4 research outputs found
The Zibambele rural road maintenance poverty alleviation programme : a case study employing the livelihood approach as a tool to understand poverty alleviation in the Vulindlela area.
No full textThesis (M.Soc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.This is an exploratory study, employing the livelihood approach as a tool to understand how the Zibambele programme approached rural poverty alleviation. The livelihood framework is used to understand the relationships between Zibambele workers’ and officials from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport. The Vulindlela Area, one of the Zibambele sites, was chosen for assessment. The livelihood practices of Zibambele workers’ and attitudes of Zibambele officials towards the implementation the programme were sought out and captured. Qualitative methodology shaped the research design. Zibambele workers’ made up the main sample of this study, while officials from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport were key informants of this study. Focus group interviews were conducted to capture data from the main sample and key informants. The grounded theory technique was used to analyse data. Data was analysed through identifying themes and building on the relationships between themes, to develop an explanation of how the Zibambele poverty alleviation programme is implemented. This study finds that the Zibambele programme is based on an economic approach to poverty alleviation due to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport’s ‘top-down’ approach in implementing the Zibambele programme and Zibambele workers rising expectations of the programme. The study concluded that the livelihood approach was a valuable tool in understanding and explaining the Zibambele poverty alleviation programme
Enhancing the Shambe Sonke programme: addressing communication, implementation, and public-private partnerships for effective poverty alleviation
No full textThis article analyses the Shambe Sonke Programme (SSP) in South Africa, a poverty alleviation initiative aimed at generating income and fostering economic independence through infrastructure maintenance and community engagement in rural regions. This paper employs qualitative research methodology to examine communication practices, challenges, and regional implementation disparities within the SSP, concentrating on three provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Eastern Cape. Data were collected via interviews with officials from the Department of Transport (DoT) and focus groups involving SSP contractors, predominantly African men and women, utilising content analysis based on Giddens’ Structuration Theory. The findings indicate substantial communication deficiencies between the Department of Transportation and SSP contractors, impeding the contractors\u27 comprehension of program objectives, eligibility criteria, and accessible economic opportunities. The absence of communication hinders contractors\u27 capacity to leverage SSP resources for income generation, thereby limiting the program\u27s efficacy in poverty alleviation. The study identifies regional disparities in the impact of SSP, noting that KwaZulu-Natal’s Zibambele sub-program demonstrates superior outcomes attributed to proactive support systems and robust public-private partnerships (PPPs), which furnish contractors with resources for small-scale farming and business initiatives. Delayed payments and insufficient training in Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape hinder contractors\u27 economic mobility. The study advocates for the enhancement of communication channels, the development of localised implementation strategies, and the improvement of public-private partnerships across provinces to achieve more consistent outcomes in the SSP. The findings highlight the necessity for flexible, community-focused strategies in public programs and collaborative partnerships as essential avenues for effective poverty alleviation
Education the new currency for unification in the African digital society
No full textIn the contemporary, rapidly merging globe, education has become a pivotal force in bridging divides towards togetherness, particularly within the African digital landscape. The concept posits education as the new currency for unification across Africa, highlighting its capacity to significantly reshape the continent\u27s socio-economic landscape in the digital era. It reevaluates the inherited education system, which consistently serves foreign interests, into one ideologically reformed to be more Afrocentric and innovation-oriented. Integrating education with digital transformation enables the youth to become catalysts for change, capable of guiding the continent towards a progressive and inclusive future. The paper advocates for educational solidarity, asserting that coordinated efforts and public-private partnerships are essential to address the educational inadequacies in Africa. This article posits that Africa may realise its full potential as a global leader in the 21st century by adopting digital education specifically designed to address its distinct requirement
Hydrolysis improves the inhibition efficacy of bovine lactoferrin against infection by SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus
No full textThe entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells may involve the spike protein cleavage by cathepsin L (CTSL). Certain food proteins such as lactoferrin (Lf) inhibit CTSL. The current study investigated the impact of hydrolysis (0–180 min) by proteinase K on electrophoretic pattern, secondary structure, cathepsin inhibitory and SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infectivity inhibitory of bovine Lf. Gel electrophoresis indicated that hydrolysis cut Lf molecules to half lobes (∼40 kDa) and produced peptides ≤18 kDa. Approximation of the secondary structural features through analysis of the second-derivative amide I band collected by infra-red spectroscopy suggested a correlative–causative relationship between cathepsin inhibition and the content of helix-unordered structures in Lf hydrolysate. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of Lf hydrolysed for 90 min (H90) against CTSL was about 100 times smaller than that of the Lf hydrolysed for 0 min (H0). H90 had also double activity against SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-types infectivity compared with H0
