Centre for Development Support

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Open Access
Agricultural production as a youth livelihood approach in a rural context: a case study of Namahadi, Qwaqwa
(University of the Free State, 2021) Taole-Kolisang, Lieketseng; Magaiza, Grey
Most young people in the developing countries still prefer working in cities and towns to sustain their lives. They do not believe in working in their rural areas, and participating in agricultural production to earn a living. In South Africa, this is despite government interventions such as the one held in the eastern Free State, at Thabo Mofutsanyana District named the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP). This initiative was facilitated by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform meant to train youth from Namahadi, QwaQwa in agricultural production. The objective of this programme was to empower them with skills in agriculture, and assist in minimising food insecurity at household level. The current study was investigating why young people are not participating in the agricultural sector. The specific objectives were to explore the livelihood portfolios of rural youths, to determine perceptions, experiences and challenges of the CRDP trained youths regarding agricultural production, to identify potential agricultural value chains for CRDP youths and to develop recommendations to strengthen youth based rural agriculture projects. Qualitative research methods were used, where a total of twenty-four participants were interviewed (19 focus groups, 3 key informants and the community leader). Results of the study revealed that some youth members were producing from their home gardens, just to feed their families and not participating at a larger scale because they did not have production resources, like land, seeds and tools, water, electricity, fertilizers and pest control agents. They also did not receive support from the municipality and were not able to increase the scale of production. If the youth receive the required support, they will be able to work with others for the development of their area. The interventions which are provided to the youth will assist them in investing in agricultural production as a livelihood, and contribute to food security. Support from local authorities will enable continuation of these programmes.
Open Access
Assessing academic success among off-campus students: A case study of Majuba Technical, Vocational Educational and Training College, Centre for People's Development Campus, South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2022) Sokhela, Sizangani Pinkie Imaan; Mkwananzi, F. W.
The Department of Higher Education in South Africa merged all technical colleges, colleges of education, and training centres into 50 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges to turn the smaller, weaker colleges into stronger institutions. This merger allowed the new bigger colleges the capacity to offer more educational programmes and the capacity to take more students, thus improving the issue of access to education and training (Human Resource Development Council for South Africa, 2013). Human development views the TVET sector as one of the means to develop capabilities, which are the opportunities that can lead to what the capability approach terms as "functioning" that the individual and communities at large can value (Tikly, 2013). The merger of the colleges meant that the youth had to temporarily move from their home and stay in the towns where the colleges are to be able to attend classes frequently. Few colleges were able to build college-owned accommodation facilities and students have to rent privately owned accommodation from the households within the area where campuses are based. The study seeks to understand and assess the academic success of students staying in the off-campus private accommodation, with the focus being the students of Majuba TVET college, Centre for People's Development (CPD) Campus. The capability approach is employed in analyzing the experiences of the students. The researcher adopted the qualitative research approach in form of a case study design. The information was gathered through semi-structured interviews with a total of 20 students that are enrolled for N5 and N6 from report 191 programmes, and L3 and L4 from the National Certificate Vocational (NCV). A thematic data analysis method was applied using the CA tenets. Findings from the study show that the South African government provided students in the TVET sector with National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) so that students from poor economic backgrounds can access education and training opportunities. The unavailability of college-owned accommodation forces the students to seek private off-campus accommodation, which exposes them to several negative conversion factors that negatively affect their overall academic experience.
Open Access
An assessment of agricultural green schemes in Kavango East Region in Namibia
(University of the Free State, 2021) Shimafo, France Rudolf Haushiku; Wienecke, Andreas
The study focuses on Green Agricultural Schemes (GASs) in Northern Namibia with an aim of assessing the benefits, challenges, and opportunities of GASs farmers in Kavango East Region. Green schemes refers to a government programme aimed at increasing food production in rural areas through irrigation programmes, provision of inputs and provision of necessary services or infrastructure. The study investigated four GASs in Kavango East region, these are Uvhungu-vhungu, Shitemo, Shandikongoro, and Ndonga Linena. The study used qualitative research approach to collect data using interviews and to analyse and present data. The results of the study show that the GAS small-scale farmers in Kavango East region have plenty of physical, economic, and infrastructural opportunities that promotes farming and benefit the farmers’ to a large extent. The results also show that the government has a positive GAS policy that ensure that the small scale farmers are supported technically, financially, and materially. The results of the study indicated that GASs have improved local people’s social and economic livelihoods. Apart from benefitting the farmers and the local community, GAS products have found their way into regional, national, and international markets. The study revealed that GAS farmers face a host of natural, human, economic, financial, and leadership challenges that threaten the existence of the GASs programme in Namibia. The study recommended that GAS small-scale farmers must be given long term payment period so that the farmers get opportunities to become fully equipped with modern farming resources to increase their performance and productivity. The government must introduce GAS annual reports so that the GAS are subjected to regular government audits to end financial mismanagement. Small-scale farmers in GASs should not only be trained farming knowledge and skills but should also be trained marketing skills or business accounting so that they are enabled to effectively sell their products and calculate their income and expenditures.
Open Access
Assessment of broad-based black economic empowerment compliance in enterprise and supplier development through the capability approach
(University of the Free State, 2023) Mandavha, Ndovhatshinyani; Neneh, Brownhilder
Since the advent of democracy, the South African government has held transformation and empowerment at the helm of its objectives. The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B−BBEE) policy has been instrumental in the drive towards the transformation and empowerment of black people, particularly in business. The introduction of the B−BBEE Codes of Good Practice in 2007 was set to deliver on the key areas of the economy that the government had prioritised for transformation and empowerment. Government amended the BBBEE Codes of Good Practice in 2013 to strengthen implementation and fast-track transformation and empowerment. Although the small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) have always been regarded as instrumental to economic growth, the 2013 Codes placed emphasis on the support and inclusion of black-owned SMMEs through the enterprise and supplier development code. Enterprise and supplier development requires collaboration between the government, corporates and SMMEs because they are the key role players. This study focused on the amended 2013 B−BBEE Codes of Good Practice, specifically the enterprise and supplier development code that came into effect in May 2015. The study analysed the implementation of enterprise and supplier development through the capability approach to understand the challenges and the perceptions of the government, corporates and SMMEs regarding enterprise and supplier development. The capability approach of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum presents ideas that expand beyond traditional economic thinking and focuses on what human beings can achieve. The capability approach was found suitable for exploring whether B−BBEE enterprise and supplier development can and would potentially increase capabilities among corporates and SMMEs, in particular black-owned SMMEs. Existing literature in B−BBEE emphasises that the intentions of B−BBEE as a transformation and empowerment policy are to broaden empowerment and ensure economic inclusiveness. However, B−BBEE is faced with many challenges. The study applied mixed methods research; qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews, whereas quantitative research employed a survey. Data was collected in South Africa. Qualitative data was collected from two different population groups: the government and corporates. Semi-structured interviews were held with two government officials from Gauteng, whereas 20 corporates in the manufacturing sector were interviewed from Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape province. The survey was issued to SMMEs operating in the manufacturing sector in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North-West, Western Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape provinces. Non-probability sampling was used for the qualitative research, whereas respondents for the quantitative research were selected using simple random sampling. Qualitative research findings from the government indicated that government was cognisant that implementing B−BBEE, particularly enterprise and supplier development, would not be easy because corporates must use their resources in the implementation, and SMMEs need to be well positioned to benefit meaningfully. Qualitative findings from corporates indicated that there was a high B−BBEE compliance with enterprise and supplier development and that corporates aimed at maintaining their level of B−BBEE compliance. In contradiction to the high levels of compliance depicted by corporates, quantitative research findings from SMMEs indicated that the majority of SMMEs had not benefited from enterprise and supplier development. This depicts that the status quo for black-owned SMMEs has not improved; SMMEs still face many of the operational challenges that enterprise and supplier development intends to address.
Open Access
An assessment of the Swaziland Vision 2022 strategic plan: opportunities and challenges
(University of the Free State, 17-Jan) Shongwe, Thulie; Thwala, Wellington D.
Achieving sustainable development and sustainable improvement in the quality of life of the people is the ultimate goal of each and every government in the world. However, this requires setting up a plan of action to properly guide the governments throughout the whole process. Accordingly, the Government of Swaziland also aspired to achieve ‘first world status’ by the year 2022, aimed at improving the quality of life of the people through the use of the National Development Strategy / Vision 2022. The study therefore sought to assess the opportunities and challenges of the Swaziland Vision 2022 Strategic Plan with a focus on finding out progress made towards Vision 2022 attainment, challenges that have hindered successful implementation of the Strategy as well as opportunities available and strategies for improvement. The study used a descriptive research design and questionnaires were administered to eighty respondents who were purposefully selected and comprised of the Ministry of Economic Planning (Implementation Office), Parliament Portfolio Committee, Civil Society Organizations, Academics, Development Practitioners and Community Development Councillors. The data collected were categorized and classified into comparative ideas and opinions and presented in tables using simple percentage supplemented with actual statements from the respondents. The findings indicated that it will be hard for the country to achieve the first world status because people are still battling with the fulfilment of their basis needs, coupled with the misconceptions that the people have, insufficient resources, corruption, lack of civic education and the lack of citizen participation in decision making. The study also found out that opportunities exist in the regional and international partnerships that the country has, availability and existence of skilled/educated resources, fertile soil and availability of infrastructure to support implementation of the NDS/Vision 2022. The study recommend that civic education should be conducted to allow the people to fully understand and appreciate the NDS/Vision 2022 and that they should be involved in all development endeavours as well as associate freely to discuss their development. Another recommendation was that the distribution and allocation of the budget should be fair and concentrate on important aspects and areas.
Open Access
The capabilities of male migrant miners in preventing and managing HIV: a Lesotho case study
(University of the Free State, 2022) Nako, Esther Makuena; Marais, J. G. L.; Engelbrecht, M.
