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Conceptualising Responsible Leadership in South Africa: An Interactive Qualitative Analysis
Get PDFPurpose: The studying of responsible leadership as a leadership construct is facing challenges in defining, specifically within a South African context. This has been amplified by real-world challenges such as the increased unethical behaviour. This study aims to conceptualise responsible leadership as a leadership construct across industries, encompassing both private and public sectors in the context of South Africa.
Design/methodology/approach: An exploratory qualitative design is employed: The Interactive Qualitative Analysis (IQA), a research methodology approach qualitative in format. This involves a step-by-step application to conceptualise responsible leadership through a controlled focus groups comprising of 19 leaders representing a diverse range of industries within South African. The inductive nature of initial stages, combined with deductive techniques, facilitates detection of perspectives on responsible leadership, enhancing the exploratory aspect of qualitative research.
Findings/results: Results are illustrated using System Influence Diagram (SID): Demonstrating the primary driver in responsible leadership as growth, with sustainability and planning as secondary drivers. These secondary drivers, resulted in team mental health and values as secondary outcomes, and culminated to the primary outcome of business insight. Grounded on this, recommendations for future research are made.
Practical implications: The significance of the study resides in the conceptualisation of the construct responsible leadership, within the South African context.
Originality/value: This conceptualisation of responsible leadership is valuable because it aids in elucidating the social and ethical responsibilities of leaders, including their accountability to both stakeholders and society.Graduate School of Business Leadershi
The effect of integrating the virtual lab in grade 10 life sciences : a case of rural schools in Umkhanyakude district
No full textThe study explored the effect of integrating the virtual reality laboratory in enhancing science process skills and understanding the Grade 10 Life Sciences concepts. A desktop-based interactive virtual reality laboratory for Life Sciences with animations and simulations was used in a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group design. A pragmatic paradigm was adopted, and hence, both the Quantitative and Qualitative approaches were used to collect data. A purposive sample of Grade 10 Life Sciences learners from five rural schools in uMkhanyakude District was selected, comprising 173 learners in the experimental group and 149 in the control group. Qualitative data were collected using structured questionnaires, structured interviews, and observations, while quantitative data were collected using a Pre-Test and a Post-Test. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, and Qualitative data were analysed manually using Thematic Analysis. The results indicate that the virtual reality laboratory was effective in enhancing the understanding of Life Sciences concepts compared to the traditional method. Several benefits of the virtual reality laboratory were identified as contributing to this effectiveness, including varied teaching methods, simplified presentation of relevant concepts, multimodality, visualisation of concepts, clear and visual examples, and provision of adequate instructions. The results further indicate that the virtual reality laboratory improved science process skills, including following instructions, making observations, recording data, measuring, and designing and planning investigations. The results also show that the virtual reality laboratory contributed towards the enhancement of skills such as science reasoning, critical reading, knowledge integration and research. The study proposed a model outlining the essential minimum characteristics for a Life Sciences virtual reality lab, with the aim of contributing towards current conversations on the use of the virtual reality lab in science subjects at the high school level, especially in Life Sciences, to possibly contribute to the South African education curriculum design and policies. The research further provided recommendations which may contribute to the advancement of Life Sciences education in South Africa by using technology to enhance teaching and learning experiences, especially in schools facing resource constraints.D. Ed. (Natural Science Education)College of Educatio
Public healthcare disparities in Africa: the food production systems and its dichotomy in a South African context
No full textAbstract
One of the major concerns of development in Africa is the issue of public health. In Africa, public healthcare has been and still is a problem most African countries are faced with. The problem of public healthcare seems to be unabated even though there are measures that are put in place for its effectiveness. There is hunger, malnutrition, high mortality rate, illnesses and deterioration of life expectancy in most developing countries of Africa. The dramatic unprecedented public health disparity has become a scourge in developing countries where it has purportedly impaired the developmental efforts, economic growth and prosperity. As a result, there is a need to scrutinize possible causes that exacerbates public health issues in developing countries. The paper argues that the current food production system (conventional) contributes to current status of public health as compared to the previous food production system (organic). The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize public healthcare disparities, juxtaposing organic and conventional food production that result as human food consumption. The paper employs literature-based analysis as a methodology to assemble data in respect of public healthcare disparities and food production systems
Exploring the progression of women in senior management positions at an open distance e-learning institution in Gauteng
No full textAbstracts in English, Northern Sotho and ZuluWomen’s progression and participation in senior management power structures is very limited in higher education institutions. Moreover, the prevalence of progressive laws that seek to promote women progression in South Africa is not an adequate reflection of the efforts that still need to be undertaken in this regard. The purpose of this study is to explore the progression of women to senior management positions at an open distance electronic learning (ODeL) institution in Gauteng Province in order to highlight the inherent power structures and institutional dynamics that limit the progression of women as well as suggest measures which can be put in place to enhance the progression of women to senior management positions.
