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The political economy of mobile telephony in South Africa: MTN, Vodacom and the state
No full textThe idea for this book began with my graduate studies when I realized the level of power mobile telephony companies wield in the Global South. At the time, many scholars and commentators focused on how these companies were a proxy for the newly democratic South Africa in their quest to build new relationships across the continent. Yet my research found the relationship between mobile telephony companies and the state – particularly in South Africa – is an intricate web of relations and interests. The first iteration of this book began as my doctoral research. I asked whether or not mobile telephony network operators (MNOs) were an instrument
of South Africa’s foreign economic policy on the African continent. This book builds on this research and considers the power of mobile telephony companies in two contexts: as a transformational agent and how companies become embedded in foreign policy.
Exploring environmentalism across nations: understanding the influence of societal social progress on environmental values, norms, and behaviour
Get PDFThe global push for environmental protection often adopts a universal approach, despite evidence of significant disparities in environmentalism across nations. This study uses data from 28 countries in the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) 2020 Environment module to explore the determinants of pro-environmental behavior.
Applying the value-belief-norm (VBN) framework, it examines how societal progress influences the pathways from environmental values to behaviors, with a particular focus on less developed countries that ranked lower on the Weighted Index of Social Progress (WISP). Initial findings show that certain factors such as self-efficacy, environmental concern, pro-environmental norms, and exposure to environmental problems consistently predict behavior across WISP clusters, though the magnitude and significance of these associations vary. However,
country-level variation within clusters highlights the limitations of grouping countries solely on social progress rankings. Future research should consider both between- and within-cluster variation, and examine other potential methods, including multilevel modeling with country-level random slopes.
African democracy under siege?: a review of the surge in military coups in Africa
No full textThis article examines the surge in military coups across Africa, focusing on the history, causes, consequences, and potential prevention strategies. With Africa now witnessing the largest number of global coups attempts since 1950, the continent faces a critical threat to democratic aspirations. Political instability, economic challenges,
and ethnic tensions contribute to coups, which lead to severe consequences, such as the erosion of civil liberties and human rights abuses. Despite international and regional responses, transitioning from military rule back to democracy poses complex challenges. Prevention strategies include strengthening democratic institutions,
addressing economic inequalities and cultivating a culture of democratic values and civic engagement. The article emphasizes the need for unified efforts from African nations, the international community, and civil society to protect the future of democratic governance, and advocates for the power of ‘ballots, not bullets.’
Analytic skills and software required to effectively utilise WYPD data for evidence-based decision-making
Get PDFPaper presented at the Policy Dialogue on Data for Gender Equality with the United Nations Women (UN Women), European Union (EU) and the Statistics South Africa, 10-11 OctoberN/
Influence of digital capacities on the metacognitive development of African youth
No full textThis paper explores how digital capacities influence cognitive processes and metacognitive development among African scholarship recipients. Employing a structured sequential mixedmethods approach, it intertwines quantitative data from a tracer study with qualitative insights from interviews, capturing the experiences of secondary and tertiary African scholarship recipients and educators. Despite barriers to digital infrastructure, interviewees have a high appetite for new technology. However, these barriers impede the transformative potential that new smart technologies offer Africa's graduates. By analysing the data through the Navigational
Capacities Framework, the study identifies the cognitive processes and metacognitive developmental areas that must be nurtured for the collective benefit of Africa's students and graduates. Quantitative data was collected through national call centres and online platforms, while qualitative data comprised Individual Informant Interviews and Key Informant Interviews. Both data sets were analysed using univariate, bivariate, and thematic analysis methods. The findings underscore the critical role of digital capacities in navigating one���s path through the digital economy. This involves advocating for collaborative efforts to bridge the digital divide and promote digital justice. This research contributes to understanding the pivotal role of digital empowerment in shaping the future of African Youth, advocating for strategic interventions to enhance their digital literacy and capabilities.
Comparative practices of Just Energy Transition from coal to hydrogen energy in South Africa and Brazil
Get PDFHSRC Policy Brief, AugustThe climate imperative to leapfrog from coal to clean energy has been made clear over the past years at the various UN Climate Change conferences. In 2021, South Africa not only confirmed that hydrogen as a green energy is critical for decarbonizing the planet, but announced the first Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) South Africa with its Western partners. However, successful implementation of South Africa's Just Energy Transition (JET) Framework raises key questions, such as its governance capacity to implement government policies, and its history of dysfunctional long-term planning as evidenced by load shedding, which is a result of poor foresight. Brazil serves as a relevant comparative to South Africa given that they are both emerging countries, both engaged in global coal production, and have both established an interest in hydrogen energy over a decade ago. However, unlike South Africa, Brazil is currently a fossil free nation and has effectively localized green energy. The purpose of this comparative analysis is to, therefore, examine Brazilian best
practices of energy transition for consideration by the South African government.N/
Book review: Gouws, A. (ed.) 2022. Feminist institutionalism in South Africa: designing for gender equality. London: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781529160084
No full textReview of the book Feminist Institutionalism in South Africa: Designing for Gender Equality, edited by Amanda Gouws.
South African national survey of research and experimental development: business sector R&D at a glance 2021/22. Fact sheet 53
No full textR&D activity in the business sector is essential to South Africa's national system of innovation (NSI) and a major driver of the economy. For several years, a decline in R&D investment by business has been observed, attributable to overall weak economic performance with the Covid-19 pandemic marking a low point. However, economic revival post-Covid-19 went hand-in-hand with increased R&D expenditure, notably in manufacturing and finance. Major investment in the information, computer and communication technology and medical and health fields also boosted R&D performance in the business sector by R2.431 billion.N/
Pentecostal charismatic women: constructions of femininity in Alexandra Township
No full textThis is a Black feminist autoethnographic study, written from the perspective of an insider in both the Pentecostal community and Alexandra township. The book uncovers the daily lives of women in an African Pentecostal community while relating them to Black/African feminist and womanist theory. Thus, revealing the ways in which the Charismatic women of Alexandra build strong bonds with one another in spite of their differences and contest controlling images of femininity even as they sometimes traffic in problematic heteronormative constructions of social life.
This book examines Charismatic discourses that build the gender identities of women congregants. It also observes and records women churchgoers to give insights into their personal perceptions, embodiments and performances of power and agency within the church and the wider societal spaces that they occupy. It is an intervention into anthropological work as much as one on the internalised oppression of women. Rather than stay within the confines of 'agency versus oppression' discourses, this book offers feminist imaginaries that expose the complexities and contestations that exist in both sermons and the intimate relations that women have with each other.N/
South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Development sector results and trends: busines sector R&D at a glance 2020/21. Fact sheet 43
No full textBusiness in South Africa is a core driver of the economy and an important partner in achieving the country's development goals. Business enterprise expenditure on R&D (BERD) is the gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) incurred by enterprises. This fact sheet shows that BERD decreased every year from 2017/18. The business sector devoted the largest share of its R&D expenditure to the natural sciences, technology, and engineering fields (94.9%). A higher proportion of business R&D spend was devoted to applied research in comparison to basic and experimental research. Experimental research is considered most likely to lead to innovative products.N/