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Umthetho uthi: commuting stories of minibus taxi commuters and taxi drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Durban, South Africa
Get PDFThe COVID-19 outbreak in late 2019 illustrated how biological facts and social
processes often intersect to account for differential epidemiological patterns of disease
outbreaks. In South Africa, the legacy of apartheid, which facilitated separate
development, intersected with structural inequalities to shape the spread of the
outbreak. In this study, I explore the stories of minibus taxi drivers and commuters in
Mpumalanga Township, Durban, South Africa, about commuting during the COVID 19 pandemic. Informal minibus taxis are the most popular mode of public
transportation in South Africa, as they are responsible for up to 70% of daily
commutes. However, minibus taxis are usually overcrowded, lack adequate
ventilation, and are situated in areas that lack the most basic sanitation facilities; thus
making them “hotspots” for the transmission of airborne diseases such as the novel
coronavirus. Minibus taxis, due to the essential role they play in the lives of the majority
of black urban South Africans, cannot be completely shut down during a pandemic.
Using the theoretical framework of structural violence, I argue that the everyday lived
experiences of taxi drivers and commuters make them vulnerable to contracting an
airborne disease such as COVID-19, especially because they are unable to avoid
high-risk situations such as commuting. Additionally, the government’s attempts to
curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak further deepened the precarity of those
who generate an income from the informal sector, including the minibus taxi industry.
This structural violence to which my interlocutors are exposed is born out the deep
inequality that characterises the larger South African economy. I argue that structural
violence is not merely a matter of social inequality; it is that inequality leads to
increased risk. The overall argument of this dissertation is that existing social, political,
and economic factors intersected with the COVID-19 pandemic to exacerbate the
already existing precarity of those who operate and use minibus taxis. I was able to
draw on how the intersection of minibus taxi operations, the working conditions of taxi
drivers, minibus taxi ownership, funding, and the government’s policies amplified this
precarity during a health emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic. I therefore call
for the improvement of the minibus taxi industry as a matter of social equity. This will
require the extension of public transport subsidies to the minibus taxi industry. I further
call for a review of the government’s funding model of the minibus taxi industry through
the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme.M.A. (Anthropology)Anthropology and Archaeolog
Local Government: A Social Ontology of Care
Get PDFn.a.Setting out to determine what ‘local government’ is and how it can be understood, I conducted an analysis of the concept ‘local government’ by identifying its institutional, behavioural and territorial attributes. This analysis informed an ontological description of the nature of local government and the underlying assumptions about this reality. Ontological, local government, as a collection of ‘Dasein’ with an immanent tension between anxiety and care, may simultaneously be viewed as being a social collective of individuals, an institution consisting of individuals, and a social action or intervention performed by caring individuals. The description of the nature of local government provides a point of departure for describing and comparing this reality as situated in different contexts. It also serves as a proposed menu for the questioning and challenging of underlying assumptions about local government. The value of this social ontology of care lies in the description of the nature of the reality of local government situated in different contexts. Furthermore, it serves as an agenda for questioning and challenging the underlying assumptions about local government within different contexts.Public Administration and Managementn.a
A strategy execution model for the public sector in an emerging economy
No full textPublic sector organisations are investing more money in the formulation of strategies each
year. However, few who create good strategies eventually have compelling success in their
execution endeavours. The strategy-to-execution gap, often referred to as strategic discord,
is a long-lasting problem with no easy solution at hand. This study, therefore, intended to
explore the development of a suitable strategy execution model for the public sector in an
emerging economy. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods (SEMM) research design
(quantitative followed by a qualitative phase) was adopted. The results described were
Conflicting stakeholder expectations and Resource availability as key barriers hindering
successful strategy execution in the public sector. These key obstacles include the Lack of
resources, preparing an organisation for execution and the Lack of models that assist in the
execution process.
The literature review provided the foundation for the development of the measuring instrument
in the first phase of the study. The questionnaire provided the basis for the quantitative data,
derived from a representative sample of 380 managers, followed by 15 semi-structured
interviews for the qualitative data. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was conducted to
establish the statistical model fit. Hypotheses were then examined between model constructs
of Stakeholder objectives, Resources and Strategy to determine their influence on one
another.
The results of the literature study were combined with the empirical study to convey that
resource availability is the most important enabler of strategy execution. Nevertheless, there are also additional significant characteristics of alignment, hence the substantial mediating
correlation between strategy implementation and execution. While the association between
stakeholder objectives and resource availability was not confirmed in the quantitative
component of the study, most of the respondents in the qualitative phase articulated that this
was due to the key differences in stakeholders’ objectives between the private and public
sectors.