This qualitative study adopted the interpretative phenomenological analysis research design approach for obtaining relevant information from the lived experiences of the participants. Data was collected through individual semi-structured interviews held with a sample size of 25 purposively sampled participants who fulfilled the researcher’s pre-determined selection criteria. Thematic data analysis was utilised to process and categorise the verbatim interview-based information elicited from the participants. The findings of the study revealed the fundamental need for implementing laws, employment equity policies and human resource recruitment processes that promote the progression of women to senior-level management positions.Kakaretso ya basadi le go kgatha tema ka dibopegong tsa taolo maemong a godimo go mo maemong a fase kudu ka gare ga ditheo tsa thuto ya godimo. Go feta fao, go ata ga melao ya kakaretso yeo e nyakago go matlafatsa kakaretso ya basadi ka Afrika Borwa ga e fe seswantsho se se lekanego sa maitapiso ao a sa ntsego a swanetse go dirwa mabapi le maemo a. Maikemisetso a nyakisiso ye ke go nyakisisa kakaretso ya basadi mesomong ya taolo maemong a godimo ka setheong sa thuto ya inthanete ya bokgole bjo bo bulegilego (ODeL) ka Profenseng ya Gauteng go tsweletsa dibopego tsa taolo tsa tlhago le diphetogo tsa setheo tseo di laolago kakaretso ya basadi gammogo le go sisinya magato ao a ka bewago go matlafatsa kakaretso ya basadi ka gare ga maemo a taolo maemong a godimo.
Nyakisiso ye ya khwalithethifi e amogetse mokgwa wa tlhathollo ya tshekatsheko ya tiragalo ya nyakisiso ya tlhamo ya go hwetsa tshedimoso ya maleba go tswa maitemogelong a batswasehlabelo. Datha e kgobokeditswe ka dipoledisano tsa motho ka o tee ka o tee tseo di sa rulaganywago ka botlalo tseo di swerwego ka sampole ya batswasehlabelo ya bogolo bja 25 bao ba tserwego sampole ka nepo bao ba kgotsofaditsego dikritheria tsa kgetho tsa monyakisisi tseo di laeditswego pele. Tshekatsheko ya datha ya thematiki e somisitswe go prosesa le go hlopha tshedimoso ye e theilwego godimo ga poledisano ya ntsu ka ntsu (verbatim) yeo e hweditswego go tswa go batswasehlabelo. Dikutullo tsa nyakisiso ye di utollotse tlhokego ya motheo ya go tsenya tirisong melao, melawana ya tekatekano ya mesomo le ditshepediso tsa go thwala methopo ya basomi tseo di tswetsago pele kakaretso ya basadi gore ba akaretswe ka maemong a taolo a maemo a godimo.Isencane kakhulu inqubekela phambili kanye nokubamba iqhaza kwabesifazane ekuphatheni izikhundla ezinhlakeni eziphezulu ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukusabalala kwemithetho ebhekele inqubekela phambili eyakhelwe ukukhuthaza inqubekela phambili yabesifazane eNingizimu Afrika akuzibonisi ngokwanele izinto okusadingeka ukuba zenziwe mayelana nalokhu. Inhloso yalolu cwaningo ukuhlola inqubekela phambili yabantu besifazane ekuphatheni ezikhundleni eziphezulu esikhungweni sokufunda nanoma ukuphi (ODeL) eSifundazweni sase-Gauteng ukuze kugqanyiswe amandla adalwa yilokhu kanye nokuguquka kwesikhungo okunqunda inqubekela phambili kwabesifazane kanjalo nokuphakamisa izindlela ezingasetshenziswa ukuze kube nenqubekela phambili kwabesifazane ekuphatheni ezikhundleni eziphezulu.
