1,720,972 research outputs found
Interrogating the challenges of the Local Economic Development (LED) as aninstrument of poverty alleviation, in the case of eThekwini municipality, KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Historically, rural-urban migration has remained a common factor in developing
countries. This predicament is motivated by a mass movement of people from their
places of origin searching for better opportunities. Therefore, this leads to massive
urbanization and overcrowding in the city. In South Africa, the city of Durban is
classified as a Metropolitan area and attracts the majority of people from different
regions across the country. Studies show that rural-urban migration patterns often
impact the service delivery of the receiving urban regions. Against the above
background, this study aimed to investigate the impact of rural-urban migration on
local government service delivery through the case study of eThekwini Metropolitan
Municipality. The researcher adopted the exploratory research approach and
conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with six municipal officials from three
eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality departments. The three departments interviewed
are: electricity, human settlements and health.
The results revealed that the in-migration in the city of Durban has some impact,
particularly on service delivery. This causes a strain in the city municipality because
of limited resources and high demands of basic services. Contrary to popular beliefs,
some of the rural migration in eThekwini is caused by the failure to distribute resources
in an inclusive manner that promotes rural areas within the eThekwini region. Although
the study respondents revealed that the city municipality is doing its best to respond
to high demands of services, the responses fail to meet the rate of rural-urban
migration from a budgetary point. It is recommended that more resources be allocated
to metropolitan municipalities to respond effectively to the needs of residents and
migrants. Furthermore, the government should prioritize developing previously
disadvantaged areas to avoid urbanization in cities
The implications of the financial action task force findings on south africa’s national security
No full textA research report submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Management, In the Faculty of Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024In February 2023, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) added South Africa to the list of jurisdictions under increased supervision (greylist) due to substantial deficiencies in its monitoring and combating money laundering and the financing of organisations that may pose a threat to national and global security. The FATF is an inter-governmental body responsible for coordinating global efforts to combat money laundering, financing of terrorism, and proliferation financing (AML/CFT). It establishes global standards to mitigate against risks, and conducts assessments on countries to check effectiveness of their regimes. This research sought to analyse the implications of the FATF findings on South Africa’s national security. The research analysed the implications against political and economic security of South Africa, key tenets of national security. Through document analysis and semi-structured interviews, the research found that the Mutual Evaluation conducted by FATF was a fair reflection of South Africa’s AML/CFT regime. It identified structural weaknesses in South Africa’s law enforcement agencies and legislative framework. Recommendations by FATF have far reaching economic and political implications which has consequences for the country’s national security. The response by government to address FATF findings has been impressive, leading to better coordination and increased political will in strengthening South Africa’s AML/CFT regime, and getting off the greylistMM202
Assessing the effectiveness of public participation in improving the local community development prospects in Ndwedwe Local Municipality.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Evidence suggests that public participation is among the most crucial factors in fostering both
equitable and sustainable local economic development in the local government sphere. Public
participation and its various mechanisms are a process of seeking and enhancing the engagement
of those individuals and stakeholders potentially affected by or invested in a decision-making.
Previous research has established that, in local government, the main purpose of public
participation is to enhance transparency, encourage openness in government and build ownership
of development decisions as well as programs and projects. Moreover, studies on local economic
development in South Africa have shown the importance of public participation in enhancing and
fostering local social and economic development. However, previous published have failed to
expose how the implementation of certain public participation mechanism may have improved the
livelihoods of local communities.
This research examines the role of public participation mechanism in the context of local
community development. Drawing on the case study of Ndwedwe Municipality, this study sought
to assess the public participation mechanism and system implemented by the Ndwedwe
municipality. It specifically evaluates the extent to which the current public participation
mechanism and system are successful in fostering both economic and social development in
Ndwedwe municipality. Data for this study were collected using semi-structured interviews. Ten
(n=10) purposively sampled individuals were selected for the interviews. Data were presented and
analysed using the thematic analysis approach.