Previous research has shown multiple HIV programmes at the mines and in Lesotho. However, despite the availability of these HIV programmes, Lesotho migrant miners who work in South Africa's mines are still plagued by HIV and are amongst the worst-hit groups. Evidence in the literature suggests fragmentation and ineffectiveness in HIV prevention and management strategies for Lesotho migrant miners. Other literature suggests that the ineffectiveness of the HIV prevention and management strategies results from irrelevant theoretical approaches that do not consider aspects of development in HIV prevention and management. This study used a qualitative approach, underpinned by the capabilities approach framework, to explore the capabilities of Lesotho male migrant miners working in the Free State mines in South Africa in preventing and managing HIV. The Capabilities Approach (CA) is a social justice theory founded by Economist-philosopher Amartya Sen in the 1980s. Fifty returning Lesotho migrant miners (those visiting home) who work in the Free State Province, South Africa and were either HIV positive or negative participated in the study. Data were collected in July 2021 on the streets of Maseru, Lesotho. Structured interviews with open-ended questions using purposive, snowballing and street outreach methods were used. The interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and translated into English and thematic analysis was used as the method of data analysis. The study concluded that structural factors like the culture at the mines that accept commercial sex often lead to the miners losing control over their daily lives, constricting their capability to prevent HIV. Other structural factors like policies, healthcare quality and the miners' circular migration patterns have characteristics that either expand or constrict the miners' capabilities to prevent and manage HIV. The miners had adequate personal conversion factors and abundant social conversion factors. However, these conversion factors operate amid many social constraints, making the cultivation of capabilities to prevent and manage HIV difficult. The miners' environmental conversion factors were inadequate, particularly those related to accessing ARVs in the mines, denying them some basic freedoms and entitlements. Finally, the miners engage in functionings that either expand or constrict their capabilities to prevent and manage HIV. For those who are HIV positive, functionings like being stigmatised and enduring the side-effects of ARVs, negatively affects their psychological, physical and social wellbeing.
Open Access
The capabilities of male migrant miners in preventing and managing HIV: A Lesotho case study
(University of the Free State, 2022) Nako, Esther Makuena; Marais, J. G. L.; Engelbrecht, M. C.
Previous research has shown multiple HIV programmes at the mines and in Lesotho. However, despite the availability of these HIV programmes, Lesotho migrant miners who work in South Africa's mines are still plagued by HIV and are amongst the worst-hit groups. Evidence in the literature suggests fragmentation and ineffectiveness in HIV prevention and management strategies for Lesotho migrant miners. Other literature suggests that the ineffectiveness of the HIV prevention and management strategies results from irrelevant theoretical approaches that do not consider aspects of development in HIV prevention and management. This study used a qualitative approach, underpinned by the capabilities approach framework, to explore the capabilities of Lesotho male migrant miners working in the Free State mines in South Africa in preventing and managing HIV. The Capabilities Approach (CA) is a social justice theory founded by Economist-philosopher Amartya Sen in the 1980s. Fifty returning Lesotho migrant miners (those visiting home) who work in the Free State Province, South Africa and were either HIV positive or negative participated in the study. Data were collected in July 2021 on the streets of Maseru, Lesotho. Structured interviews with open-ended questions using purposive, snowballing and street outreach methods were used. The interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and translated into English and thematic analysis was used as the method of data analysis. The study concluded that structural factors like the culture at the mines that accept commercial sex often lead to the miners losing control over their daily lives, constricting their capability to prevent HIV. Other structural factors like policies, healthcare quality and the miners' circular migration patterns have characteristics that either expand or constrict the miners' capabilities to prevent and manage HIV. The miners had adequate personal conversion factors and abundant social conversion factors. However, these conversion factors operate amid many social constraints, making the cultivation of capabilities to prevent and manage HIV difficult. The miners' environmental conversion factors were inadequate, particularly those related to accessing ARVs in the mines, denying them some basic freedoms and entitlements. Finally, the miners engage in functionings that either expand or constrict their capabilities to prevent and manage HIV. For those who are HIV positive, functionings like being stigmatised and enduring the side-effects of ARVs, negatively affects their psychological, physical and social wellbeing.
Open Access
Child guides of visually impaired parent beggars in Zimbabwe
(University of the Free State, 2023) Mushonga,Mavis; Manomano, T.
Zimbabwe is experiencing an economic crisis and increased street begging has resulted. Consequently, there has been an increase in the use of minor children guiding visually impaired parent beggars. The study explores the experiences of child guides who beg with and on behalf of their visually impaired parents, through the perspectives of the visually impaired parent beggars. The child guides miss opportunities and freedoms in the process of begging. Child guides need to be assisted to enhance their opportunities, capabilities and freedoms (to act as agents in making choices from the many opportunities available to all the children) as an alternative to guiding their visually impaired parent beggars in Zimbabwe’s streets. This intrinsic multiple case qualitative study researched the visually impaired parent beggars and key informants (social workers) to provide insights into the begging experiences of the child guides. A sample of ten visually impaired parent beggars, ten child guides and three social workers was purposively selected for collecting (generating) data through interviews and observations. The data generation was guided by the descriptive and interpretive phenomenological reporting methods which were this study’s methodology and research process. Thematic analyses guided the process of identifying and understanding the recurring data patterns and relationships that were relevant to answering the study’s research questions. Consequently, the findings of the study were guided by the emerging themes. The main findings revealed the impact guided begging has on the child guides and the interventions that can be applied to free them from begging. Factors, such as poverty, deprived and socially excluded child guides from a range of capabilities when begging with and on behalf of their visually impaired parent beggars. These deprivations are related to specific rights which constitute missed opportunities or capabilities and freedoms such as education, health (rest), leisure, play and recreation. It was also found that the child guides failed to enhance their capabilities and opportunities or child rights through interdependence with others. Thus, the deprivations were detrimental to the child guides’ wellbeing and development. Hence, it was argued that the child guides needed the application of the capability approach which sees development as possible through Ubuntu/Hunhu: interdependence with others, so that they are not socially excluded from various functions of society. The study made some recommendations which were directed at the government, particularly the Department of Social Development and Harare City Council. The recommendations centred on satisfying the needs of child guides and were grounded on the capabilities approach and Ubuntu/Hunhu (An African theory of humaneness) inspired by social inclusion model to ensure that child guides were not socially excluded from their beings and doings.
Open Access
Civic culture and local economic development in a small town
(University of the Free State, 2013) Van Rooyen, Deidré; Atkinson, Doreen
𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 Although several cases of successful Local Economic Development (LED) programmes and initiatives addressing poverty and inequity are present in South Africa, there are still a number of challenges to overcome. Firstly, the definition of LED varies, however the essence of LED is local partnerships for locality planning – based on economic growth. Consequently, the analysis in this thesis uses the “L-E-P” model, combining elements of “Locality”, “Economic” and “Partnerships”. This model could be an answer for LED policy and practice to make use of all these elements. Secondly, LED strategies need to go beyond merely compiling LED documents. Municipalities need to engage with communities and the private sector in prioritising and designing appropriate strategies that unlock local potential. However, in South Africa partnerships have not always been central to LED planning. Furthermore, the soft factors of co-operation – trust and social capital -, which are considered essential for effective collaboration between state and non-state actors, should be constructed. Consequently, LED practitioners need to pay greater attention to social relationships and networks, which fundamentally mould local economies. Thirdly, academic research is only starting to incorporate social resources into economic development practice. Furthermore, only a few authors have taken the concept of civic culture into consideration when analysing LED. Local civic culture relates to how local problems are defined, how solutions are found, how the local economic problems can be solved, who is involved and how the decisions are made. International civic culture literature has been contextualised to classify civic culture in South African terms. If an understanding of the civic culture of an area is acknowledged, planning and development of this area can be simplified. Beaufort West is used as an example of a typical Karoo town to illustrate how the type of civic culture a community has, can influence local economic growth. Fourthly, there is a lack of research related to the establishment, growth and development of mining towns. Although numerous international mining companies have identified the Karoo surrounding Beaufort West for uranium extraction, planning documents of the Western Cape Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) and also in the Integrated Development plans (IDPs) of the Central Karoo District Municipality and the Beaufort West Local Municipality do not make any suggestions for the economic “roller-coaster” ride ahead. The sustainability of mining (non-renewable resource) towns is not as important as are the economic developments of and the proactive planning (in partnerships) in these towns. Fifthly, business confidence helps explain the sentiments that business owners or managers have towards current and future business conditions. Several ways of measuring business confidence are compared. Business confidence is mostly surveyed at national level. A methodology for business confidence surveys at the local level is provided. This approach has been piloted in the town of Beaufort West in the Karoo area of South Africa. There are plans for a new uranium mine near Beaufort West, and the researcher speculates on its impact on the broader local business confidence. The results of the 2007 and 2009 study in terms of the opinions of business confidence in Beaufort West are compared. There are very few comparative studies in terms of all the above-mentioned factors. Therefore, the researcher proposes that these methodologies and models should be tested in other towns. This will then determine whether the results differ in other Karoo towns and from the rest of South Africa.
Open Access
Communication mechanisms and community participation in the planning and implementation of community development projects: a case study of a girls' education project in Malawi
(University of the Free State, 19-Jan) Pemba, Phillip Robert; Magaiza, Grey
Top-down development approaches seldom yield sustainable development. Development programmes, projects and processes ought to embrace effective community participation to be inclusive and sustainable. This has resulted in an endless search for effective approaches to achieve active local people’s participation in development among researchers and practitioners, leading to emergence of many paradigms such as the people-centred development paradigm. Globally, the practice of people-centred development has not fully yielded the desired impact as many local communities still experience socio-economic deprivations and exclusions. One reason for this is lack of active participation of local people in their own development. While many factors affect people’s participation in development, poor communication has emerged as one cause of passive community participation in development. Thus, having effective communication mechanisms in community development projects helps to engender active community participation in the projects and achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which aims to realise inclusive development that leaves no one behind. Therefore, this study set out to explore communication pathways and community participation in community development projects, with a specific focus on why communication mechanisms across community participation structures in community development projects fail to galvanise genuine popular participation in the projects. The study analysed communication mechanisms in a project within a girls’ education programme, called the Joint Programme on Girls Education in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Africa and in the world. The analysis was done at three sites in three districts where the programme is implemented. Data for this research derived from a case study of the girls’ education project in Malawi. The study investigated the project in the context of the District Development Planning System (DDPS), which the Malawi government established in 1998 to promote active local participation in the planning and implementation of development projects across the country. Generally, the research noted that, while structures for community participation may be in place in projects, people’s use of the structures to actualise their participation largely depends on how communication pathways function across the structures. Communication mechanisms ought to embrace the elements, principles and practices of development communication to succeed at mobilising active community participation in community development projects.