Lolu cwaningo lwenziwe ngokusebenzisa indlela yokuhlaziya iqophelo kusetshenziswa isimo esingajwayelekile ukuze kutholakale ulwazi olufanele kubabambiqhaza asebeke babhekana nesimo okukhulunywa ngaso. Idatha iqoqwa ngokwenza uhlelo oluqale lwahlelwa ngaphambi kokuqaliswa ukuze kuxoxiswane nomuntu ngamunye kubabambiqhaza abangama-25 nabakwazile ukufezekisa isifiso somcwaningi. Lapha kusetshenziswe indlela yokuhlaziywa kwezihlokwana ukuze kucutshungulwe futhi kuhlelwe uhlelo lokuthola ulwazi ngezinkulumongxoxo nababambiqhaza. Imiphumela yalolu cwaningo iveze ukuthi kunesidingo esibalulekile sokuqaliswa kokusebenza kwemithetho, izinqubomgomo zokuqashwa ngokulingana kanye nezindlela zokuqasha abasebenzi ngokubhekelela inqubekela phambili yabantu besifazane ekuphatheni ezikhundleni eziphezulu.M. Com. (Business Management (Human Resource Management))Human Resource Managemen
Promotion Of Indigenous Languages and Culture through Social Media
Get PDFInternet linguistics concerns itself with how language is used on digital platforms such as blogs, social media, etc. The use of language on digital platforms has recently gained scholarly attention; as a result, the sociolinguistics of the e-community has become a case of analysis in the field of linguistics. One of the ongoing contributions made by the e-community is the promotion of language and culture through social media platforms. The social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram are used as meeting places for engagement in discussions around language and culture. The sharing of information and engagements on social media is possible through features such as posts, group charts, and spaces. Moreover, the use of language on social media platforms is given attention in response to the UNESCO’s declaration of a Decade (a period between 2022 and 2032) of Indigenous Languages. Therefore, this chapter demonstrates how indigenous languages and cultures gain popularity in digital spaces like social media. This is done the showcasing of the best digital practices which are central to the promotion of indigenous languages and their cultures. Therefore, this chapter demonstrates the role of social media in the promotion of the Sepedi language and culture. The cases of analysis are Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. The mentioned social media platforms receive attention because of their widespread usage in South Africa and because they have the potential to promote the Sepedi language and culture. Socio-cultural, Constructivism, and Uses and Gratification theories are used as frames of referenceLinguistics and Modern Language
Using chess as an educational tool to promote school readiness in historically disadvantaged schools in the West Rand
No full textIn this thesis a quantitative approach involving a quasi-experimental design was used to study the effect of chess classes on the cognitive and intellectual development of Grade R learners in Gauteng. The research comprised two interrelated stages, both with control and experimental groups but no randomisation.
In the first stage, chess instruction as a treatment factor was investigated in a standard Quintile 5, public school. A sample (N=64) was drawn from a single school, with two groups, an experimental group receiving chess instruction over a 40-week period and a control group not exposed to any chess instruction during this period. The groups were assessed at a pre and post level using the Junior South African Individual Scales instrument to determine whether the chess instruction had an effect on their intellectual development. A repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed statistically significant differences between the group means on the Performance intelligence and the Global intelligence scales, suggesting a positive effect of chess instruction on some aspects of cognitive development over time, but the magnitude of the effect was small.
In the second stage, the study was extended to investigate the practical application of a chess intervention in a developmental context involving groups of schools (control versus experimental) with a total sample size of (N= 122). The children were assessed using the multilingual Aptitude for School Beginners' group test to establish the effect of chess instruction on scholastic development, but a repeated, multivariate analysis revealed no positive interaction between chess instruction and group over time. A qualitative comparison between the two groups of schools suggests that the teaching environment was not homogeneous as in stage 1, but quite heterogeneous with regard to cultural aspects such as the language of tuition, as well as the teachers' ages, educational experience, qualifications, and working environments.