Findings show that the community is not fully involved in the issues that concerns them as
development of their communities. This also means that there is limited public participation
thereby making it less effective. It is highly recommended that the communication practices should
be closely examined and appropriately adjusted to include different stakeholders. This means that
there will be an introduction of new policies that emphasise the inclusion of all stakeholders
previously excluded from decision-making
Exploring the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the informal economy in Durban, South Africa.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The informal economy in South Africa is predominantly characterised by the presence of women and the working poor. The flexibility in entry and exit in the informal sector enables the marginalised and those with low skills to gain entry in this particular sector. Informality is quite prevalent in developing countries as the economies have less economic diversification. The high levels of unemployment in South Africa influence the growth of the informal sector as a method of livelihood. The informal economy has minimal protection, exposing those operating in the informal sector to social and economic shocks. The eThekwini region is noted as one of the busiest hubs in South Africa and has a strong presence of informal traders. It is impossible to ignore the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, which has caused a huge instability in the daily lives of South Africans. Against this background, the aim of this study was to explore the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on informal workers in the eThekwini Region. This study has also identified and explored the various livelihood and socio-economic challenges encountered by the informal workers in the region. Methodologically, the study utilised secondary data analysis as a data collection tool, informed by the mixed methods approach. The study’s data is based on a survey conducted with 150 informal workers in eThekwini on the impact of COVID-19 on their livelihoods. The key finding reveal that the Covid-19 brought upon great hardship and challenges in the informal businesses and the livelihoods dependent on the sector due to the closure of economic activities during the height of the pandemic. There was insufficient distribution of Covid-19 relief funds by the government and the local municipality towards informal workers in the midst of being barred from earning a living. Additionally, there is a huge gap for social security in the informal sector in the eThekwini region. While the resilient informal workers in eThekwini region have returned to trading (despite being unable to recover post-Covid income), most aspire for better protection in the midst of social and economic shocks
An investigation into the impact of rural-urban migration on local government service delivery: a case study of eThekwini municipality.
Full text linkMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Historically, rural-urban migration has remained a common factor in developing
countries. This predicament is motivated by a mass movement of people from their
places of origin searching for better opportunities. Therefore, this leads to massive
urbanization and overcrowding in the city. In South Africa, the city of Durban is
classified as a Metropolitan area and attracts the majority of people from different
regions across the country. Studies show that rural-urban migration patterns often
impact the service delivery of the receiving urban regions. Against the above
background, this study aimed to investigate the impact of rural-urban migration on
local government service delivery through the case study of eThekwini Metropolitan
Municipality. The researcher adopted the exploratory research approach and
conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with six municipal officials from three
eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality departments. The three departments interviewed
are: electricity, human settlements and health.
The results revealed that the in-migration in the city of Durban has some impact,
particularly on service delivery. This causes a strain in the city municipality because
of limited resources and high demands of basic services. Contrary to popular beliefs,
some of the rural migration in eThekwini is caused by the failure to distribute resources
in an inclusive manner that promotes rural areas within the eThekwini region. Although
the study respondents revealed that the city municipality is doing its best to respond
to high demands of services, the responses fail to meet the rate of rural-urban
migration from a budgetary point. It is recommended that more resources be allocated
to metropolitan municipalities to respond effectively to the needs of residents and
migrants. Furthermore, the government should prioritize developing previously
disadvantaged areas to avoid urbanization in cities
The prospectus and challenges of rural urban migration in South African cities: perceptions from integrated development plans.
Full text linkMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Rural-urban migration is a global phenomenon which been constantly shaping economies and
societies. Rural-urban migration has played an important role in many countries' urbanization
processes and continues to be important. There are a number of reasons why this migration is
mainly about seeking better sources of income. Similarly, rural-urban migration has a variety of
implications. In South Africa, rural-urban migration has occurred since the early 1990s during the
gold rush period and was deterred by apartheid policies such as the community areas act and influx
control legislation that limited the movement of Black Africans. In post-apartheid South Africa,
urban areas have seen increasing numbers of people moving to urban areas for work-related
purposes, but ending up settling down. Therefore, it becomes essential to understand how receiving
metropolitan areas interpret the rapid rural-urban migration occurring in South Africa.
