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Access status: Embargo , Until 2028-12-31 ,
Assessing the role of urban ecological infrastructure in adapting to climate change impacts: a case of the city of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2025) Mtshali, Kholeka Thembeka (née Sikhosana); Van der Walt, A. J.; Matamanda, R. A.
This study evaluated how Urban Ecological Infrastructure (UEI) could be used for climate change adaptation in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Metropolitan Municipality. The objectives included analysing climate variability trends from 1993 to 2023, assessing the planning and implementation of UEIs from a municipal perspective, and using the i-Tree Canopy Model to quantify and value the importance of ecosystem services provided by green UEIs. The Climate Justice and Complex Systems theories influenced the study. The integration of these two theories allowed for an intricate assessment of the climate effects within the study area. The study employed a pragmatic paradigm and a convergent parallel mixed-method design. The ClimPACT v3.1.6 software was used to analyse daily temperature and rainfall data from 1993-2023 obtained from the South African Weather Service. Additionally, 16 stakeholder interviews and a review of 14 institutional documents were conducted to highlight the planning and integration of UEIs as a climate adaptation tool. The i-Tree Canopy Model was utilised to assign economic values to UEI-provided ecosystem services. The study’s results indicated increasing climate variability, with minimum and maximum temperatures rising by 0.03°C and 0.025°C, and annual precipitation increasing by 5.407mm. The interviews and document review revealed a significant gap between institutional plans and implementation, with climate change not being fully prioritised and understood. The i-Tree Canopy Model results highlighted the importance of the city's regulatory ecosystem services provided by GUEIs. With carbon sequestration alone, the city saves R22,163,600,100. Overall, the study indicated that UEIs are a useful tool towards climate adaptation; the institutional fragmentations and silos in the governance structures, however, pose great threats towards the city reaching urban sustainability and climate resilience.
Access status: Open Access ,
Connecting to collaborate: an examination of academic staff members’ expectations of an undergraduate writing centre
(University of the Free State, 2025) Nell, Annalene; Brokensha, Susan; Joubert, Michelle
Writing centres have established themselves as impactful support spaces at universities worldwide. However, their mandates and services are often misunderstood by academic staff and, by extension, misunderstood and therefore underutilised by students. This study examines the perceptions and expectations of academic staff regarding the services of an undergraduate writing centre at a South African university. The study aims to determine staff awareness and expectations in order to identify potential future collaborations between writing centres and content specialists. A sequential mixed-methods approach to data collection was employed, consisting of digital questionnaires followed by focus group discussions. Transcripts from the focus group discussions were analysed using Atlas.ti software. Based on the codes assigned in the Atlas.ti analysis, three major themes relevant to the research questions were identified: 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦. Aspects concerning academic staff perceptions sourced from both the questionnaires and focus groups are discussed within these three themes. Based on the discussion, it is clear that many academic staff members highly value the writing centre, and are open to collaborative endeavours. They also exhibit an impressive level of familiarity with the writing centre and what it offers. However, staff also harbour some misperceptions around what the writing centre does and does not do, and identified aspects of communication that could be clearer and more streamlined. It is therefore recommended that the writing centre continue to invest in accurate communication with academic departments to ensure that lecturers and students make optimal use of its services.
Access status: Open Access ,
Capabilities for media graduate employability: the case of private higher education
(University of the Free State, 2021) Somerville, Fenella; Walker, Melanie; Mkwananzi, Wadzanai Faith
Higher education in South Africa faces a challenge of increasing numbers of unemployed graduates. Increased access to higher education and private higher education, together with policy commitments to equal opportunities, have wielded a promise that higher education offers a better future for graduates. And yet, research on graduate destinations shows persistent inequalities in employment outcomes. Graduate employability is a rapidly growing field of research worldwide in the context of a global knowledge economy, drawing a direct link between education, employment and economic growth. South African studies on graduate employment have concentrated primarily on public universities, with a strong focus on the transition of final year students into the workplace. This study focuses on graduates from private higher education institutions who have been in the workplace for between one and five years. Using a human development and capability approach, the thesis confronts the human capital approach to employability. Using a mixed methods sequential exploratory design within a transformative paradigm the project explores the employment experiences of media graduates from three private higher education institutions in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 media graduates, four key informants from the institutions, and six media employers, providing multiple perspectives to address the main research question: how does private higher education contribute to enhancing equitable opportunities for media graduate employability and well-being? Subsequently, an electronic survey was conducted with media graduates (n=2,746) to get an expanded understanding of what graduates value, and the factors that enable and/or constrain their participation in the workplace. Graduate employability is shaped by the capabilities developed in higher education, and mobilised in graduates’ functionings in the labour market. Through the use of an enrolment-employment typology matrix, the findings show how the choices and opportunities of higher education intersect with personal biographies and social structures to be unequally realised in employment outcomes for different individuals. Nonetheless, there is variation in students’ agency responses and the capabilities they are able to mobilise, shaped but not overly determined by their backgrounds. Consequently, shifts are needed in private higher education to develop significant capabilities more explicitly for graduates to develop the agility to navigate their way, and shape what they are able to do, be and become in the media industry.
