KovsieScholar Repository

KovsieScholar is the University of the Free State’s open access institutional repository. It preserves, showcases, and provides access to the University's scholarly and research outputs, including theses, dissertations, publications, and other digital collections, ensuring their long-term visibility, accessibility, and impact.

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Access status: Open Access ,
Exploring student agency towards academic success in a South African University
(University of the Free State, 2025) Aluko, Opeoluwa Opeyemi; Larey, D. P.
The purpose of this research was to examine the role of student agency in academic success in the context of university students residing in South Africa, with specific focus on those from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. The study is grounded in the interpretivism paradigm, and a qualitative case study approach was employed in the study, drawing from narrative interviews tailored to the experiences of third-year education students at a South African university. This study sought to give a voice to students’ experiences to understand how agency was exercised regarding systemic struggles shaped by apartheid and colonialism in decision-making, academic performance, and resilience. This study centred on ten participants who were familiar with the subject matter (Student Agency), and the data elicited from the participants were subjected to thematic analysis. Findings revealed that the main obstacles that students faced when they entered university were restricted access to resources, poor academic preparation, and socioeconomic limitations, inadequate high school resources, including out-of-date textbooks, restricted digital access, and a lack of academic support, which left many participants academically not ready for university studies. Based on the findings, recommendations were made, among others that de-colonising practices of higher education can be achieved by incorporating non-traditional academic practices and amplifying the hitherto marginalised students to enhance educational success.
Access status: Embargo , Until 2029-06-30 ,
The environmental impacts of proposed South African wind energy farms
(University of the Free State, 2024) Graham, Katherine; Marais, Lochner; Cloete, Jan
South Africa’s current energy crisis compels the acceleration of a just transition away from coal-generated power to renewable energy. While wind is often touted as being the most benign of renewable energy sources, there are many environmental side-effects of wind energy farms which are well documented in international literature, such as avifaunal impacts. This study critically examines the environmental impact assessment process in South Africa to ascertain what can be done to improve it. A qualitative research methodology was applied with a case-study design. The study reveals that although environmental impact assessment reports are scoping the full extent of the ecological impacts of wind energy farms in South Africa, there are nevertheless patent flaws involved in the process. In the case study of the Albany wind energy facility in Makhanda, the level of public participation with interested and affected parties is shown to be inadequate and cumulative impacts have not been fully diagnosed. Furthermore, the study shows not enough oversight is provided by the government to ensure that mitigation measures agreed to by developers are adhered to once wind farms become operational. Environmental assessment practitioners, the government, wildlife non-profit organisations and developers all have a responsibility to ensure that the environmental harm caused by wind energy facilities is kept to a minimum. Among many recommendations, the study points to greater oversight by authorities, a more focused economic vision for the Eastern Cape, a review of the existing environmental impact assessment process and for more specific, actionable mitigation measures to be set against which wind farms can be measured.
Access status: Embargo , Until 2028-12-31 ,
Nature, processes and outcome of land governance in Harare: a case of Caledonia
(University of the Free State, 2025) Nyamukapa, Tapiwa; Matamanda, Abraham; Marais, Lochner; Napier, Mark
Land is a critical asset underpinning global social, economic, and environmental activities. However, land governance in Global South cities, particularly in Africa, faces significant challenges due to colonial legacies, diverse populations, and competing tenure systems. Effective land governance – the rules, processes, and actors managing land access, use, and dispute resolution – is essential for equitable urban development. Weak governance exacerbates inequalities, disproportionately affecting marginalised groups like the poor, women, and vulnerable communities. This thesis focused on urban land governance in Caledonia, a peri-urban area near Harare, Zimbabwe, where rapid urban growth, unplanned settlements, and political struggles amplify governance failures. Using the political settlements theory as a framework, the study investigated how clientelist relationships and power dynamics influence land governance outcomes. In addressing the central question of the thesis, what is the nature, processes and outcome of land governance in Caledonia, the study adopted a qualitative research approach that included data collection from primary (in-depth interviews and FGDs, focus group discussions) and secondary data sources. Specifically, a qualitative, multi-scalar approach engaged 84 participants including informal settlers, state actors, and urban planners to explore the interaction of formal and informal institutions, land tenure systems, and political influences. Thematical data analyses took place to find significant patterns and insights while ensuring a thorough methodological process. The findings showed that the failures in Caledonia’s governance arose from poor coordination among institutions, overlapping roles, and a focus on and prioritising political patronage over effective governance. The Fast Track Land Reform Programme and conflicts between the central government and the opposition-led Harare City Council have solidified ZANU-PF’s control. Informal actors use violence and patronage to dominate land access under these conditions. This situation illustrates a political settlement where national power takes precedence over local authority, undermining equitable land governance. The main contribution of this thesis enhanced the understanding of urban land governance in politically contested environments like Zimbabwe. The thesis advanced the understanding of the political settlement theory by connecting national power dynamics with urban spatial politics and offers a replicable methodological framework for studying peri-urban land disputes. The study suggests the Urban Land Governance Assessment Framework to support the diagnostic analysis of urban land governance issues. This framework identifies governance challenges at the sub-national level through targeted governance pathways and provides context-specific recommendations tailored to local needs. It complements the political settlements lens by offering a structured tool for evaluating governance performance and proposing actionable reforms. The thesis recommends updating spatial governance laws, like the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act, to be consistent with the 2013 Constitution and the 2018 National Human Settlements Policy. This offers local planning authorities more independence and creates a clear land tenure system to formalise occupancy. By combining insights from both pre-colonial and post-colonial state development with political settlement analysis, the thesis concluded that integrated solutions should focus on reforming institutions and improving the political economy of land governance to address the urban land governance issues in Zimbabwe effectively.
Access status: Open Access ,
Evaluation of the socioeconomic impact of four Northern Cape mines
(University of the Free State, 2025) Niemand, Anèlle; Cloete, Jan
The mining industry is central to the economy of the Northern Cape and the social advancement of its mining communities. However, the sustainability of its operations and the longevity of its socioeconomic contribution are under scrutiny. Compliance with international sustainability reporting standards is important for mines to maintain their social licence to operate. The study evaluated the reported socioeconomic impact of four Northern Cape mines listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and assessed their reporting against the Global Reporting Initiative sustainability reporting expectations, with the intention of identifying gaps in reporting practices that could make these mines susceptible to greenwashing1. The research followed a qualitative content analysis approach through the analysis of the annual reports of the identified mining companies, which were obtained from the public domain. The literature emphasises the importance of prefeasibility to ensure environmental and social sustainability in support of responsible production and community development. The research found partial disclosure of enterprise and supplier development, community ownership, food security, and indirect employment creation. This suggests partial integration of sustainable reporting principles and weakened accountability. The study excluded environmental aspects; future research can therefore analyse disclosures on energy efficiency, water use, land rehabilitation, and greenhouse gas emissions to provide a more comprehensive assessment of sustainability performance. The research concludes on the importance of inclusivity and quantifying the socioeconomic impact of mining for enhanced transparency and accountability to establish public confidence and the reputational integrity of the mining companies.
Access status: Open Access ,
Instructor Communication of Social Support With Trauma-Affected Students
(University of the Free State, 2025) Selepe, Clement Qenehelo; du Plessis, Rentia; Breshears, Diana
Many students in higher education institutions are exposed to traumatic events, such as violence and sexual abuse, which adversely affect their academic and social lives. The classroom is regarded as the most consistent environment in the lives of trauma affected students and should serve as a therapeutic space for effective intervention. This study investigated how instructors at the University of the Free State communicate social support to trauma-affected students in the field of instructional communication. Guided by the rhetorical and relational goals theory (RRGT) and the social support theory (SST), the study examined how relational and communicative processes shape instructor-student interactions in the context of trauma. Employing an interpretivist design, a qualitative approach, and convenience sampling, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 trauma-affected students and 15 instructors. The data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2022) reflexive thematic analysis. The study found that students often refrain from disclosing their trauma due to fear, distrust, and language barriers. It also illustrates how large class sizes and the absence of trauma-informed training impede communication between instructors and students. Furthermore, the study found that smaller classes and caring communication enhance trust and engagement. The study extends the RRGT and SST by demonstrating that rhetorical success is contingent upon relational safety and linguistic sensitivity in multilingual classrooms. The findings underscore the necessity of trauma-informed training and caring pedagogies to enhance social support in higher education. Ultimately, the study highlights the central role of instructor-student relationships in supporting trauma-affected students and advocates for institutional policies that promote trust, empathy, and culturally responsive communication.