The statistical analysis of the research confirmed the reliability and validity of the measuring
instrument in an emerging economy context. The new model could enable both public and
private sector organisations to determine or predict strategic execution success through the
assessment of resource risks early in the process.Ph. D. (Business Leadership)Graduate School of Business Leadershi
Prevalence and risk assessment of toxoplasmosis in commercial and communal sheep and goats in the North West province and occurrence in the Free State province
Get PDFToxoplasmosis is one of the most widespread parasitic zoonotic diseases arising from Toxoplasma gondii infection. This disease significant impact on sheep and goat production; however, it sometimes goes unnoticed in the herd, leading to unexpected and inexplicable abortions and death among the new-born’s deaths. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infections in sheep and goats from commercial and communal farms in the North West, as well as its occurrence in the Free State province. Additionally, we analysed variations and phylogenetic relationships in the T. gondii B1 and GRA6 gene sequences from isolates deposited in GenBank (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) to evaluate the usefulness of the two genes as phylogenetic markers. Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies and DNA were analysed in blood samples from 439 animals (164 sheep and 285 goats), vaginal swabs, milk, sheath scrapes from the North West province, and 11 diagnostic tissue samples from the Free State province. A questionnaire was administered to farmers used to assess potential risk factors associated with animals’ exposure to T. gondii infections. Additionally, 183 gene sequences (107 B1 and 83 GRA6 gene sequences) retrieved from GenBank from different animal species originating from different countries were analysed, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP’s) were present in 17% and 83%, of the B1 and GRA6 gene sequences, respectively. Of the 439 sera tested, 13.9% (95% CI: 0.00-1.00%) were positive for antibodies against T. gondii. It was discovered that sheep and goats had seroprevalences of 19.5% and 10.5%, respectively. T. gondii was not detected by PCR in any of the analysed samples (n=198). Using the Chi-Squared test or odds ratio, the main risk factors associated with T. gondii infections were breed, gender, species, animal origin, history of abortion, disposal of aborted material, disposal of manure, type of breeding, district, municipality, feeding system, feed storage, and presence of cats on farms. The high seroprevalence in this study suggests that T. gondii exposure is widespread within the farms. The absence of genetic material associated with T. gondii by PCR even in seropositive animals suggests the animals were at some point exposed to the pathogen, but they do not shed the parasite in their reproductive tissues. Perhaps, these animals may potentially shed the pathogen in other tissues that we did not analyse. The isolates' gene sequence analysis showed that the GRA6 gene could work as a genetic marker for T. gondii in population studies compared to the B1 gene. To effectively prevent and control exposure to T. gondii infections, the identified risk factors must be considered.M. Sc. (Agriculture)Agriculture and Animal Healt
Artificial Intelligence and insurance market development
No full textFinance, Risk Management and Bankin
Openness in higher education : the panacea to endemic challenges with student access and success among previously excluded populations
No full textBackground: Openness in education has multiple interpretations and remains an elusive concept. This lack of agreement over the conceptualisation and practical application of openness represents a serious problem for both educators and learners alike. Guided by this impetus, the current study examined the multi-dimensionality of openness within the context of comprehensive institutional interventions to support university students from marginalised groups.
Methodology: A sequential exploratory mixed method design was employed to investigate the research questions. Data collection was conducted over three empirical phases, namely, a situational analysis, followed by qualitative, and quantitative phases. Phase one commenced with an overview of discoveries from the situational analysis, phase two involved a qualitative enquiry and centred on staff individual interviews (N=19), and focus group interviews (N=4), with students from identified regional centres. The last of the phases, Phase Three, was based on quantitative self-complete questionnaires by staff and students. It included the application of statistical data, a self complete questionare to reflect numerical comparisons in order to draw correlational inferences.
Findings: The emergent discoveries from all the phases highlighted topical issues relating to teacher and learner openness. Several contributory factors such as the workload of lecturers, emerged as a theme impacting learning and success outcomes. Additionally, collected data identified factors that contributed to student support as inadequate institutional resource allocation models, inadequacy in technology provision, and an ineffective regional model.
Implications for practice
The findings of this study revealed a generalised lack of conceptual orientation and limited application of open education principles. A varied approach to openness across different functional areas within the university was observed. The development of the student multi-context access and success corrective factors framework identified a need for collaborative approaches in student support.