The study aimed to explore the prospects and challenges of rural-urban migration in South African
cities based on the perceptions from Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) of metropolitan
municipalities. As such, the study utilised secondary data from IDPs and supplemented by data
from Statistics South Africa on population dynamics.
The study finds that metropolitan IDPs are generally aware of the socio-economic benefits of ruralurban
migration for migrants and receiving cities, mainly through attracting skilled workers and
enriching diversity. The findings also reveal that metropolitan municipalities in South Africa are
experiencing major housing blockage problems, lack of infrastructure, informal settlements and a
lack of urban planning strategies due to the increase in rural-urban migration. This is largely
because the population growth in cities is putting tremendous strain on the availability of utilities
which places pressure on governments to identify alternatives and establish plans to tackle service
delivery issues in communities. It is recommended that the government needs to proactively
introduce spatial planning and land-use management strategies that promote the creation of
inclusive cities that protect sustainable development
The motives behind students pursuing postgraduate studies in the Humanities: a case study of the postgraduate students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Full text linkMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Through the development process, higher education provides the necessary tools and skills for
individuals to access employment opportunities and improve human development. Global
statistical evidence shows that those with higher education qualifications are more likely to be
employed than those with lower-level education or no education at all. This has subsequently
led to the growth in the enrollment of postgraduate students as a permanent feature in
institutions of higher education across the globe. South Africa is not an exception to this trend
because its National Development Plan views education as an essential element to the country’s
developmental needs and foundation to alleviate poverty, unemployment, and inequalities.
With the increasing enrollment of students into postgraduate studies, it becomes crucial to
understand the main drivers of this phenomenon.
This study is geared towards exploring the motives connected to pursuing postgraduate studies
in the South African context. The study was conducted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
(Howard College Campus in the School of Humanities). Methodologically, the study employed
a qualitative approach that involved semi-structured interviews with ten participants that were
selected within the institution.
The study showed that many participants attach several motives to pursuing higher education,
with the need to access further employment and financial opportunities to better their
livelihoods being the main drivers. Other participants were found to be driven by the need for
self-development, their role models, and the need to improve their communities. While there has been a rapid increase in postgraduate intake, the lack of funding for postgraduate studies
was a leading barrier and contributed to excessive financial exclusion. The study recommends
that the government finds other proactive measures of developing a funding model that is
explicitly targeting postgraduate students
Assessing the relationship between poverty, vulnerability and natural disasters on urban informal settlements of developing countries: a case study of Quarry Road West informal settlement, Durban.
Full text linkMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between poverty, vulnerability and
natural disasters in Quarry Road West informal settlement in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The
informal settlement is located in Newlands East, near the Palmiet River, which overflows and
results in flooding conditions in the settlement. The people from the settlement already live
under poor and vulnerable conditions as they experience problems such as poverty,
unemployment and informal housing structures, which makes this settlement the ideal study
area for the research. Objectives of the study include exploring and investigating the impacts
that floods have in this area, how the eThekwini municipality tries to minimize the impacts
floods in the area, and what are the problems that the municipality encounters in trying to
minimize the impacts of floods in Quarry Road West settlement.
Qualitative research methods and due to the Corona virus (COVID 19), secondary data
analysis was used to collect and analyse the secondary data. The results indicated that there is
a direct relationship between poverty, vulnerability and floods in Quarry Road West informal
settlement. Floods in this area resulted in deaths, collapsing housing structures, loss of
possessions and most importantly, loss of land. All his resulted in the people being trapped in
a cycle of poverty and vulnerability that is almost impossible, as the people struggle to
respond and recover to floods properly. As the floods keep striking, more people are getting
affected, which means more people are struggling to recover from floods. The municipality
tries to assist the community, however there are many challenges still being faced. This
indicates that more efforts are required from the municipality in order to improve resilience in
the area
Measuring South African social development: a case study of praxis in the Eastern Cape.