Evidently, in the second stage environmental variables had a greater impact on the children’s cognitive development than the chess instruction as such. It is recommended that future research further explore the effect of environmental and school-based conditions in the investigation of the effect of chess on the cognitive development of young children.D. Litt. et. Phil. (Psychology)Psycholog
Phylogenetic study and the effect of climate change on Duckweeds (Lemnaceae) in South Africa: an ecological niche modelling approach
Get PDFDuckweeds are tiny floating plants that are anthropogenically introduced in many rivers, lakes, and wetlands in South Africa. Because of their miniature habit, they can be very difficult to identify, distinguish with naked eyes and they reproduce rapidly, forming a dense mat that diminishes the potential usage of waterbodies. Therefore, we aim to identify duckweed species using phylogenetic relationships and elucidate how climate change may affect the current and future distribution of duckweed (Lemnaceae) species in South Africa. For DNA molecular technique, we used five plastid regions (matK, rbcL, rps16, trnK (3’) and trnK (5’) to reconstruct a complete phylogeny of five duckweed genera with 38 species. 20 samples were collected from different provinces in South Africa. The phylogenetic analysis revealed two distinct clades representing the two subfamilies of Lemnaceae: Lemnoideae and Wolffioideae. Approximately, seven native and 31 invasive alien duckweed species were identified. With regards to results from the species distribution model, current climate models revealed suitable environmental niche for duckweeds species in South Africa, with the following hotspot provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern cape, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo. However, the future projections have shown that majority of duckweed species will experience great contraction: Spirodela polyrhiza, Lemna aequinoctialis and Lemna gibba. Therefore, this project has confirmed the placement of collected duckweed species within the two subfamilies on the phylogenetic tree and we also predicted the distribution of duckweed species in South Africa. The eastern and southern part of South Africa extending to the northern part has been identified as the most current climatically suitable areas for duckweed species. Furthermore, results differentiated between native and invasive alien duckweed species to South Africa. The study also listed some of the water bodies that may experience range expansion of duckweed species in the future where conservationist may prioritize management of dams.Agriculture and Animal Healt
The Nexus between sexual and reproductive health decision-making and human development among adolescent girls in Chimanimani District, Zimbabwe
No full textThis thesis sought to understand the nexus between sexual and reproductive health (SRH) decision-making and human development among adolescent girls in Chimanimani District in Zimbabwe. Specifically, the study described SRH knowledge of adolescent girls, explored their experiences of SRH decision-making, examined the connections between SRH decision-making and human development and also developed a strategy for increasing capacities of adolescent girls to have control of SRH decision-making thereby leading to enhanced socio-economic and healthy lives. The statement of the problem highlights that adolescent girls lack capacities to have control of SRH decision-making for enhanced socio-economic and healthy lives. The methodology of this study was grounded in qualitative research. Using participatory action research, the researcher engaged participants in dialogue on the interconnectedness between SRH decision-making and human development. Chimanimani District was purposively sampled as the study area. Thirty-two adolescent girls aged between 16 and 19 years constituted the sample size. The researcher collaborated with five co-researchers to recruit participants using passive and active recruitment methods. Data gathering was done using in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and participant observations. The researcher adopted critical discourse analysis (CDA) model developed by Norman Fairclough to analyse data. Findings revealed gaps in SRH knowledge among participants, indicating epistemic challenges to accessing such knowledge. Diverse experiences of SRH decision-making were highlighted. Economic uncertainty and poverty created obstacles to participants’ abilities to make SRH choices which reflected their interests. Through implementing the strategy, the researcher learnt that participative democracy in research enabled participants voice their interests and concerns in the research process. This study recommended to broaden the scope by facilitating dialogue with both boys and girls in a single study. The researcher believed that this would strengthen strategies for addressing conflicts in SRH decision-making and ultimately creating peaceful societies anchored in sustainable development.D. Phil. (Development Studies)Development Studie
Building integrated and inclusive rural economy in South Africa: critical perspectives from the Morebene community in Limpopo province
No full textText in EnglishThis is a mixed-method research that examined the prospects of building integrated and inclusive rural economies in South Africa. The study has taken an Afrocentric perspective to defining processes of building integrated and inclusive rural economies in South Africa. In this study, a decolonial epistemic paradigm which is a means of democratizing knowledge and revitalizing old epistemologies to better align with current postcolonial realities was preferred. The paradigm also serves as a creative epistemological process of ‘problematization and radicalization’. In this study, care has been taken to avoid contamination of the research with what decolonization scholars call ‘epistemicides’ which refers to the extermination of knowledge and ways of knowing through the exclusion of knowledge that originates from those outside Westernized philosophical terrains or traditions.
