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Get PDFKimon Phitidis first visited Gansbaai Academia –a high school in the remote town of Gansbaai in the Western Cape – in 2018 to interview Wilton Phillips. He was one of sixteen teachers profiled in Phitidis' book, Where Light Shines Through: tales of can-do teachers in South Africa's no-fee public schools. The school immediately captured his imagination. Firstly there was its name. Not Gansbaai High School. But Gansbaai Academia. It suggested an aspiration to be more. There was something going on there – something unusual – that he was drawn to understand. He spent two and a half years visiting the school and its alumni looking for answers. This is the story of what he discovered. It is a quest to understand how a state-sponsored pocket of care might come about in a country characterised by government neglect. It is a quest to understand how relationships of trust and belief formed at school drive the prospects of young people after school. And it is a quest to understand – if the magic that he sensed there is real – if it can be sustained in a crumbling public service environment and against the demands of a small town's growing population. This is an anthology of loosely connected stories about five boys who attended that school in the first few years after it opened. It is the story of their relationships with teachers and with each other and how those relationships fuelled their belief that there was a worthwhile life for them beyond the school gates; if they could smash through the many obstacles on their way to grab it. It is a story of their lives after school and their quest to realise a promise that should be made to every South African child: that, despite the many failings of our society and one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world, each child has the right to a tertiary education and a life of dignified work. Those promises are inherent to our Constitution. He spoke to many people along the way, and this work includes their voices as they tell of five men who graduated from Gansbaai Academia and what became of them when they left
Three essays on resource and development economics in Sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from Senegal
Get PDFThe thesis provides empirical evidence of the contribution of basic infrastructure resources to economic development in Senegal. In addition to the introduction and conclusion, three distinct papers make the backbone of the thesis, the first two being impact evaluation studies. The first paper combines difference-and-difference and propensity score matching and uses quantile regressions to examine the welfare effects of rural electrification. The latter is embedded within the first phase of the Emergency Programme for Community Development (PUDC I) implemented by the Senegalese Government. The study uses a panel dataset of 1,115 rural households observed before and after the roll-out of the program. Findings reveal that rural electrification is an agent of household well-being upgrading, irrespective of the electricity source, whether off-grid or on-grid. Electrified households seem to have enjoyed higher agricultural employment and non-food expenditure compared to the observationally similar households that are not connected to electricity. Social benefits manifested through an increase in school enrolment, school attendance, and time spent by children studying at home, with the increase in school attendance being more pronounced for girls than for boys. Furthermore, poor households and those that have access to a marketplace drew the most substantial benefits from access to electricity. The second paper focuses on water infrastructures. It employs a panel dataset of 1,319 Senegalese rural households to empirically document the welfare effect of piped water adoption. Unlike the first paper which considers both economic and social outcomes, the second paper mainly centers on the economic benefits of piped water adoption, which are employment and household expenditure growth. This is because many previous studies have already looked at the social implications associated with access to water resources. The current gap in the literature is mainly observed with the economic impacts of access to water supply infrastructures installed in rural and under-serviced communities within the developing world. A key finding reveals that the adoption of piped water triggered agricultural employment in the PUDC rural areas. Such benefits appear to be greater within households that have access to road infrastructure, alongside access to water resources. The empirical analyses further suggest that non-poor households seem to benefit more from access to water infrastructures than poor households. Finally, when comparing the welfare effect of government-led PUDC water supply with that of community-led initiatives, our findings suggest that the former is much effective than the latter in improving economic outcomes. Using an array of empirical strategies including descriptive statistics, propensity score matching, quantile regressions, and Blinder-Oaxaca counterfactual decomposition, the third paper unravels the nexus between power outages, firm productivity, and gender-based productivity gap. For many developing countries, power outages represent additional costs for firms, given their need to invest in alternative inputs (i.e., generators) to maintain or enhance performance. Moreover, firms managed by females are often claimed to be more severely hit by such outages given the structural and institutional constraints women face in many developing countries. Understanding these interactions is the purpose of this paper. The World Bank's Enterprise Survey (WBES) dataset which comprises 601 Senegalese establishments surveyed in 2015 is used. The results highlight that female-owned firms underperform compared to male-owned firms and that the scale inefficiency stands out as the root of Senegalese firms' low productivity. A key finding is that unexpected and repetitive interruptions of electricity are sources of Senegalese firms' counter-performance and a driver of a broad gender-based productivity gap within firms
Functional Impairment in school-aged South African children with ADHD: design, implementation, and evaluation of a targeted intervention