Conclusion: The junction of academic and student support is critical in driving student success outcomes.D. Phil. (Education (Education Management and Leadership))Educational Leadership and Managemen
The challenges faced by statutory social workers in rendering foster care services to undocumented children
No full textAfrica, there are several undocumented children who are found to in need of care and
protection. Therefore, South Africa designed the Children’s Act no 38 of 2005 which
seeks to ensure that the basic and the financial needs of all children are met. A foster
care service is designed to provide an alternative care for children who have been
found to be in need of care and protection as prescribed in Section 150 (1) of the
Children`s Act no 38 of 2005. The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges
faced by statutory social workers in rendering foster care services to undocumented
children. The study was qualitative led by exploratory, descriptive, and contextual
designs. The sample was drawn using a non-probability sampling technique.
Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview schedule which was
facilitated by an in-depth interview.
The target population for the study was all the statutory social workers who were
employed at Ekurhuleni Region, Gauteng Department of Social Development. The
target population included all statutory social workers who were currently rendering or
had previously rendered foster care services to undocumented children. The sample
of the study was the statutory social workers who had a minimum of two years’ working
experiences in rendering foster care services to undocumented children and working
for the Ekurhuleni Region, Gauteng Department of Social Development. For data
analysis, the researcher followed Tesch’s eight steps. To ensure that data is verified
trustworthiness, credibility, transferability, dependability, and conformability were used
as described by Lincoln and Guba. Ethical considerations were adhered to, in order to
prevent any form of harm on the well-being of the participants.
The findings of the study revealed that statutory social workers through statutory
services should be able to link foster children with the Department of Justice and
Constitutional Development. In addition, the findings further revealed that statutory social workers should also be able to link foster children and their foster parents to
SASSA. Furthermore, the findings of the study confirmed that there are current
services that are sought by the foster parents or caregivers of the undocumented
children. Finally, the study established that there are challenges experienced by
statutory social workers in rendering foster care services to undocumented children.Social Wor
An environmental management accounting information framework for greener decision-making in the petroleum industry: The case of Nigeria
No full textText in English, abstracts in English, Northern Sotho and AfrikaansThere has been an increase in environmental issues across national and international boundaries over the past few decades, with a long history in the Nigerian petroleum industry. The petroleum industry is among the leading industries with the highest environmental impacts, as its operations harm the environment. Although significant progress and efforts have been made to deal with various complex problems, environmental matters remain among Nigeria's most complex and pressing challenges. This research investigates whether the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) management accounting system provides a valuable flow of environmental information required for greener decision-making and the effectiveness of environmental regulations and sustainability in the Nigerian petroleum industry. This research adds to the body of environmental management accounting (EMA) literature by incorporating institutional and contingency theories to provide the theoretical background of the study. A review of the existing literature identified existing frameworks and identified a gap: a lack of a clear framework that could ensure that decision-makers receive the appropriate environmental information necessary for greener decision-making. The research adopted a mixed method, in which qualitative and quantitative research techniques for data collection, namely, a literature review, a questionnaire, and a focus group, were used to validate the framework. It was established that monetary environmental information has a significant positive relationship with environmental information on decision-making, which means that the company's accounting system captures monetary environmental activity data. However, physical environmental information has a significant negative relationship with environmental information in decision-making. The research also revealed that environmental regulation inversely influences environmental information reporting. Therefore, the results and findings suggest the incorporation of governmental environmental policies and guidelines into a management accounting system to improve the quality of environmental information for decision-making. Input from the focus group assisted in enhancing and validating the framework. Key recommendations indicated that petroleum companies should adopt and implement the enhanced environmental management accounting practices (EMAPs) framework that integrates EMA and government regulatory tools to capture adequate environmental-related information needed for greener decision-making. Future research could include a similar study to test the enhanced EMA information framework. The NNPC could serve as a case study to apply the framework in a real-life setting.Go dutše go na le ditaba tšeo di golelago godimo go dikologa mellwane ya bosetšhaba le ya boditšhabatšhaba mo dipakeng tše mmalwa tša go feta, ka histori ya nako ye telele ka go intasteri ya petroleamo ka Nigeria. Intasteri ya petroleamo e gare ga diintasteri tša ketapele yeo e nago le khuetšo ya godimo go feta ka moka ya tikologo, ka ge mešomo ya yona e gobatša tikologo. Le ge go na le tšwelopele le maitapišo a bohlokwa tšeo di dirilwego go šogana le mathata a go raragana a go fapafapana, ditaba tša tikologo di dula e le tlhohlo ye e raraganego gape yeo e hlobaetša go feta ka moka ka Nigeria. Nyakišišo ye e nyakišiša ge e le gore lenaneo la maikarabelo a taolo la Tirišano ya Petroleamo ya Setšhaba ya (NNPC) le aba kelelo ya mohola ya tshedimošo ya tikologo yeo e nyakegago go tšea diphetho tše dikaone le go ba mohola ga melawana ya tikologo le ya go swarelela mo intastering ya petroleamo ka Nigeria. Nyakišišo e oketša dingwalwa tša mmele wa maikarabelo a taolo ya tikologo (EMA) ka go kopanya diteori tša institušene le tiragalo go fa botšo bja teori. Tshekatsheko ya dingwalwa tše di lego gona e utolla ditlhako tše di lego gona gomme ya utolla tšeo di tlogetšwego: go se be le tlhako yeo e ka kgonthišago go dira batšeadiphetho ba hwetša tshedimošo ya tikologo ya maleba yeo e hlokegago go tšea diphetho tše dibotse. Nyakišišo e šomiša mekgwa ye e kopanego, e lego dithekniki tša nyakišišo tša boleng le tša bontši go kgoboketša data, e lego, tshekatsheko ya dingwalwa, dipotšišo, le sehlopha sa nepišo, di šomišitšwe go kgonthiša tlhako. Go utollotšwe gore tshedimošo ya tikologo ye e laolwago e na le kamano ye botse ye kgolo le tshedimošo ya tikologo ka ga go tšea diphetho, seo se ra gore lenaneo la maikarabelo la khamphani le boloka data ya mošongwana wa tikologo ye e laolwago. Le ge go le bjalo, tshedimošo ya tikologo ya motheo e na le kamano ye mpe ye kgolo le tshedimošo ya tikologo go go tšea diphetho. Nyakišišo e utolla gape gore taolo ya tikologo e huetša ka go fapana tshedimošo ya tikologo ya go bega, Ka gona, dipoelo le dikutollo di akanya kopanyo ya dipholisi le ditlhahli tša tikologo tša mmušo go lenaneo la maikarabelo la taolo go kaonafatša boleng bja tshedimošo ya tikologo go tšea diphetho. Kgopolo go tšwa go sehlopha sa nepišo e thušitše go kaonafatša le go kgonthiša tlhako. Maele a motheo a bontšha gore dikhamphani tša petroleamo di swanetše go amogela le go šomiša tlhako ya ditirišo tša maikarabelo a taolo ya tikologo tše dikgolo (EMAPs) yeo e kopanyago EMA le didirišwa tša taolo tša mmušo go boloka tshedimošo ye e amanago le tikologo ye e lekanego go tšea diphetho tše dibotse. Nyakišišo ye nngwe e ka akaretša thuto ya go swana le go leka tlhako ya tshedimošo ye e kaonafetšego. NNPC e ka šoma bjalo ka thuto ya go tlala go diriša tlhako mo tikologong ya bophelo bja nnete.Daar is ’n toename in omgewingskwessies oor nasionale en internasionele grense heen die afgelope paar dekades, met ’n lang geskiedenis in die Nigeriese petroleumbedryf. Die petroleumbedryf is onder die voorste bedrywe met die hoogste omgewingsimpak, aangesien die bedrywighede daarvan die omgewing skade berokken. Hoewel beduidende vordering en pogings gemaak is om verskeie ingewikkelde probleme aan te roer, bly omgewingskwessies onder Nigerië se mees ingewikkelde en dringende uitdagings. Hierdie navorsing het ondersoek of die Nigeriese Nasionale Petroleumkorporasie (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC) se bestuursrekeningkundige stelsel ’n waardevolle inligtingstroom verskaf wat vereis word vir groener besluitneming en die doeltreffendheid van omgewingsregulasies en -volhoubaarheid in die Nigeriese petroleumbedryf. Hierdie navorsing dra by tot die literatuurkorpus van omgewingsbestuursrekeningkunde deur institusionele en gebeurlikheidsteorieë te inkorporeer om die teoretiese agtergrond van die studie te verskaf. ’n Oorsig van die bestaande literatuur het bestaande raamwerke en ’n gaping geïdentifiseer: ’n gebrek aan ’n duidelike raamwerk wat kan verseker dat besluitnemers die toepaslike omgewingsinligting verkry vir groener besluitneming. Die navorser het gebruik gemaak van ’n gemengde metode waarin kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsingstegnieke vir die insameling van data, naamlik ’n literatuuroorsig, ’n vraelys en ’n fokusgroep, gebruik is om die geldigheid van die raamwerk te verklaar. Daar is vasgestel dat monetêre omgewingsinligting ’n beduidende positiewe verhouding het met omgewingsinligting oor besluitneming, wat beteken dat die maatskappy se rekeningkundige stelsel die monetêre omgewingsaktiwiteitsdata vaslê. Fisiese omgewingsinligting het egter ’n beduidende negatiewe verhouding met omgewingsinligting in besluitneming. Die navorsing het ook getoon dat omgewingsregulasie die teenoorgestelde uitwerking het op die verslaggewing van omgewingsinligting. Dus suggereer die resultate en bevindings die inkorporasie van omgewingsbeleide en -riglyne van regerings in ’n bestuursrekeningkundige stelsel om die kwaliteit van omgewingsinligting vir besluitneming te verbeter. Insette van die fokusgroep het gehelp om die raamwerk te versterk en geldig te verklaar. Sleutelaanbevelings het aangedui dat petroleummaatskappye die verbeterde raamwerk vir omgewingsbestuurs-rekeningkundige praktyke moet aanneem en implementeer wat omgewings-bestuursrekeningkunde en reguleringshulpbronne van regerings integreer om genoegsame omgewingsverwante inligting vas te lê wat nodig is vir groener besluitneming. Toekomstige navorsing kan ’n soortgelyke studie insluit om die verbeterde omgewingsbestuursrekeningkundige inligtingsraamwerk te toets. Die Nigeriese Nasionale Petroleumkorporasie kan dien as ’n gevallestudie om die raamwerk in ’n werklike omgewing toe te pas.Ph. D. (Accounting Science)Management Accountin
The contribution of food gardens to household food security in eThekwini municipality, KwaZulu-Natal
No full textSouth African citizens have limited access to fruits, vegetables which contains macro nutrients and micro nutrients. However, food gardens can provide fruits and vegetables to enhance household food security and have positive impact on people livelihoods.
The contribution of food gardens to household food security in eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu Natal, was investigated using a mixed-method approach. Four (4) key informants and 307 food garden participants were identified using purposive and stratified random sampling. Data was collected using key informant interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, and focus group discussions. For quantitative data analysis, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 was utilized to analyse data through descriptive analysis. Qualitative data analysis was used to analyse data collected from focus group discussion.
Food gardens were dominated by older females with low incomes and low educational levels. The study revealed that majority (63.8%) of participants are recipients of social grants. Therefore, households have low income. This has negative impact on accessibility and availability of food at household level.
A variety of vegetables were planted; with most vegetables harvested in February, March, and April. The majority of respondents (90.6%) obtained low Household Food Inventory (HFI) scores, and low Dietary Diversity Score (DDS). Limited availability of fruits and vegetables at household level influence low HFI scores. The majority of households (88.6%) were classified as food insecure by Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). The main challenges identified included a lack of equipment, land, fencing, water, and extension services.
The evidence revealed that food gardens have not managed to buffer the households against food insecurity. Food gardens did not improve dietary level for participants. Because most respondents of this study had low HDDS, with the mean score of 4.1 and the participants dietary variety was less diverse.
Respondents (63.5%) indicated that vegetables and fruits were not available throughout the year. This indicates that food gardens did not improve household food security for participants. However, 85.0% of respondents in this study were satisfied with the contribution of food gardens to household vegetable availability. They require, government support in terms of extension services and resources are thus recommended to assist gardeners to reach their full potential.Agriculture and Animal Healt
Development of strategies to improve health care services for young people in East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia
No full textText in EnglishProper health service provision for young people aged 15-24 years (young people) remains a challenge in East Gojjam because of different factors. Literatures indicate that even though there is rapid population growth in developing nations including Ethiopia, appropriate health service provision for this ever-growing population remains challenging.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the health care services provision for young people in East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia, and to use the findings to develop strategies to enhance the utilisation, coverage, and quality of the health services for young people in East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia.
To this end a convergent parallel mixed method was used as a research design. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect, analyse and interpret data. Quantitative data was collected from 418 respondents that were randomly selected from the study population. Four focus group discussions and eleven in-depth interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data from the participants that were selected purposively. There were demographic and socio-economic, socio-cognitive, and institutional variables investigated quantitatively and qualitatively. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to analyse the data. The quantitative findings were triangulated with qualitative ones to ensure reliability of the research.
Both quantitative and qualitative results exhibited gaps in health service utilisation and its quality for 15-24-year-olds in East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia. Based on these findings, strategies had been developed, to enhance the quality and utilisation of health services for young people, to overcome the challenges aforementioned. Recommendations were made to improve strategic approaches at all levels of health service delivery. From these findings, the most important recommendations were forwarded to the relevant authorities to combat the challenges and improve the quality, utilisation and coverage of health services for young people in East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia.D. Phil. (Public Health)Health Studie