Access status: Open Access ,
Namibia's subsidised housing program as disaster response for Twaloloka's fire victims during the COVID-19 pandemic
(University of the Free State, 2025) Lita, Mirjam Tangeni; Venter, Anita
Twaloloka, an informal settlement in Walvis Bay, Namibia, has repeatedly experienced fire incidents due to congested living conditions and flammable building materials. In July 2020, a devastating fire destroyed shacks and displaced residents at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a syndemic disaster in which fire, poverty, inadequate housing and a global health emergency combined to exponentially amplify vulnerability. The Namibian government responded with an unprecedented intervention: rather than providing temporary shelters, authorities delivered permanent, subsidised brick-and-mortar houses to fire victims. This marked the first time Namibia shifted from emergency relief to permanent housing as a disaster-response mechanism. For a developing country with limited resources, substantial housing backlogs and nearly one million people living in informal settlements, this decision raises fundamental questions about sustainability, equity, implementation capacity and precedent. This study evaluates the implementation and outcomes of the Twaloloka subsidised housing programme from the perspective of multiple stakeholders. Employing a qualitative case study design, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 housing beneficiaries; three Twaloloka residents who lost their homes but received no housing; and eight officials from the Municipality of Walvis Bay, the National Housing Enterprise, the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia. Thematic analysis revealed critical implementation gaps arising from unclear beneficiary selection processes, inadequate due diligence, funding shortfalls, inter-agency dysfunction, political interference and the exclusion of affected communities from decision-making. The findings show a programme that, while materially superior to temporary relief, fundamentally failed to meet its stated objectives. Beneficiaries acknowledged improvements in access to water, electricity, sanitation and protection from fire, yet expressed profound disappointment over poor workmanship, broken promises regarding quality and title deeds, and community fractures stemming from opaque selection processes. Five years after the handover, none of the beneficiaries had received title deeds, leaving them without legal ownership or economic security. Officials expressed regret over the lack of inter-agency collaboration, insufficient planning time, absent policy frameworks and political pressures that prioritised electoral timelines over quality outcomes. The study identifies policy fragmentation as the root cause: neither Namibia’s National Housing Policy nor its Disaster Risk Management Policy explicitly addresses permanent housing as a disaster-response mechanism, leaving implementing agencies without guidelines, standards or accountability structures. This research contributes to scholarship on disaster recovery, housing policy implementation and spatial justice in informal settlement contexts. It demonstrates how policy vacuums, community exclusion and syndemic vulnerabilities can produce failed interventions despite humanitarian intentions. The study offers evidence-based recommendations for national governments, municipalities, housing agencies and affected communities, emphasising the need for explicit disaster-housing policies, enforceable quality standards, transparent beneficiary selection criteria, inter-agency coordination frameworks and meaningful community participation. Critically, the findings confirm that housing programmes should not be implemented during emergencies without pre-established policy frameworks, adequate planning time and sufficient resources. The Twaloloka case offers invaluable lessons for Namibia and similar developing countries as they navigate the connection of disaster management, urban informality and the constitutional right to adequate housing.
Access status: Open Access ,
Community-based early warning systems: the Jagersfontein tailing dam disaster
(University of the Free State, 2025) Mavundla, Xola; Marais, Lochner
The Jagersfontein tailings disaster, which occurred on 11 September 2022, highlighted critical weaknesses in early warning, risk communication, and institutional response. This study examined the available early warning signals prior to and during the Jagersfontein tailings disaster and how the community, the mine and institutions responded to the warnings. The study utilised qualitative secondary data. The internal data was collected following the disaster at Jagersfontein and is available at the UFS. The study also utilised external sources, including academic journals, online reports, and memoranda written by the community of Jagersfontein, to explore the experiences and responses of residents during the catastrophic event. The findings revealed gaps between policy intentions and community realities, particularly in relation to risk communication, preparedness, and response coordination. Furthermore, the lack of involvement of communities in risk assessment and preparedness measures resulted in residents being less prepared to respond to and recover from emergencies resulting from tailings facility failures. The study concluded that integrating CBEWS into tailings management is important for improving disaster preparedness and reducing loss of lives and livelihoods and enhancing safety in mining towns.
Access status: Open Access ,
Community-based responses and adaptations to climate change: a case study in Omusati Region, Namibia.
(University of the Free State, 2025) Hitilasha, Moses I.; Tesfuhuney, Weldemichael
This study investigates community-based responses and adaptation strategies to climate change in the Omusati Region of Namibia, a semi-arid area where rural livelihoods are predominantly reliant on subsistence agriculture and livestock. The region faces increased vulnerability from climate variability, characterized by erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and rising temperatures, which threaten food security and socio-economic stability. The research aims to assess the Omusati communities' understanding of climate change, their adaptive capacities, and the effectiveness of existing adaptation practices. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with farmers, local leaders, and key informants. Data collected explores how demographics, resource availability, and local knowledge influence perceptions and adaptive behaviors. Findings indicate that communities in Omusati employ a range of adaptation strategies, such as crop diversification, drought-resistant crop varieties, water harvesting, livestock stocking control, and supplementary feeding for livestock. These strategies, while essential for resilience, are often constrained by limited access to resources, market barriers, and inadequate infrastructure. Additionally, the study reveals the significant role of traditional knowledge and social support networks in shaping local adaptation, highlighting the strengths and limitations of community-driven strategies in the face of climate challenges. Analysis also shows that awareness of climate change is generally high among community members, but implementation of advanced adaptation practices is hindered by limited technical expertise and government support. The study concludes that while Omusati’s adaptation strategies contribute to resilience, they require reinforcement through enhanced institutional support, targeted policy interventions, and increased capacity-building efforts. Recommendations include integrating local adaptation insights into national and regional climate policies, improving resource access through subsidies or financial support for sustainable agriculture, and enhancing training in climate-smart agricultural practices. Furthermore, establishing collaborative frameworks between communities, government bodies, and NGOs could facilitate the development of resilient infrastructure and technical support mechanisms. This research contributes to the broader discourse on climate resilience in rural African contexts, emphasizing the importance of grassroots adaptation measures to promote sustainable development in vulnerable regions like Omusati. It underscores the necessity for adaptive policies that are inclusive of local knowledge and needs, offering a model for strengthening climate resilience in similar environments across Namibia and beyond.
Access status: Open Access ,
Experiences of women street vendors: case of Harare Central Business District, Zimbabwe
(University of the Free State, 2025) Gundani, Ellen; Marais, J. G. L.
Women street vendors in Harare CBD face many challenges, but strive to improve their livelihoods through vending initiatives. The study explored the opportunities and challenges experienced by women street vendors in the Harare Central Business District (CBD). The study found that women street vendors in Harare CBD encounter challenges, such as emotional and physical harassment, lack of designated areas to conduct business, confiscation of goods, heavy fines, bribery and knowledge of vending by-laws. All these affect the income they get, thereby impacting sustainable livelihoods. The study also analysed the consequences of the bylaws under which women vendors operate. The findings revealed that the bylaws implemented, resemble colonial bylaws and are not gender responsive, given the socioeconomic challenges faced by women vendors. Recommendations include a collaborative review and development of gender-responsive vendor bylaws and protocols, education and training programs for women vendors, and law enforcement agents to sensitise them on the developed bylaws, the establishment and engagement of women vendors’ associations, and institutionalisation of strong and effective monitoring systems to foster good working relationships between women vendors and municipal law enforcement agents.
Access status: Open Access ,
Digital colonialism in the Global South: a critical analysis of the instrumental view of technology
(University of the Free State, 2025) Prins, Desireè Diane; Amiradakis, Mark; Cawood, Helen-Mary
This dissertation examines the relationship between the Kantian Enlightenment concept of autonomy, its ideals, and how it has been eroded by traditional and new forms of media. It also explores how these practices have led to the emergence of new forms of capitalism, specifically surveillance capitalism, which has underpinned new forms of colonialism, notably digital colonialism. Some of the themes addressed in this dissertation are the Culture Industry, technological rationality, techno-capitalism, information surveillance capitalism, digital colonialism, and the Global South as subjugated in the digital age. The study aims to show how in the digital age, digital colonialism poses a significant threat to autonomy and global fairness.Importantly, digital colonialism refers to the exploitative relationship between the Global North and Global South, where valuable data is extracted and controlled by powerful companies mostly from the Global North. The dissertation will show how Big Tech companies (such as Meta, Google, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon) have resulted in poor countries, especially from the Global South, relying on external platforms for digital services, which are then economically and culturally exploited. Thus, this dissertation contends that the Enlightenment ideal of autonomy has been undermined in the digital age, with the focus being on individuals from the Global South. Methodologically, the dissertation employs a conceptual and criticalphilosophical analysis, drawing on Kantian ethics, critical theory, and contemporary political philosophy to examine how autonomy is reshaped within digital infrastructures.