Access status: Open Access ,
Protecting women migrant workers’ rights in South Africa: the need for a gender-responsive framework
(University of the Free State, 2025) Kahari, Annah; Ozoemena, Rita; De Man, Annelie
This study, titled “Protecting Women Migrant Workers’ Rights in South Africa: The Need for a Gender-Responsive Framework,” addresses the critical issue of the increasing feminisation of migration and the unique vulnerabilities faced by women migrant workers, particularly in South Africa. Despite migration offering opportunities, these women often encounter exploitation, discrimination, and abuse. The study highlights how South Africa's historical exclusionary policies and current gender-neutral legal frameworks fail to adequately protect these workers, leading to issues like inadequate pay, lack of contracts, long working hours, and gender-based violence. The core problem lies in the inadequacy of existing legal and policy frameworks to address the intersectional vulnerabilities of women migrant workers, resulting in a significant gap between theoretical legal protections and practical realities. Enforcement mechanisms are weak, especially in informal sectors where these women are concentrated, exacerbating their precarious situation and limiting their access to justice. The central research question guiding this thesis is: What factors contribute to the violations experienced by women migrants in South Africa, and how can a gender-responsive legal framework be developed and implemented to protect their rights effectively? Drawing upon feminist legal theory, intersectionality theory, and migration theories, the research critically examines international, regional, and domestic legal instruments to assess their gender sensitivity and effectiveness. A significant contribution of this study is the application of the Gender Legislative Index (GLI) as a methodological tool to evaluate the gender responsiveness of South African legislation. Through a comparative analysis of international and regional instruments against domestic laws, the findings highlight a substantial disparity between theoretical legal protections and the lived realities of women migrant workers, necessitating the urgent need for a transformative approach. The findings demonstrate that South African legislation, although formally inclusive, does not address the intersectional vulnerabilities of women migrants and fails to align with international laws. The study recommends using the GLI to ensure gender-responsive migration, labour laws, and policies, and to strengthen monitoring mechanisms. It also recommends aligning South Africa’s migration policy with constitutional and international human rights standards.
Access status: Open Access ,
The depiction of masculinity in selected Sesotho drama texts
(University of the Free State, 2025) Moyana, Pulane; Khanyetsi, Mabohlokoa
This study intended to investigate the depiction of masculinity in selected Sesotho drama texts: Maake’s 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘦 (2015), Letshaba, 𝘓𝘦𝘫𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘢 𝘬𝘨𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰 (2015), and Mokhele’s 𝘋𝘪𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘩𝘰 (2015). The study employed a qualitative method and thematic analysis to explore the depiction of masculinity in the above selected Sesotho drama texts. The related literature review revealed a gap in the studies of scholars who have examined masculinity among the Basotho, particularly in the context of Sesotho drama texts. Literary masculinity theory was utilized to answer the research questions of this study. This study determined that hegemonic masculinity is depicted through the abuse of power, language that depicts masculinity, assassination, infidelity and aggression. This study contributes to the postgraduate studies within the fields of literature and masculinity to enrich the possibility of research in areas where these fields converge.
Access status: Open Access ,
Exploring access to postpartum mental healthcare at a peri-urban community health centre: a socio ecological perspective
(University of the Free State, 2025) Leshaba, Palesa; Kigozi-Male, Gladys; Mulu, Thecla Ngwi Nnam
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 Postpartum mental health (PPMH) remains a neglected aspect of maternal care within South Africa's primary health care system. This neglect is especially evident in peri-urban areas where overburdened community health centres (CHCs) often lack the capacity to offer mental health support. Although national policy acknowledges the importance of maternal mental health , postpartum women continue to face significant barriers in accessing care. These challenges extend beyond resource limitations, and include stigma, inconsistent screening practices, and sociocultural norms that minimise emotional distress. As a result, symptoms of depression, anxiety, or trauma frequently go undetected in settings that prioritise physical health. Existing research has largely overlooked the complex multilevel factors shaping access to PPMH care. This study addresses this gap by examining the determinants of access to postpartum mental health services (PPMHS) at a peri-urban CHC in Gauteng Province in South Africa. 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 The study employed a qualitative exploratory case study design grounded in a constructivist paradigm. The socio ecological model (SEM) provided a guiding framework to explore the multi-level determinants of access to PPMHS at the CHC across five levels: individual, interpersonal, organisational, community, and societal. Semi structured interviews were conducted with ten postpartum women (within six months of delivery) attending postnatal care at the CHC, as well as eight healthcare providers directly involved in maternal care. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure depth and relevance of insights. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using abductive thematic analysis (ATA), which allowed for the integration of both data-driven themes and SEM-informed theoretical constructs. Ethical approval was obtained with all participants providing informed consent. Confidentiality and respectful engagement were upheld throughout the research process. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 The study identified a range of interrelated barriers and facilitators to accessing PPMHS across all five levels of the SEM. At the individual level, limited awareness of PPMH and internalised stigma discouraged help-seeking. In contrast, exposure to mental health education and trauma informed care provided by healthcare providers facilitated service use. At the interpersonal level, emotional support from family members and partners played an instrumental role in enabling access to care. Conversely, the absence of such support posed a significant barrier. At the organisational level, systemic issues such as inconsistent screening practices, staff shortages, a lack of provider training in mental health, and the absence of mental health integration into routine postnatal care hindered access to PPHM services. However, access was supported by the availability of trained mental health professionals and proactive referral efforts by some healthcare providers. At the community level, entrenched cultural stigma, by rigid gender roles, and religious belief surrounding emotional distress inhibited disclosure and care seeking, yet respectful treatment and the use of culturally sensitive practices by healthcare providers improved acceptability of mental health services. At the societal level, limited involvement of frontline providers in policymaking and the absence of structured PPMH monitoring mechanisms weakened implementation of PPMHS at the CHC. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 The study highlights the complex, layered factors that shape access to PPMH care at the CHC. Addressing these challenges requires a coordinated, multilevel response. Priorities should include strengthening mental health literacy among women and families, enabling family support, augmenting provider capacity through training, and incorporating culturally responsive care into routine care services at the CHC. It is also important to have meaningful involvement of frontline healthcare providers in policy development and the establishment of quantifiable implementation strategies. A context-sensitive and integrated approach to implementing PPMHs has the potential to strengthen maternal mental health outcomes and ensure that primary healthcare services are more responsive to the needs of postpartum women.
Access status: Open Access ,
Perceptions of high school teachers on mental health support for learners
(University of the Free State, 2024) Masilo, Rorisang Neo Moira; Kgothule, Rantsie. J.
Mental health among learners has become an increasingly prevalent topic, and understanding the perceptions of teachers on mental health support for learners is very important. Teachers' roles and responsibilities have increased to include identifying, referring and supporting learners with mental health problems. This study explored the perception of high school teachers on mental health support for learners in five schools in the Lejweleputswa District in the Free State. The study aimed to make a positive contribution to the awareness of mental health and the needs of teachers to successfully contribute to supporting learners with mental health problems, by highlighting the needs and the recommendations of teachers regarding supporting learners with mental health problems. The study adopted qualitative research approach, with an exploratory research approach and a phenomenology research design to describe the perceptions of teachers regarding mental health support. A non-probability, convenience sample of fourteen teachers from five different high schools participated in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured, face-to-face audio-recorded interviews. The data was transcribed, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data through the identification of themes and sub-themes as outlined by Braun and Clarke (2023). The findings from the study show that there is a need for awareness and training for teachers regarding mental health. Teachers are expected to support learners with mental health and cannot do so without knowledge and skills on how to support learners with mental health problems. Teachers highlighted that they do not have adequate training and that there are barriers and limitations to the effectiveness of supporting learners with mental health problems. Teachers have recommended the implementation of holistic peer support, professional development, in-house counselling, the involvement of stakeholders such as the Department of Education, and increased awareness of mental health. These recommendations were suggested to ensure that learners are able to receive timely and effective support from teachers.