In this study, the concepts of integrated and inclusive rural economies are defined as Eurocentric policy initiatives and viewpoints not solely driven by the desire to restore land rights or any economic advancement of the post-colonial developmental agenda. The aforementioned perspectives are considered detrimental to South Africa's developmental goals. They are believed to promote colonialism and reinforce the continent's reliance on Western ways of thinking. This study found that although South Africa's post-apartheid democratic government aimed to integrate and include marginalized rural communities in agricultural value chains, it failed to create thriving and equitable rural economies as envisioned in the National Development Plan Vision 2023. The key finding of this study is that the methods and models used to create inclusive and integrated rural economies generally continue the traditions of colonialism, and mainly benefit the interests of commercial farmers and capitalist organizations. The rise of quasi-landlords who have strong connections with the ruling elite and operate within a capitalist system is becoming more evident. The study also found that the government’s focus on redistributive projects rather than restorative processes has created a deceptive impression of inclusive and integrated rural economies, as exemplified by the Morebene community. The above is primarily because the study found that the government does not have suitable models for building integrated and inclusive rural economies.
Some of the other findings of the study are that prospects of farming from the restituted portions of land to communities are only suitable for domestic consumption and are preferably applicable for small-scale farming projects. The respondents say that there are no prospects of them graduating into commercial farmers, and only privately owned farms are suitable for developing commercial farmers in South Africa. The respondents also say that they are not able and afforded opportunities to make decisions about the land and that government departments do not consult them properly regarding issues related to land restituted. This is because the government departments themselves are not acting in an integrated manner. This study proposed a Five-Stage Multi-Process Rural Development Model. It aims to encourage the government to consult with the relevant beneficiaries of land reform in an integrated manner. It also suggests including their views and aspirations when developing policy interventions aimed at assisting themAccording to this study, the discussions regarding land reform in South Africa are predominantly shaped by political considerations and do not possess a solid grounding in the restitution or redistribution of land. Instead, they rest on some misconceptions and inaccuracies regarding historical events, which ultimately fail to serve the interests of those they are meant to aid.D. Phil. (Development Studies)Development Studie
Towards Holistic Healing: A Pentecostal Ecotheological Perspective
No full textPentecostal ecotheology presents a holistic approach to healing that recognises the inherent
worth of all creation and the interconnectedness of human and nonhuman creation. It draws on the
Pentecostal full gospel and the experiences of biblical Pentecost to inspire an expansive pneumatology
that transcends an anthropocentric soteriology and views the entire cosmos as the altar where human
and nonhuman creation can tarry for and experience the sacred presence, power, and conviction of
the Holy Spirit with a sense of eschatological urgency such that (inter alia) repentance from ecological
transgression becomes normative. This framework envisions all of creation participating in the
Spirit’s presence, power, gifting, and renewal. Leveraging Pentecostal ecotheology for holistic healing
involves intentionally engaging, replicating, and contextualising the pneumatological experiences of
the biblical Pentecost. It also involves embracing the pneumatological continuity between us and the
biblical charismatic communities, enabling us to administer healing in contemporary environmental
contexts through the Spirit’s anointing. Engaging in ecotheological intercession, overcoming the
creational desacralisation that leads to the mechanistic exploitation of creation, and adopting a
Spirit-born sense of solidarity with creation are further essential strategies for leveraging Pentecostal
ecotheology for holistic healing.Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiolog