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Addressing the title deed backlog in South Africa – a systems perspective
Full text linkThis study sought ways to respond to the title deeds backlogs for subsidised homeowners and identify opportunities to improve operational implementation gaps in the title deeds registration process. The long-standing housing crisis in South Africa is exacerbated by the growing challenges of managing and administrating housing subsidies for those who cannot afford conventional mortgage loans (Gordon et al., 2011). Aside from an inconsistent approach to subsidised finance in public and private sectors, there remains an additional gap in ensuring subsidy recipients obtain legal ownership of their homes through title deeds (Cirolia, 2015). Local municipalities face mounting challenges in processing these title deeds and delivering them timeously (Magagula & Mubangizi, 2019). Consequently, this study sought ways to respond to the title deeds backlogs for subsidised homeowners and identify opportunities to improve operational implementation gaps in the title deeds registration process. Inductive reasoning and a constructivist approach through the mixed methods, interviews, case studies, and observations in a title deeds registration office were used to understand daily work and operational processes as they occurred in the City of Johannesburg and the City of Tshwane. The main objective was to identify challenges in operational implementation in order to create a working model to improve efficiency (Lubell, 2017). These challenges include issues around the family house (Bolt & Masha, 2019; Mackay, 1996), deceased estates with linkages to family disputes, and the township proclamation process as key challenges to the most long-standing title deeds backlog issues. A proposed operational model restructure has been subsequently developed based on these findings by applying incremental change within a complex system (Suoheimo et al., 2020). The proposed model addresses the gaps in the resolution of the backlogs focused on the key factors affecting the backlogs, specific actions that can be taken, and support structures available for stakeholders within the system. Given the limited capacity and resource constraints for innovation that generally affects the public sector (Bhatti et al., 2018), the proposed model has been developed with minimal cost implications
Patent protection and foreign direct investment in Uganda's mining sector: a legal analysis of intellectual property as an investment incentive
Full text linkA conducive legal environment is a major attraction of foreign investment into a country. When potential investors are making investment decisions, they meticulously examine the laws and policies tailored by the host country to protect and manage their business assets, among other things. Examples of such laws include intellectual property laws that are categorised based on the specific intellectual rights associated with the technological innovations that the investor intends to employ in the host state. This thesis delves into Uganda's patent law ecosystem, specifically exploring how it can be strategically leveraged, by way of packaging it as an investment incentive, to attract greater foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country's mining sector. The country's mining sector is characterised by its intensive requirement for both capital and technological expertise. In so doing, the thesis makes the case that whereas tax incentives are often welcomed by foreign investors, those in technology-intensive sectors, such as mining, seek more comprehensive legal safeguards. Robust legal regimes, particularly patent regimes, are highly attractive as they shield investors' technological assets from misappropriation and infringement
Legal and ethical challenges in cybersecurity governance: a South African perspective on corporate responsibility and protection against cybercrimes
Full text linkIn the current digital era, cybersecurity has become a vital aspect of corporate governance, presenting challenging moral and legal issues for businesses all over the world. This dissertation examines the complex relationship between legal frameworks, ethical deliberations, and organisational duties as they relate to cybersecurity within the context of corporate governance. It clarifies the dynamic nature of cybersecurity rules and regulations by looking at different case law and journal papers, highlighting the necessity of taking preventative action to reduce cyber risks and guarantee compliance. This paper also explores the many cybercrimes as defined by the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020, the various laws governing cybersecurity in South Africa, as well as the ethical aspects of cybersecurity, and how privacy and data protection are addressed. It highlights how crucial it is for businesses to have a culture of ethical consciousness and responsibility in order to protect sensitive data and maintain stakeholder trust. This dissertation offers insightful guidance and useful suggestions for managing the complicated realm of cybersecurity in corporate governance, strengthening organisational resilience and integrity against constantly changing cyberthreats, by means of an extensive examination of legal and ethical implications
Decolonising and Africanising the Further Education And Training (FET) history curriculum in South Africa (Grades 10-12): integration of heritage sites and institutions of memory in the Western and Eastern Cape
Full text linkThe politics of heritage have progressively played a critical role in South African socio-political life since 1994. As an example, heritage institutions have played a major role in re-centring histories that were pushed to the periphery within the decolonisation discourse in post-Apartheid South Africa. Heritage has therefore also been seriously considered in the decolonisation of education in South Africa, especially in teaching History as a subject. This thesis critically analyses the integration of heritage sites and institutions of memory into the FET (grades 10-12) history curriculum, and how this integrated process of knowledge production could contribute towards building an Africa-centric curriculum. It argues that by centering African heritage sites and institutions of memory in knowledge production and education, the FET history curriculum can be radically decolonised and shifted towards indigenous knowledge prioritisation. The thesis explores two aspects in this argument: (1) How could we integrate heritage sites and institutions of memory into the FET history curriculum and (2) how could we teach topics that are covered in the curriculum by using African-informed foundations of research and knowledge production. The thesis argues that these two processes are interdependent and intersectional in nature
Breastfeeding experiences of call centre agents
Full text linkBreastfeeding is one of the most effective strategies for improving infant nutrition and increasing child survival globally. Several experts consider breastfeeding to be the best way to feed a baby, as it provides numerous benefits to both the mother and the child. One of the main factors that contributes to the early weaning of breastfeeding infants in South Africa is the return to work. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the breastfeeding experiences of call centre agents when returning from maternity leave. This study employed a qualitative research method where seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who had a baby in the past two years and working in a call centre environment. Thematic analysis conducted on the data revealed three important themes: (1) Call Centre Policies and Feelings of Subordination Amongst Breastfeeding Women (2) Breastfeeding Support and Return to Work and (3) Call Centre Work Structure: Obstacles for Breastfeeding Moms. The study results revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic helped support breastfeeding because of the increased time at home as they were able to continue to breastfeed their babies while working from home, measures of trustworthiness and ethical considerations were adhered to throughout the study
Instance space analysis for the generalized bin packing problem algorithms
Full text linkInstance space analysis for the generalized bin packing problem algorithms In the generalised bin packing problem, the objective is to pack a selected set of profitable non-compulsory items with all the compulsory ones into a set of bins such that the resulting packing cost is minimised. The total cost is given by the difference between the cost of the selected bins and the total profit of the loaded items. This type of problem is encountered in logistics, mainly in the transportation industry which has grown massively over the years. In this thesis, six improved heuristics are proposed to tackle this problem. The aim is to investigate the upper bound solutions provided by such heuristic approaches to the problem. An Instance Space Analysis is also applied to test the efficiency and effectiveness of the algorithms in respect of the problem instance space. In particular, the relationship between the problem instance features and the algorithm performance is studied. The results indicate that the chosen features are able to explain the difficulty of the problem instances, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the various algorithms. This work contributes to the advancement of research in the context of packing problem instance space analysis
The air allowed for Hair: cultural Inclusivity in Cape Town Private Schools
No full textThis study explored how parents with children in a sample of Cape Town private schools experience values that shape cultural inclusivity around hair rules, particularly concerning Afrocentric hairstyles. In post-apartheid South Africa, significant efforts have been made to reform the education system, yet hair policies in schools remain a contentious issue, reflecting broader challenges in creating truly inclusive educational environments. However, challenges remain, and inequalities are particularly evident in some private schools where traditional practices may conflict with cultural expression. Using the metaphor of ‘air allowed for hair,' this research examined the space granted for Afrocentric cultural expression within different private school environments. Through a constructivist paradigm and qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 parents from diverse backgrounds whose children attend nine private schools and one elite Model C school in Cape Town. AI-generated photos were used as interview tools to facilitate discussions about diverse hairstyles. The study also analysed publicly available data from school websites collected using Python-based web scraping tool. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to examine how school values influence hair experiences. Three distinct categories of schools emerged: faith-based, academic-focused, and Steiner schools, each allowing different degrees of “air” for Afrocentric hair expression. The findings revealed a clear spectrum of inclusivity: faith-based and traditional academic schools typically offered the least "air," maintaining restrictive environments that limited self-expression, while Steiner schools consistently provided the most "air," creating settings that actively welcomed diverse hairstyles. This variation in ‘air allowed for hair' directly reflected each school's underlying value system, with conformity and tradition values correlating with restrictive policies, and self-direction and universalism values enabling greater cultural expression. Parents' experiences highlighted tensions between maintaining traditional school cultures and fostering inclusive environments, while also revealing the complex trade-offs parents navigate during school selection. This research contributes to understanding how private schools in post-apartheid South Africa navigate cultural inclusivity through the lens of hair policies. It demonstrates that while some progress has been made, many institutions still struggle to fully accommodate and celebrate diverse cultural expressions, including Afrocentric hairstyles. These findings have implications for school policy development, parent-school relationships, and broader efforts to decolonise education in South Africa
Orphine usage in the management of pain by doctors in pholosong hospital, Gauteng, South Africa
No full textIntroduction: The World Health Assembly reiterated the ethical duty of healthcare professionals to alleviate pain and suffering. However, in many countries, the appropriate use of opioids for the relief of pain and suffering remained insufficient. Also, the World Health Organisation demonstrated insufficient skills regarding pain management among health care workers and reaffirmed that morphine use was capable of relieving pain in more than ninety percent (90%) of cancer patients when used correctly. Aim: to explore morphine usage by doctors for pain management in Pholosong Regional Hospital in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Objectives: To identify doctors' perceptions of morphine usage, identify factors associated with morphine use, and provide recommendations for the rational use of morphine in health care. Methodology: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted through a survey of doctors at Pholosong Hospital. Results: For most doctors, eighty-three percent (83%) completed the questionnaires in full. Seventy-two percent (72%) did not prescribe morphine to their patients. The older doctors tended to prescribe morphine less and were less skilled in morphine use. Nearly seventy percent (70%) did not fear the side effects of morphine in their patients. Availability of morphine was reported by fifty percent (50%) and half had received training in morphine prescribing. Conclusions: Significant findings were that most doctors in the hospital had inadequate knowledge and were not skilled enough in morphine use for pain control in their patients. The finding was of concern because pain control was sub- standard in a significant proportion of adult patients managed in the hospital. It is a concern that patients' human rights of freedom from pain and dignity may be breached due to doctors' perceptions of morphine usage. Recommendations include the urgent need to remedy the situation through team-based robust health promotion, doctors' in-service training, clinical guidelines, pain control tools, and making morphine accessible to all parts of the hospital
Towards improved inclusive approaches to educational technology support: a case of staff with disabilities at a higher education institution
No full textInclusive practices in higher education have become a key focus, but staff with disabilities often face challenges when trying to access and use the educational technology and support systems available to them. This study examines the experiences of staff with disabilities at a South African university, focusing on how they engage with the institution's educational technology support. Using a qualitative approach, the research involved interviews to understand the effectiveness of the support provided. The study is guided by the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, offering a useful perspective on the institution's current support practices. The findings reveal gaps in the support, including inconsistent training and unclear guidance on how to use educational technologies effectively. The analysis points to the need for greater awareness of disability and suggests changes to both policies and practices to make the environment more inclusive and equitable. The study concludes by offering recommendations for improving educational technology support, helping institutions create a more inclusive academic environment
Transgressive matriarchs: an exploration of female agency and resistance in South African telenovelas
No full textThis study explores the concept of transgressive Black womanhood in two South African telenovelas, examining whether acts of transgression disrupt existing depictions of the matriarchal figure onscreen. Drawing on the works of Sisonke Msimang, Pumla Gqola and Sabine Binder, specifically their analyses of the iconography surrounding Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, this paper interprets the two Black female protagonists under this study within a political and historical framework. Through close textual analysis, this study examines the narrative construction and characterisation of Lindiwe Dikana from (The River 2018 - 2024) and Harriet Khoza from (The Queen 2016 - 2023) assessing the extent to which these characters transgress social and cultural boundaries. In addition, it investigates whether their transgressions perpetuate stereotypical portrayals or complicate the traditional depiction of the Black matriarch in South African television. This study finds that, while the character constructions of both Lindiwe Dikana and Harriet Khoza are rooted in heteronormative portrayals of traditional gender roles—where both are established as wives and mothers—they transgress prescribed notions of motherhood and challenge gendered social norms of femininity. Moreover, the analysis reveals that these characters not only subvert sociocultural expectations surrounding motherhood and femininity but also defy societal norms related to widowhood, as exemplified in the case of Harriet Khoza. These transgressions emerge as modes of resistance, alternative expressions of identity, and the exercise of agency within patriarchal structures. In the analysis of The River (2018–2024), this study draws on Viraj Suparsad's (2022) concept of 'complicated femininity' to explore the moral ambiguity of Lindiwe Dikana, a complexity seldom attributed to Black matriarchal figures in mainstream media. In contrast, the examination of The Queen (2016–2023) utilizes Sabine Binder's notion of 'violent female masculinity' to illustrate how violent acts can be interpreted as transformative, particularly when they serve to transgress and destabilize constructed norms of femininity. This study concludes that the episodes selected from the respective telenovelas offer a nuanced and complex portrayal of Black matriarchal figures, presenting innovative and layered representations of Black women on screen