Access status: Open Access ,
The effect of irrigation agriculture on the economy of Limpopo Province, South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2025) Pfunzo, Ramigo; Bahta, Yonas T.; Jordaan, Henry
The development of irrigation systems is strategically used to improve food security and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2) of ending hunger and poverty with the alignment of the South African National Development Plan (NDP). This study contributes to the construction of the 2017 and 2021 National Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for South Africa. A 2017 and 2021 National SAM for South Africa incorporates regional accounts. Only in the Limpopo Province of South Africa are agricultural industries, labour, and households captured at the district level. In contrast, the agricultural sector, labour, and household accounts in other provinces remain unchanged. However, the 2021 provincial SAM for Limpopo Province was successfully categorised according to irrigation systems and sources of water use. The irrigation systems were further disaggregated according to the maize industry, with the land account disaggregated according to the sources of water used for maize production. Most of the studies on the impact of electricity price increases found that it negatively impacted the economy in terms of a decline in GDP and an increase in unemployment. Different empirical studies reported that affordability is a big concern due to the high total cost of production and increases in the market prices for commodities. The study on the impact of electricity tariff increases on provincial and district agricultural sectors was successfully evaluated using the cost-push-price model. The modelling studies significantly contributed to evaluating various irrigation systems using SAM-based modelling and water sources for crop production, such as maize in the arid and semi-arid conditions of Limpopo Province. The Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) aimed to improve the database’s quality for modelling, including, but not limited to, policy analysis, multiplier analysis, price analysis, and Computable General Equilibrium (CGE). Most of the studies on the impact of electricity price increases had a negative impact on the economy in terms of a decline in GDP and an increase in unemployment. These studies further reported that affordability is a big concern due to the high total cost of production and increases in the market prices for commodities. Researchers rarely empirically assess the impact of electricity tariff increases on provincial and district agricultural sectors. Thus, another significant contribution was to evaluate the price of electricity increases according to irrigation and rainfed agricultural industries. In addition, the study also contributed by categorising electricity according to distribution and production. The studies on irrigation techniques and water uses in the maize industry reported that the drip irrigation system was found to consume more groundwater and obtain yield and net profit with a reduced application. Most of the studies applied statistical analysis such as ANOVA (Analysis of Variance). However, no studies have directly computed in detail various irrigation systems by the source of water used in crop production, such as maize in the arid and semi-arid conditions of Limpopo Province, using Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) based modelling. The modelling studies would significantly contribute to evaluating various irrigation systems by using sources of water for crop production, such as maize in arid and semi-arid conditions of Limpopo Province, using SAM-based modelling. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of irrigation agriculture on the economy of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The first SAM multiplier analysis showed that output multiplier effects were more significant for rainfed agriculture than irrigation agriculture. However, irrigation agriculture had the highest institutional income, land return, and value-added multiplier compared to rainfed agriculture. The type of crop did not influence the findings, with irrigation consuming more input per unit of output. The results implied that innovative technology practices would improve water efficiency and increase the financial advantage of farmers while minimising environmental burdens. The second analysis from the SAM price model showed that the cost of production for rainfed agriculture is much higher than that of irrigation agriculture in all regions of South Africa. Limpopo and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa had the highest costs of production increases for irrigation agriculture compared to other provinces. The policy implication of expanding the electricity sector will not only boost the agricultural sector in one region/province but will also increase output in other regions/provinces of the economy. The increase in electricity prices and the shortage of electricity provide an incentive for agricultural industries to invest in appropriate mitigation strategies, such as renewable energy sources. The third analysis from poverty indices concluded that irrigation is more advantageous in alleviating poverty than non-irrigation in Limpopo Province. The findings imply that investment in irrigation infrastructure is critical for enhancing irrigation access for many financially disadvantaged farmers. Therefore, increasing productivity is essential by investing in irrigation and ensuring farmers have full access to credit facilities. The third analysis from the 2021 provincial SAM for Limpopo Province reported that micro and drip irrigation systems had the largest output multiplier effect. This implies that these irrigation systems play a significant role in increasing maize output, saving water, and improving food security, further allowing farmers to adopt these irrigation systems. However, pivot, sprinkler, drip, and micro-irrigation generate less value added and institutional incomes than other irrigation systems such as canal, flood, and coupling line irrigations. This implies that to enhance the value addition of pivot irrigation, farmers should significantly restrict water application to farms with reduced hectares to maximise profit. Water schemes and groundwater had the highest farm return on maize in the province. The study concludes that the groundwater and water schemes play a significant role in growing and sustaining maize and other agricultural industries to reduce food insecurity. The government should consider introducing financial incentives to farmers currently experiencing challenges installing irrigation systems and borehole water on farms. Therefore, investment in irrigation infrastructure for these systems would improve affordability and accessibility for all farmers and further create better incomes. The findings may not be applicable to other South African provinces due to regional variations in climate, resources, and agricultural practices. The environmental impact of irrigation, particularly water scarcity, is not explicitly addressed in terms of sustainability concerns. The study emphasises innovative technologies without acknowledging potential limitations in access or affordability for farmers lacking technology. The sole focus on profitability might overlook broader social or environmental considerations. Water scarcity was the most limiting factor due to climate change. However, improving water availability is required by implementing technologies to improve water management for sustainable agricultural production. Future research should consider disaggregating agriculture according to different crops to evaluate the economic impact of irrigation and rainfall at the regional level. The data should display racial and gender group classifications of households. The SAM did not include all districts in South Africa; therefore, researchers, academia, and stakeholders must consider focusing on other districts and possibly adding other accounts (sectors) from local municipalities. Further research is needed to compare the long-term economic, social, and environmental impacts of irrigation and rainfed agriculture in Limpopo by extending the SAM model to capture the environmental impact of irrigation on water resources and assessing the social equity implications of irrigation, including access to water and land for small-scale farmers.