Get PDFDespite the fact that Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a globally prevalent psychiatric disorder with significant lifelong impact on the quality of life of diagnosed individuals, there is little Africa-based research considering (a) the functional impact of the disorder within the population or (b) locally appropriate interventions that might alleviate that impact. Study 1 was a needs assessment project that described the functional impairment experienced by a South African sample of school-aged children with ADHD (N = 99). The specific focus was on identifying the areas of life where those children faced the most severe challenges related to their symptoms. I used the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children (MINI-Kid) as a diagnostic tool, and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and the Impairment Rating Scale (IRS) as measures of functional impairment. Each of these was administered to the parent of a child with ADHD. Results indicated that although ADHD diagnosed children experienced significant impairment in all domains of functioning (including family relationships, social interactions, activities/hobbies, and home life), they experienced especially severe difficulties in the school environment. Study 2, which built on the results from Study 1, described the design, implementation, and testing of a psychosocial intervention (an 8-week parent-training group) targeting the identified domains of ADHD related functional impairment. Participants (parents of school-aged ADHD-diagnosed children) were pseudo-randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 62), a non-structured support group (n = 66), or a waitlist control group (n = 50). The same diagnostic process and measures of functional impairment as in Study 1 were used to establish the child's pre intervention functioning. The measures were re-administered immediately post-intervention and, for the intervention group only, 6 months later. Results indicated that participants assigned to the intervention condition rated their child's functional impairment as significantly improved following their participation in the 8-week parent-training process, and these improvements were sustained at the 6-month follow-up measurement point. Although analyses detected no significant between-group differences in functional impairment at baseline, at the post-intervention measurement point ratings from intervention group participants were significantly lower than those of participants assigned to the two control groups. The major conclusion, therefore, is that this parent-training intervention is effective in relieving broad-based ADHD-related functional impairment in low-income and low-resource settings. Studying functional impairment and interventions in this way will pave the way for evidence-based, cost-effective treatment plans focused on alleviating the myriad of personal and societal challenges associated with ADHD
Lateral communities, vertical cities: understanding the nature of the livelihood strategies utilized by former residents of the Pine Road informal settlement in the pickwick transitional housing development
No full textIn addressing the lack of affordable housing in South Africa, 15% of South Africa's 14.45 million households earn enough to secure a mortgage, and 60% earn less than R3500.00 a month and can qualify for state housing. The remaining 25%, including most teachers, nurses, police officers and soldiers have had access to neither (Marutlulle, 2021). This leaves a missing rung in the housing ladder due to the nature of South Africa's unemployment rate. Social Housing is currently the only housing model available and leaves many South Africans unable to access the resource exacerbating the existing backlog. Currently, South Africa doesn't have an established transitional housing model that caters to households on very low and inconsistent incomes earning between R0 - R3500. It is not an official government policy, nor does it have an established funding stream or programme. In its current state, it exists either as a developing practice or a compelling concept. (Development Action Group, 2022) For these households, formal government-subsidised or private housing options in suitable areas do not exist. The Development Action Group (DAG) together with the City of Cape Town (CoCT) and the National Association of Social Housing Organisations (NASHO) established the Pickwick Transitional Housing Facility in Salt River, Cape Town. This is the first attempt to provide transitional housing on well-located land close to the city centre (DAG, 2022). This type of housing model can form one element of broader psychosocial and economic support programmes for people who earn very low and inconsistent incomes, therefore the aim of the research is to assess if and how moving from the Pine Road informal settlement in Woodstock to the formal Pickwick Transitional Housing development in Salt River has possibly impacted the livelihood strategies of the residents. In order to inform the development of a transitional housing model that responds to the South African context built around supporting the livelihood strategies of very low, inconstant income and/or unemployed households. The study will be qualitative in nature, using a relevant literature review and a Case and Ethnographic study as research methods
Developing a national mine closure risk and opportunities atlas in GIS for South Africa