Full text linkMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.In South Africa, present levels of poverty and inequality are intolerably high, and there is both an
incontestable imperative to enact, and an expressed commitment by the state to facilitate, social
development. There is, however, little evident evaluation of how effective this undertaking has been. The
aim of this research is to quantify and assess the social development praxis - ideology, process, and
practice combined - of the mandated government Department of Social Development. The enquiry
investigates the case of the Eastern Cape province, exploiting the public availability of the Eastern Cape
Department of Social Development’s Annual Reports.
The research first determines the scope of the Eatern Cape Department of Social Development activity by
the measure of financial resource allocation across the categorical channels of Department of Social
Development activity for the financial years 2007/2008 to 2017/2018. This enables in the second instance,
establishing the changes in targeted social development outcomes by measuring the change in provincial
inverse, multidimensional poverty over the study period. This was achieved using the data generated by
all five waves of the National Income Dynamics Survey, and by computing a novel Multidimensional
Poverty Index for the Eastern Cape using the Alkire-Foster metho.
Utilizing a fractional response probit model to determine an empirical association between the
explanatory variable of changes in Eastern Cape Department of Social Development financial resource
allocation, and the changes in the outcome variable of targeted social development outcomes represented
by the regional Multidimensional Poverty Index, the study estimated an empirical - but negligible -
association between Eastern Cape Department of Social Development spending and the regional
Multidimensional Poverty Index. This infers a limited impacty of Eastern Cape Department of Social
Development praxis on multidimensional poverty.
The research concludes that there is an evident insufficiency in the scope of the mechanism of state-led
social development interventions as practiced in the Eastern Cape province and that redress of long-term
deprivations and inequity of access to vital social goods, such as quality education, employment stability,
and appropriate healthcare, has been inadequate. While this case evidence is not necessarily generalisable
to the country, it is recommended that further investigation iteratively evaluates the outcomes of social
development praxis in the other provinces
Assessing the National Development Plan’s Progress in Addressing Poverty and Unemployment in Fezile Dabi Municipality
No full textA research report submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Management, In the Faculty of Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024In 2012, the South African government displayed its ongoing dedication to tackle many issues such as poverty, inequality, and unemployment by formulating and approving the long-term National Development Plan, also known as NDP Vision 2030. The National Development Plan (NDP) delineates South Africa's development plan to achieve a developmental state that is capable of providing a wide range of possibilities and addressing social problems. The framework provides a comprehensive and strategic guide for making crucial policy decisions and taking action at all levels of government. It has been eleven years since the NDP 2030 Vision was adopted, which set specific goals for areas such as poverty and unemployment. The NDP acknowledges the importance of empowering local governments and promoting coordinated cooperation among local economic actors to achieve the established goals. Therefore, without efficiently empowered local governments, it becomes significantly difficult to implement the NDP agenda and achieve the predetermined goals for reducing unemployment and poverty from the perspective of a local developmental state. The aim of this study was to review the extent to which municipalities are enabled to reach their developmental mandate of poverty and unemployment reduction under the auspice of the NDP through a case study of Fezile Dabi District Municipality in the Free State province. The study employed survey and in-depth interview data to assess the effectiveness of the NDP in reducing poverty and unemployment. The survey data was gathered with the purpose of doing both qualitative and quantitative analysis. The findings indicate that FDDM has not achieved significant advancements in its pursuit of the 2030 targets, namely in terms of eradicating poverty and maintaining an unemployment rate between 6% and 20%. The failure can be attributed to inadequate performance in key areas such as the promotion of universal primary education, infrastructure improvement, and bureaucracy reduction. The underperformance in these domains can mostly be attributed to a scarcity of proficient workforce, inadequate involvement of key stakeholders, budgetary limitations, and sometimes inability to stimulate small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). The study recommends that local municipalities need to be encouraged to set clear targets for social and economic challenges that are identified as priority areas in the NDP. These targets are to be set in line with provincial and national targets. This will ensure that achievement of targets at a lower level necessitates and implies the achievement of targets at higher levels. Targets also allow continuous monitoring and evaluation and where possible the avoidance of losing track.MM202
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