Open Access
Compliance of tourism SMME accommodation establishments in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
(University of the Free State, 2022) Ntsane, Ramahetlane John; Van Rooyen, D.
Since the global economy has experienced a decline in economic activity over the past few years due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic which negatively impacted on the lives and livelihoods of people across the world, it was important to intervene via research to assist the tourism accommodation sector. Globally, governments had to devise contingency measures to resuscitate economic activity. In RSA, President Ramaphosa highlighted that one of the key interventions that can revive the economy is to support the tourism Industry which has potential to create jobs due to its labour-intensive nature of its operations and its interconnectedness with other sectors. Because the tourism industry suffered great loss during lockdown (since March 2020), the South African Government introduced relief funds for SMMEs including SMMEs in the tourism Industry, specifically the accommodation subsector which consists of guesthouses, lodges, B&Bs, and hotels, amongst others. However, most establishments could not secure the relief funds due to the difficulty of complying with various legislations. Hence, this study investigated the compliance of SMMEs (aligned to tax, labour, and B-BBEE legislation, as well as company registration) as Tourism Accommodation Establishments in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. A quantitative study was undertaken to elicit data via survey questionnaires which were disseminated electronically via email, together with conducting face-to-face interviews. After data collection and analysis, the findings indicated that there was poor monitoring and evaluation from the Government's side which highlighted the disconnect in communication platforms between SMMEs and Government agencies. It was concluded that there was a need for regular and accurate information dissemination, intensive training, and better networking between entrepreneurs and Government agencies. Recommendations included the improvement of communication lines by exploiting the opportunities available on the 4th IR's digital platforms, and Government agencies earnest involvement and commitment to conduct more effective mentorship and coaching, ongoing training, and relevant information sessions to connect with SMMEs by promoting the DDM model.
Open Access
The contribution of informal settlement upgrading to the economic inclusion of the poor
(University of the Free State, 2024) Mmbadi, Elelwani; Marais, J. G. L.; Napier, M.; Visagie, Justin
This thesis investigated the contribution of informal settlement upgrading to asset-building, economic inclusion of the poor, and poverty alleviation in Freedom Square, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Employing a mixed method approach, the study combined quantitative data from a longitudinal research project spanning three decades and qualitative insights gathered through interviews with 19 households purposively selected. The quantitative data analysis investigated how informal settlement upgrading has facilitated asset-building and economic integration in Freedom Square. Moreover, the thesis investigated the dynamics of intergenerational asset transfers and the role of informal settlement upgrading in fostering economic integration over generations. Understanding the importance of asset-building through housing initiatives and how these contributed to improving the overall well-being of disadvantaged households received special attention. Through in-depth qualitative interviews, the study investigated how impoverished households viewed the upgraded houses and developed assets, shedding light on their strategies, challenges, and successes in asset accumulation. Some of the selected findings of the thesis are as follows: • The upgrading of Freedom Square has resulted in significant intergenerational transfer of household assets. • Upgrading Freedom Square also increased the productive, consumer and financial assets of the households, but not household income and labour market participation. • Through employing the logistic regression model used in Chapter 6, the study found five significant key predictors contributing to households having a larger or a smaller house in Freedom Square. • Lastly, the upgraded houses meant shelter, investment, and stability to residents of Freedom Square. This thesis concluded that policy debates in South Africa need to consider a more nuanced classification of the welfare state theory characteristics. Furthermore, states need not overemphasise asset-based and income-based welfare as they have limitations. This research also showed that upgrading the Freedom Square informal settlement contributed to asset accumulation in ways different from those proposed by Moser. Furthermore, the intergenerational transfer of household assets from first-generation to second-generation settlers is an important creator of assets. Lastly, the study highlighted that asset integration is paramount for households to build assets and move out of poverty successfully.
Open Access
Corporate social responsibility and its contribution to sustainable development in Khâi-Ma local municipality in the Northern Cape, South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2022) Steenkamp, Donovan Charles; Marais, J. G. L.; Venter, A.
This study examines the effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development (SD) on the mining communities in the Khâi-Ma local municipality, Northern Cape province, South Africa. The study utilises a qualitative research method. The researcher conducted structured interviews with key informants, who were selected through purposive sampling. The data was analysed through thematic analysis. The study explains the role of CSR and SD, and how these relate to each other. The study further provides an overview of the development and evolution of CSR, as well as an investigation into the impact that CSR and SD have on communities within the Khâi-Ma local municipality. It also examines the policy environment related to CSR. The study reviews guiding documents pertaining to the mining sector, such as the Mining Charter (2018) and Social Labour Plan Guidelines (2020). Further, this research presents interviewees' perspectives on the contributions of CSR and SD in the aforementioned municipality, highlighting both their positive and negative effects. Core findings suggest that CSR and SD need to be introduced holistically to local host communities; therefore, collective planning and decision-making is vital so as to take into consideration community suggestions and contributions. Stakeholders should also indicate a clear understanding of the CSR and SD environment and its contributions to sustainable development.
Open Access
Democratic capabilities research: an undergraduate experience to advance socially just higher education in South Africa
(University of the Free State, 18-Aug) Martinez-Vargas, Carmen; Walker, Melanie; Nkhoma, Nelson; Wilson-Strydom, Merridy
Universities are complex institutions that need to be in constant questioning and iteration to improve and serve the larger society. Nevertheless, the latest protests in the South African higher education institutions are a sign of challenging times. Protests have recognised the perpetuation of inequalities and the need to decolonise institutions. Furthermore, this debate has been ongoing within academia for decades, looking for ways to confront the colonial issues, especially in the area of knowledge production, investigating how knowledge is produced and distributed within the dominant system. Many of these concerns are related to European-Western domination over other ways of producing knowledge, jeopardising the wide range of knowledge systems in the world. This highlights the substantial importance of scrutinising how we create knowledge as scholars and how we can advance towards social justice by overcoming these persistent challenges, especially within higher education institutions in the Global South. Participatory methods, methodologies, and research processes are part of this internal intellectual project within higher education institutions trying to challenge the persistence of colonial issues. This field has developed into a fruitful and legitimate research area awash with a diversity of theoretical and practical insights, not only related to decolonisation and knowledge democratisation, but also focusing on action and participation. Nevertheless, the result has been a very diverse field that pervasively embraces various theoretical and practical perspectives, often contradictory, leading to theoretical and practical inconsistencies, incongruences and contradictions. To take up this challenge, the Capabilities Approach proposes a theoretical space to reflect and reconsider epistemological, methodological and operational issues, providing a solid people- centred theoretical frame. Moreover, participatory methods, methodologies, and research processes, have been drawing on capabilities lenses in multiple development and educational interventions. Nonetheless, this capabilities research area is still under-researched and is far from having reached its full potential. Scholars within the capabilities sphere have not yet achieved a consensual proposal such as a participatory capabilities-based research. Thus, the research questions that guided this study are: How can a participatory capabilities-based research project be conceptualised and implemented in the light of the CA and participatory approaches towards socially just higher education, given the academic gap between both fields and incongruences within participatory approaches? Which opportunities, challenges and lessons with regard to social justice and capabilities expansion emerge from a participatory capabilities-based case study with undergraduate students in South Africa towards socially-just higher education? Which capabilities do these undergraduate students have reason to value and why? Which of these capabilities are being expanded through the involvement in a participatory capabilities-based case study experience? This project innovatively conceptualises and applies this participatory capabilities-based research as ‘Democratic Capabilities Research’ (DCR). It outlines DCR as a reflexive and pedagogical space to advance more just practices, especially in the context of hierarchical knowledge practices in universities in the South, and the marginalisation of youth voices in knowledge production. The ambition is to both generate democratic and inclusive knowledge creation and advance social justice, through the theorisation and empirical exploration of a DCR case study in South Africa. Therefore, the methodology used for this research is a case study of a DCR participatory research project. This case study not only investigates the application of a DCR project but also its production throughout the project as a research outcome. The case study was developed and implemented at a previously historically advantaged Afrikaans-speaking research and teaching university in South Africa. A group of twelve volunteer undergraduate students worked as co- researchers with the doctoral research fellow over one academic year. In the process, they challenged persistent institutional hierarchies and their marginal position in university structures of knowledge production. Multiple data sources were collected over the year (2017), including individual interviews at three different stages of the DCR project, personal journals produced by each of the co-researchers and the researcher, and participant observation over the nine DCR workshops. In undertaking the case study, the project also confronted the dilemma around legitimate knowledge and legitimate forms of knowledge production. Thus, the study had to deal with the tensions of non-ideal research settings, and between producing a doctoral study and the actual practices of DCR, and how these ‘legs’ of the research both go together, yet are separate. The study shows that a participatory capabilities-based conceptualisation of a participatory research can challenge and resolve some of the actual limitations within the broad family of participatory approaches. Thus, the study presents five foundational principles for DCR to guide participatory practices. Furthermore, the study reveals that capabilities are rich sources of information to design and evaluate participatory projects such as DCR. However, the capabilities chosen to guide us should be valued capabilities by the participants and not generic capabilities lists, such as Nussbaum’s central capabilities. The findings show that valued capabilities are dynamic, latent and contextual and therefore we have good reasons to explore these specificities in order to orient our DCR participatory practice in the direction of the lives the participants have reasons to value. Additionally, the findings highlight the impact of using individual valued capabilities as evaluative frames. Presenting two student cases from among the twelve participants, the data shows that getting to know the participants before our participatory practices, understanding the way they enjoy their capabilities before the project commences, can enhance the way we assess our DCR practice by exploring functionings among their valued capabilities. In this way, the evaluative space is expanded and avoids previous paternalist frames directing our practices towards the lives the participants want to lead. Moreover, as DCR goes beyond capabilities expansion and achievement, the theorisation of DCR is presented and revised after the empirical data has been analysed in order to review the five initial principles guiding us in our capabilities-based participatory practice. The significance of this study is based on an unexplored research area linking capabilities with participatory research practices. Furthermore, the study intentionally uses an open-ended perspective of the CA that highlights its potential as a grassroots approach to provide an original and locally related research alternative in the form of DCR, towards a more just, decolonial and democratic way of knowledge creation within Global South higher education institutions.