Get PDFMining is entrenched in South Africa's history and has played a crucial role in the country's socio-economic and geopolitical development. There are currently 230 operating large-scale mines owned by 104 mining companies and hosted by 360 urban and rural communities across South Africa, comprising of approximately 6 million people – many of whom depend on mining for employment (Cole, 2024). While the impact of mine closure is well-known (Besa, et al., 2019), quantifying the extent of its impacts is not straightforward. This is particularly relevant in South Africa, where impacts may be localised due to variations in mining host community size, location, physical environmental characteristics, local infrastructure, business activity and current local economic well-being. Furthermore, determining opportunities for the post-closure phase also depends on local scenarios. South African legislation recognises the need to plan for sustainable mine closure (Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, No. 28 of 2002, 2004), however there is limited tools and / or standard guidance to support this. This dissertation forms one aspect of a three-year research project funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC) aimed at producing mine closure risk ratings for all large-scale mines and a post-closure land use opportunity framework to inform and support mine closure planning. A South African Mine Closure Risk and Opportunities Atlas (‘the Atlas'), a novel analytical tool, has been developed on the basis of extensive collection of quantitative data and the visualisation thereof by means of developing a publicly available GIS tool using ArcGIS and QGIS software, with inputs from various stakeholders and industry mine closure experts following a comprehensive literature review that includes a review of existing GIS tools and methods to design such tools. It partly serves to integrate the data collected for the WRC project. Expert input informed the iterative development of the Atlas through presentations and semi-structured interviews, which guided the layout of the Atlas and the data it contains. The final result is a publicly available online and interactive Atlas which contains a comprehensive set of data that can be visualised in accordance with the identified requirements of stakeholders and experts in the field of mine closure and post-closure development planning. Through its integration of a considerable quantum of data and analytical tools, the Atlas is presented as an important tool that allows for analyses at regional scales (a key principle the South African Draft Mine Closure Strategy (2021)) as well as more local / granular scales which is useful for the identification of potential localised impacts of mine closure and opportunities for post closure land use development. The Atlas aids mine closure and post-closure land use development planning by providing all affected stakeholders with a single platform in which they can access and interpret information that can influence decision-making processes. Iterative development of the Atlas provided for a number of issues that can be addressed in further development of the Atlas, including continuous updating of the data contained in the Atlas and the inclusion of mining host community members in development processes
Leadership strategies employed in the public sector for promoting urban climate transition: the case of Cape Town, South Africa
Get PDFDespite the success of the Paris Agreement on achieving a global compact between nations to act on climate change, cities have emerged as interesting locations for studying climate leadership due to the failure at the national scale to translate adequate climate actions to meet the goals set. Cities have served as important agents in governance interventions, experiments, and networks, leading the way in resilient, low-carbon, and sustainable urban development, and driving innovative climate governance that spurs climate action. Understanding how to effectively lead the urban climate transition poses a significant challenge due to the involvement of diverse public and private actors who need to engage in collaborative climate action. Additionally, there is a lack of practical knowledge regarding how city actors implement climate leadership, highlighting a research gap in this area. This study examines the leadership strategies and mechanisms present in Cape Town, a city in South Africa with a strong track-record in climate action planning, focusing on co-creational leadership. It contributes to knowledge of urban public leadership by analysing the strategies employed by governing actors to facilitate the transition toward climate-resilient and low-carbon development in Cape Town, South Africa. This qualitative study employed an abductive logic and a single case study approach focused on the City of Cape Town. Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders were used to explore their challenges, dilemmas, and coping strategies in promoting the urban climate transition. Thematic analysis using NVivo software was employed for data analysis to identify co-creational leadership strategies through iterative coding. Findings indicate that actors involved in pursuing Cape Town's climate goals, whether working in local government entities, private businesses, or international networks, must address specific challenges related to political will, legislation, budgeting, and communication matters to effectively implement the climate action plan and facilitate a successful transition. The dissertation concludes that Cape Town's urban climate transition context reveals collaborative leadership strategies, diverse actor involvement, and institutional constraints. Context-specific leadership and adaptability are pivotal for sustainable urban development. Cape Town's experiences offer crucial lessons for global cities facing climate challenges, emphasizing the significance of tailored approaches. These insights serve as a guide for cities worldwide in driving transformative change towards sustainability within their unique context
Practices and Perceptions of Audiologists in Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Older Adult Clients
Get PDFBackground: Mental disorders are prevalent in older adults. The most frequent mental disorders in older adults are depression and dementia, which have both been related to hearing loss. Audiologists, as hearing care professionals, may play an important role in early identification, referral, and management of these disorders. Small studies from high-income countries suggested that audiologists lack knowledge and skills related to addressing mental health needs. This study explored a broader spectrum of settings for audiologists' knowledge, practices, and perceptions regarding addressing mental health needs. Methodology: Explanatory sequential mixed methods design with a multi-national sample of audiologists. The first phase was a survey (n = 50) to obtain predominantly quantitative data. The second phase was online focus groups (n = 13) to obtain rich, qualitative data and enable triangulation. Results and Discussion: The majority of audiologists responded to mental health needs of their older adult clients and most believed that a better understanding of clients' psychosocial status would positively affect audiological care (86%; n = 43). Despite audiologists displaying knowledge of the impact of hearing loss on mental well-being, action related to the additional burden of hearing loss is not operationalised. Addressing psychosocial needs, including screening behaviours and referral destinations, lacked uniformity. Facilitators and barriers to providing mental health services in the audiological setting are described. Conclusions: Audiologists treat their clients holistically and recognise that clients' needs extend beyond their hearing loss. Knowledge enhancement and protocol development may help audiologists to address mental health needs in an evidence-based way
