStudent protests frequently turn violent; however, how student activists justify their use of violence is scarcely researched. Using photovoice data created by former activists from five South African universities, I uncover
four discourses on violence and its justification in the context of the #FeesMustFall protests: violence as assertion of identity and agency; violence as form of advocacy for social justice; violence as defence against state and institutional violence; and violence as expression of victimhood. By exploring the translocality of these justifications, I show how activists mobilise various translocal resources to challenge university authorities and justify their use of emancipatory violence.
Highlights of the South African Public Relationship with Science: 2022 survey results
Get PDFCommissioned by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, OctoberThe Department of Science and Innovation, together with its partners, is responsible for promoting science engagement within the NSI. The latest White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) built on previous initiatives by advocating for a science-literate and science-aware society, as well as for a renewed focus on science – society linkages (DST 2019a). To assess progress towards achieving the desired science-literate and science-aware society, the DSI first established a set of indicators to measure system-wide science engagement performance. Second, it adopted a set of sub-indicators to inform a periodic survey of the South African adult public to measure and monitor levels of science knowledge, attitudes, and engagement.N/
Factors associated with sexual behaviour among women aged 15-49 in South African low-income communities
No full textSouth Africa faces disproportionately high rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), especially in low-income communities. Understanding how demographic, socioeconomic, and knowledge-based factors influence sexual behavior is critical for targeted public health interventions. Therefore, this study examined the relationships between socioeconomic status (SES), education, ethnicity, marital status, STD awareness, and sexual behavior among women aged 15 – 49 in low-income South African communities. Methods and Materials: We conducted a cross-sectional study utilizing data from the South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016 (SADHS 2016). Key variables included sexual behavior (safe versus risky), SES, education, place of residence, ethnicity, marital status, and awareness of STDs. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to assess associations between sexual behavior and the aforementioned variables. Results: Among 8,513 respondents, 22.3% (95% CI: 21.1–23.5) engaged in risky sexual behavior. Higher SES was associated with increased odds of risky behavior, as were White, Coloured, and Indian/Asian ethnicities compared to Black Africans. Conversely, higher education levels, being married or cohabiting, and STD awareness (having heard of AIDS) significantly reduced risky sexual behavior. Urban residence had no significant effect. These findings highlight the influence of socioeconomic and educational factors on sexual health outcomes. Conclusion: Sexual behavior may be influenced by a number of factors, and behavioral patterns vary across groups. Public health strategies and intersectional approaches to sexual health should be considered to enhance education and STD awareness to reduce risky behaviors and improve sexual health outcomes in different population groups.
Harnessing multimodal and multilingual science communication to combat misinformation in a diverse country setting
No full textThis practice insight explores how translation and multimedia formats, such as video and
audio, can enhance science communication efforts to combat community-driven
misinformation and build trust within communities. Focusing on a national HIV survey, it
details strategies for countering misinformation spread via platforms like Facebook and
WhatsApp, which falsely accused data collectors of criminal activity. The research team’s
response included multilingual, multimodal digital communication and community
engagement, demonstrating the effectiveness of this blended approach in restoring trust and
dispelling misinformation in diverse social and linguistic settings.
Rapid assessment of the implementation of the ward-based primary healthcare outreach team (WBPHCOT) policy framework and strategy
No full textIn response to the healthcare challenges faced by middle-income and resource-constrained countries, the role of community health workers (CHWs) has become increasingly pivotal. These frontline healthcare providers
bridge the gap between communities and formal healthcare institutions, delivering essential primary healthcare (PHC) services. South Africa witnessed a significant step in 2010 with the establishment of ward-based primary
healthcare outreach teams (WBPHCOT), as part of the broader re-engineering of the primary healthcare strategy. As part of these WBPHCOTs, CHWs, under the supervision of outreach team leaders (OTLs), have been instrumental in delivering PHC services at the community level, significantly contributing efforts toward achieving sustainable health development goals. The subsequent Policy Framework and Strategy for the Implementation of WBPHCOTs, which was published in 2018, set the stage for a comprehensive approach. However, no formal evaluation of the policy’s implementation has been conducted thus far. As a result, the National Department of Health commissioned the Human Sciences Research Council to undertake a rapid assessment to understand the WBPHCOT policy framework and strategy 2018/2019-2023/2024 implementation context in South Africa across all nine provinces.
A 5‑year review of the impact of lottery incentives on HIV‑related services
No full textLottery incentives are an innovative approach to encouraging HIV prevention, treatment initiation, and adherence behaviours. This paper reviews the latest research on lottery incentives’ impact on HIV-related services, and their effectiveness for motivating behaviours to improve HIV service engagement and HIV health outcomes. Our review of ten articles, related to lottery incentives, published between 2018 and 2023 (inclusive) shows that lottery incentives have promise for promoting HIV-related target behaviours. The review highlights that lottery incentives may be better for affecting simpler behaviours, rather than more complex ones, such as voluntary medical male circumcision. This review recommends tailoring lottery incentives, ensuring contextual-relevance, to improve the impact on HIV-related services. Lottery incentives offer tools for improving uptake of HIV-related services. The success of lottery incentives appears to be mediated by context, the value and nature of the incentives, and the complexity of the target behaviour.
African continental free trade potential for South Africa’s renewable energy
No full textThe African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which has been in effect since 2021, can be utilised by African governments as a de-risking strategic investment framework to inform their innovative systematic approach to establishing a regional solar alliance. This alliance can be conceptualised as an intergovernmental
treaty that provides African mining organisations with a platform to trade raw, unrefined minerals and processed mineral products with member states that have signed the AfCFTA agreement.
The socioeconomic and demographic determinants of digital divide among the youth in Sub Sahara Africa
No full textDespite the global proliferation of digital technologies, African youth face a persistent digital divide that hinders sustainable development by limiting access to critical resources for socio-economic resilience. Livelihoods theory emphasizes how disparities in digital access constrain young Africans’ ability to acquire and sustain vital assets for improved life outcomes. While this challenge has gained recognition as a critical development issue, its impact on unequal life trajectories remains insufficiently understood. This study examines the factors influencing digital access and usage among youth and explores how digital disparities affect educational attainment, employment opportunities, and overall socio-economic well-being. Utilizing data from the Research ICT Africa (RIA 2020) survey conducted across ten African countries with a sample of 8,353 youths aged 15 to 35, the study employs Logit estimation for analysis. The findings reveal significant digital inequalities among youth, shaped by demographic factors such as age, gender, education, employment, and income. A positive association emerges between digital technology use and higher levels of education, employment, and income, particularly for those with access to banking and social media platforms. However, married individuals aged 25–35 show lower engagement with digital technologies, likely due to increased familial and occupational responsibilities. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to bridge the digital divide. Policymakers, educators, and development practitioners should enhance digital literacy, expand affordable internet access, and support digital entrepreneurship. Addressing the divide will empower marginalised youth, aligning with livelihoods theory by fostering sustainable assets for resilient socio-economic well-being.
Removing guesswork from SMME development: leveraging data for smarter policy design
Get PDFHSRC Policy Brief, MarchThe aim of this policy brief is to demonstrate how the curation of administrative data sources, particularly access to tax records, can play a crucial role in bridging the data gap about the performance of SMMEs in South Africa. High quality, granular data is a prerequisite for smarter policy design that avoids a one-size-fits-all approach. This is crucial due to the unique and distinctive characteristics of various types of SMMEs, each facing a diverse set of challenges and needs.N/