Open Access
Dependencies and decentralised government for the governance of housing delivery in Mangaung
(University of the Free State, 2022) Mokoena, Malefetsane Daniel; Marais, J. G. L.; Masithela, N.; Venter, A.
This thesis investigates dependencies and decentralised government for the governance of housing delivery in Mangaung over three decades. Housing governance remains a challenge to most local authorities. The study uses the evolutionary governance theory to conceptualise the research and understand the concepts of housing governance and the evolution of housing policy over time. This thesis relies on data collected from semi-structured interviews and policy documents and uses the evolutionary governance theory to show evidence of path, goal and interdependencies in housing governance in Mangaung with adverse results. Accordingly, the thesis brings forward a unique contribution to housing delivery scholarly work, emphasising some underlying dependencies in housing governance.
Open Access
Diversification for sustainable development in coal mining industry: A case of South African coal mining industry
(University of the Free State, 2022) Peta, Theresa; Marais, J. G. L.
The study sought to investigate the diversification strategies that the South African coal mining industry can adopt when planning for its post-mining economy in order to achieve economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Literature has been reviewed on the rationale for mining sustainability, transparency, and diversification for sustainable development and on the benefits of combined reportage and disclosure in the mining industry in South Africa. Previous studies were also examined and they showed that mining decline and closures pose severe challenges to mining firms' sustainability in South Africa. Therefore, when making decisions, mining companies should consider and integrate issues around the economy, society, and the environment to achieve intergenerational equilibrium, which is key to sustainable development. The study employed a research design dependent on secondary data from published mining company reports. The study was confined to four coal mining companies in South Africa. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used in data analysis. Findings from the study revealed that whilst some companies made new acquisitions in the same coal mining industry, others expanded their markets into other industries and that form of diversity is imperative. Therefore, recommendations are that coal mining companies use diversity through acquisitions for coal mining and also that companies report environmental effects and resolutions for accountability and transparency.
Open Access
Dweller control in cooperative housing, Harare, Zimbabwe
(University of the Free State, 2010) Nyakuwa, Robert; Marais, J. G. L.
This study is an outcome of a qualitative study done among community cooperatives in Harare, Zimbabwe in July 2010. The study applies John, F.C. Turner's 'dweller control' theoretical framework to evaluate the empirical strengths of 'mutual aid self-help' as a housing strategy for the low income. The study concludes that 'dweller participation' is a key success factor in low income housing.
Open Access
Early childhood male medical circumcision
(University of the Free State, 2022) Palmer, Eurica; Marais, J. G. L.; Engelbrecht, M.
Medical male circumcision studies concerning decision-making often focus on acceptability and feasibility among parents, with limited application of theoretical frameworks. The involvement of Black women in medical male circumcision policies and programmes has received limited attention. The research investigated infant and child male circumcision (ICMC) decision-making in South Africa and analysed the different perspectives and debates. Furthermore, the study focused on ICMC as an HIV prevention strategy. The constructs of three theoretical frameworks, including the Social Constructivism Theory, Ecological Systems Theory, and Social Norms Theory, were applied across three independent articles. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect data from parents, Black women, and a young male participant who has undergone traditional male circumcision to determine their experiences of ICMC decision-making in the Diepsloot and Diepkloof areas in Gauteng, South Africa. The data analysis was conducted using a thematic and framework analysis. The findings showed that policy positions do not reflect the social contexts, including social sanctions, the social network, and the social construction of masculinity prevalent in ICMC decision-making. The results showed that the involvement of Black women in medical male circumcision policies and programmes should be central as men dominate ICMC decisions and women are on the periphery of the decision-making process.