Questioning the narrative: stories from a community learning centre in the Western Cape
Get PDFIn 2013, the Department of Higher Education and Training released a new vision for South Africa's postschool education sector. Part of this vision was the creation of a new kind of institution: the Community Education and Training College (CETC). These colleges consolidated the public adult education system into nine provincial CETCs, each with several community learning centres (CLCs). The goal – community-based learning offering a diversity of programmes that respond to local needs, facilitate access to occupational training, while also providing ways for adults to complete formal schooling. Several years on, this study explores the stories of four educators from one CLC in theWestern Cape in relation to the promises and proposals put forward by this new system. Through one-on-one semi-structured interviews, applying a constructionist narrative approach, the project considers how educator narratives reflect, complicate and reject dominant narratives about the roles and purposes of education through their experiences at this CLC. A review of the literature and policies informing the CETC system, including the proposed GETCA and NASCA qualifications, shows that despite claims for a more responsive and localised focus, it continues to emphasise top-down approaches to curricula and testing, while often portraying a deficit view of educators, their knowledge and skills. In contrast, educator narratives provide a deeper understanding of how they work within restrictive curricular structures to perform relational care and knowledge work, with in-depth knowledge of who the CLC students are and their needs. These narratives also assist us in shaping a vision for community learning, engagement, healing and collective solidarity beyond the often vague and symbolic discursive work of policy
Investigating the factors that drive social commerce purchase intention amongst the millennials in South Africa
Get PDFSocial media has become fundamental to companies, as well as consumers. Its existence has produced new opportunities and introduced options like ‘social commerce' whereby consumers and firms can sell goods and services on social media platforms. Due to the evolution of marketing from 1.0 to 4.0, there has been limited research about marketing 4.0 within social commerce. The current study aimed to assess marketing 4.0 dimensions and social commerce characteristics that have been under-studied - particularly how they affect millennial's purchase intentions in social commerce. A sample of 261 millennials was received from two different provinces Western Cape and Gauteng. The findings revealed that platform reputation, reviews, ratings, and product differentiation enhance trust and price. Moreover, trust shows no influence on purchase intention – and nor did brand image, brand integrity and brand identity. Findings from this study indicate that product differentiation, reviews and ratings, and platform reputation are the underlying reasons for trust and brand image are drivers of social commerce purchase intention. Thus, managers need to listen to consumers and produce individualised products to ensure unique and well differentiated offerings. Marketing practitioners should rather focus on using reputable social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as key social commerce platforms for the purchase of products. Furthermore, as reviews and ratings are important for millennials, marketers should provide a good response to negative feedback. Lastly, managers in online communities should provide an excellent customer service as that will enhance customer service and lead to purchase intention
Hidden gems reimagining the public realm along independence avenue to sustain the local economy in the Windhoek central business district
No full textThis urban design research project investigates the reimagining of the public realm along Independence Avenue to sustain the local economy in the context of the Windhoek Central Business District (CBD). The research seeks to explore how the public spaces can be transformed to support local businesses, foster Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and stimulate overall economic development and growth. The research question drives this research to understand 'How can the public realm sustain the local economy?'. Through qualitative methodologies such as critical theory analysis of the relationship between economies and the public realm, rhythm analysis for field observations and semi-structured interviews, this research examines the current state of the public realm along Independence Avenue. The research analyses the role of urban design concepts like placemaking and human-centred design in shaping local economic activity. The findings highlight the untapped potential of “hidden gems” as clusters of local economic innovation that can be reinforced. The research highlights the significance of accessibility, connectivity, optionality and placemaking principles in creating a vibrant and thriving public realm that empowers both local businesses and the broader community. By contextualising this CBD regeneration to a postcolonial urban environment, this research contributes to an existing body of knowledge on urban regeneration and local economic development. It provides actionable recommendations for stakeholders and policymakers to enhance the public realm in a way that promotes sustainable economic growth in the Windhoek CBD. In doing so, it also presents valuable insights into how urban design can play a key role in fostering economic resilience and innovation in the context of Windhoe