2 research outputs found
‘Learning and Unlearning’: Core Leadership Competencies for Driving Success in Special Economic Zones in South Africa
No full textSpecial Economic Zones (SEZs) are instrumental in promoting industrialisation and economic growth in many countries, especially within the developing world. While various SEZs established in South Africa are expected to drive local economic development processes, their performance has been erratic due to various governance, regulatory, and infrastructure issues. This study explores the core leadership competencies required to enhance the success of SEZs. It emphasises the importance of continuous learning and unlearning outdated practices. The paper draws on Peter Senge’s Continuous Learning Theory to explain how SEZ leaders could adapt to dynamic environments and provide sustainable growth. The study addresses two key research questions: (1) What leadership competencies are necessary to efficiently govern SEZs? (2) How do continuous learning and unlearning by SEZ leaders make a difference in inducing sustainable growth? This systematic review applied the PRISMA methodology to source the data from databases like Google Scholar and Scopus, among others, for sources published between 2010 and 2024. Findings revealed that the core leadership competencies required for effective SEZs include innovation, adaptability, and strategic thinking. This paper argues that continuous learning is imperative for leaders to keep pace with the complexity of shifting global economic circuits while unlearning is critical to avoid common pitfalls. This study contributes to the literature by recommending that leadership development inside SEZs be more contributory toward economic outcomes and encourages further research into what part leadership will play in regional economic development
“Women Will Never Be Equal to Men”: Examining Women Journalists’ Experiences of Patriarchy and Sexism in South Africa
No full textResearch shows that gender transformation policies and programmes within the media industry have done little to curtail sexism and patriarchal values in news reporting. This study’s term ‘patriarchy’ refers to the systemic structures of masculine dominance entrenched in societal, cultural, and institutional norms. This systemic understanding is complemented by exploring individual acts that perpetuate sexism, understood as both explicit and implicit forms of discrimination based on gender. Within newsrooms, where considerable studies have been conducted, data show alarming evidence of extensive sexism and patriarchal values, which are often nuanced and embedded into daily operations. Significantly, the current body of research argues that the problems experienced within the newsroom manifest a societal issue. However, there is a need for more research that turns the spotlight specifically on how newsmakers interact with women reporters in the field. This paper investigates how sexism and gender-based power imbalances affect female journalists’ professional experiences and roles in South Africa. The paper uses qualitative methods to explore how gender inequality and male dominance influence female journalists’ roles, opportunities, and treatment within the profession. This paper contributes to the current discourse by arguing that deeply ingrained societal and cultural patriarchal norms significantly shape and restrict the professional lives of women reporters. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with eleven (n = 11) reporters drawn from various SABC radio reporters across the nine provinces in South Africa. The study’s findings detailed multiple layers of discrimination and harassment experienced by reporters when engaging with newsmakers. Evidenced in the research is how entrenched societal and cultural values limit and influence the productivity of the reporters and impede their freedom to tell stories effectively. Besides the documented glass ceilings that stunt the upward progression of female reporters, the study posits the existence of invisible walls that hinder their transversal advancement within their designated scope of reporting