Open Access
Economic transitions in South Africa's secondary cities: governing mine closures
(Cogitatio, 2021) Marais, Lochner; Nel, Verna; Rani, Kholisa; Van Rooyen, Deidre; Sesele, Kentse; Van der Watt, Phia; Du Plessis, Lyndon
Many South African secondary cities depend on a single economic sector, often mining or manufacturing. This makes them vulnerable to economic change and national decision‐making. We describe change in three secondary cities—Emalahleni, Matjhabeng and Newcastle—all at different phases of economic transition due to imminent mine closure. We investigate the way local governance and planning are dealing with the change. We draw on concepts from institutional economics and evolutionary governance theory, material from strategic planning documents, and approximately 50 key informant interviews. We show how difficult it is to steer economic planning during economic transitions, and we demonstrate how both economic change and governance are path‐dependent. Path dependency in South Africa’s mining towns has several causes: the colonial influence, which emphasised extraction and neglected beneficiation; the dominance of a single sector; the long‐term problems created by mining; and the lack of the skills needed to bring about economic change. The local governments’ continuing reliance on the New Public Management paradigm, which focuses on steering as opposed to building networks, compounds the problem, along with poor governance, inadequate local capacity and inappropriate intergovernmental relations. Of the three towns, only Newcastle has shown signs of taking a new path.
Open Access
Educational capabilities and aspirations of informal market women: the case of the "Stop 'N Shop" informal open market in Windhoek, Namibia
(University of the Free State, 2023) Ngunaihe, Paskaline Ngayozikue; Martinez Vargas, Carmen
Accounting for more than 60% of the world’s population, the informal economy is known to be where they earn their income and livelihoods (International Labour Organization (ILO), 2018). In Namibia and many parts of the world, the prevalence of the informal sector has been apparent enough to make it a worldwide phenomenon, regardless of the socio-economic development of the various countries. However, the majority has been recorded higher in developing countries. Employment in the informal sector is globally higher for men at 63% and 58% for women, but women are found to be involved in the most vulnerable types of work or from home-based spaces (ILO, forthcoming). In addition to that, women are said to represent about 70% of the global poor (Golla, Malhotra, Nanda, & Mehra, 2011). Moreover, it is evident across various literature that the empowerment of women market workers in the informal economy is a factor that influences growth in choices, improved livelihoods, and the advancement of gender equality. In relation to the attainment of the latter, education is an asset so crucial for women that it provides them with a range of positive options; this includes reduced, early childbearing and marriage, they are more involved in decision-making, more aware of their rights and they have greater access to better employment opportunities (United Nations Women, 2015). Per the Namibia Informal Economy Case Study Report (2016/17), nearly 70% of the own-account workers engaged in the informal sector are, most importantly, female (Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation (MLIREC) and Social Security Commission (SSC), 2018). Thus, this study aims to explore and comprehensively investigate the impact of education, employment, and capacity-building initiatives within the informal sector, especially on women 18 – 44 years working in the informal markets through international literature, while examining the dynamics of gender inequality and education in the informal sector regarding their impact on access to opportunities (capabilities) and basic resources for this collective of women. Additionally, it explores educational pathways and aspirations of women in the informal sector operating from the Stop ‘N’ Shop informal market in Okuranyangava, Windhoek, in Namibia. The study utilized a Qualitative Hermeneutic Approach, which is inherently phenomenological in nature, used as a model to uncover from human experiences meaning and essence, deductive from the conceptual framework guided and framed through Sen’s (1999) capability approach. In line with the above methodology, this study will use appropriate data collection methods and semi-structured in-depth interviews with the market women 18 – 44 years to gain further insight into this phenomenon. The results found that Market women face several challenges that affect their gender equality to the extent that they are limited to a fast number of multi-faceted responsibilities as they navigate care for their children, extended families, husbands, siblings, and parents. The latter is in addition to women in the informal market experiencing uneven access to resources and income, which are dynamics that further confine them in accessing and attaining their basic resources, educational, aspirational needs, and capabilities due to these many causes. However, the most common is the lack of education and the financial resources to attain education to set up a sustainable livelihood for themselves and their families. It is imperative to note that the findings emphasize that the sacrifices of exploring market opportunities can be tremendous, such as migration from one area to another, especially from a rural area to a more urban and developed area, in this case to Windhoek, the capital City of Namibia in search of growing opportunities for their livelihood improvement, even facing circumstances of lack of safety, infrastructure, and service as they embark an opportunity-seeking journey that has educational aspirations at heart. Results and findings with the Non-Governmental Organizations and local government representatives that work with the “Stop ‘N Shop” market to get a better understanding of the opportunities available for market women, they reveal that the different organizations provide various initiatives for women in the informal economy. However, these initiatives seem to come at a fee. Thus it is safe to say that informal employment earnings for women market workers context limits them to divert their income to cover their education and educational desire increasing their chances of remaining in the cycle of poverty. The finding also establish that supporting women in informal markets with resources and training is an essential long-lasting relationship builder, especially of small livelihood sustaining and improving women’s businesses in the market. In addition, the educational institutions find it imperative that education and research goals can be explored through inclusive means such as mature entry and recognition of prior learning (RPL) in higher education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET), to establish the needed gender equality in education and community engagement to ensure the contribution of education is in line with the women’s educational aspirations and challenges they face as a market worker.