Access status: Open Access ,
Student self-employment in South Africa: a triple-helix-model, entrepreneurial competence and social support perspective
(University of the Free State, 2023) Parkies, Reabetswe Gladys; Rukuni, Tarisai; Koloba, Habofanwe
Getting graduates employed has become a daunting task for most parts of the world. This reality has made progressive economies use student self-employment as a strategy to fight unemployment. South Africa has struggled to capitalise on student self-employment due to a lower supportive environment for entrepreneurship. Consequently, this has drawn interest in understanding the role of the triple helix model and social support towards student self-employment. It is against this backdrop that the current study aimed to develop a multi-tiered student self-employment ecosystem model through evaluating student perceptions of university initiatives, entrepreneurial competence, industry support, government support and social support towards student self-employment; measuring the effect of university initiatives on student self-employment; measuring the effect of social support on entrepreneurial competence; establishing the mediation effect of entrepreneurial competence, industry support and government support on the relationship between university initiatives and student self-employment; and investigating the moderated mediation effect of social support on the relationship between university initiatives and student self-employment through entrepreneurial competence, industry support and government support in South Africa. A positivist research paradigm was applied through the use of a quantitative descriptive research methodology. Data were collected through a questionnaire from a convenience sample of 375 self-employed South African university students. SmartPLS 4 was used to analyse data through descriptive analysis, structural equation modelling, mediation and moderation analyses. The study concluded that students had low perceptions of university initiatives, industry support, and government support, while they had moderate perceptions of entrepreneurial competence and social support towards student self-employment; university initiatives did not have a statistically significant effect on student self-employment in the presence of mediators (entrepreneurial competence, industry support and government support); social support had a statistically significant positive effect on entrepreneurial competence; entrepreneurial competence (interpersonal generic competence), industry support and government fully mediates the relationship between university initiatives and student self-employment; and social support did not have a statistically significant moderated mediation effect on the relationship between university initiatives and student self-employment through entrepreneurial competence, industry support and government support in South Africa. This has major implications for theory and practice leading to the development of the student self-employment ecosystem model.
Access status: Open Access ,
The lived childhood experiences of incarcerated male sex offenders
(University of the Free State, 2024) Ntlatlane, Prudance Kgaladi; Taylor, H.W.
This study was motivated by the high rates and public outcry of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa, particularly sexual violence. There have been policies and interventions by the government and other stakeholders to curb the rate of GBV in South Africa. The interventions mainly focus on protecting the victims of GBV, particularly women and children. However, the rates of GBV, predominantly sex offences, continue to increase. The perpetrators of GBV and sexual violence are mostly not included in the interventions and policies. Research also focuses on the victims of sexual violence and not the perpetrators, which is problematic as it does not provide a clear understanding of sexual violence in South Africa, resulting in the same and redundant strategies to curb sexual violence. Developmental psychological theories highlight that various childhood factors and experiences influence behaviour in adulthood. Males are identified as perpetrators and are incarcerated for sexual offences in South Africa. However, there is limited research on sex offenders and the influences of childhood experiences on sex offences amongst males. This research, therefore, aimed to understand the lived childhood experiences of incarcerated male sex offenders in South Africa. The study adopted a qualitative approach and was guided by the phenomenological and multiple case study approach to understand the lived childhood experiences of sex offenders. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 10 participants from the Mangaung and Grootvlei correctional centres. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data. The interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study found that lived childhood experiences play a role in the perpetration of sexual offences later in life. The findings also found that sex offenders experience negative experiences more than positive experiences during childhood, influencing the perpetration of sexual offences.