Doctoral Degrees (Political Studies and Governance)

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Open Access
Electronic hacking and subversion as tools of foreign policy: a neoclassical realist analysis of cyber power
(University of the Free State, 2023) Caromba, Laurence; Solomon, Hussein; Neethling, Theodor
This study develops a new theory of cyber power as a tool of foreign policy, focusing on sovereign states as the unit of analysis and drawing from the theoretical assumptions that are inherent in the realist paradigm of International Relations. This theory describes and classifies the nature of cyber power in international politics, and seeks to explain why different states make differing choices about which cyber strategy to adopt. The study introduces a conceptualisation of cyber power that incorporates both computer hacking and social media disinformation campaigns within a single framework, in which both types of cyber operations are understood as methods for degrading and destroying trust. It then analyses the utility, limitations, and costs associated with technical and persuasive of cyber power, and argues that both forms require the attacking state to accept significant trade-offs. This suggests that states are unlikely to use these tools unless they have pressing reasons to do so. Building upon on this insight, the study then develops a new typology of four cyber strategies: “restrained”, “technical-aggressive”, “persuasive-aggressive”, and “combined-aggressive”. It hypothesises that cyber strategy selection by states is primarily determined by two independent variables: their external security requirements and their institutional preferences. States with high external security requirements are more likely to make aggressive use of technical cyber power, while states with negative institutional preferences are more likely to make aggressive use of persuasive cyber power. This theory provides a parsimonious and compelling explanation for cyber strategy selection. To test and apply the theory, three empirical case studies are conducted on Brazil, the United States of America, and the Russian Federation. The findings reveal that Brazil has adopted a restrained strategy, while the United States has chosen a technical-aggressive strategy, and Russia has selected a combined-aggressive strategy. These empirical findings are congruent with the expectations of the theory. Lastly, the theory is applied to predict how the cyber strategies of these states might evolve if their associated independent variables were to change. The resulting analysis suggests that the emergence of multipolarity in the international system is likely to be associated with the increased use of both technical and persuasive cyber power by state actors.
Open Access
Evaluation of income tax concessions available to small businesses in Bloemfontein
(University of the Free State, 2022) Ntia, Namhla; Oosthuizen, A
As the scripture announces, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are like seeds that can never be dismissed since their operations have contributed significantly to the global economy, and thus all those who see them must acknowledge their contribution. Despite making a major economic contribution, SMEs nonetheless experience several difficulties. One of the difficulties concerns tax regulations which stifle the smooth flow of the functions of SMEs. Considering that small businesses are acknowledged as the backbone of the country’s economic growth, the Government was urged to provide support for them. As a result, Section 12E of the ITA was introduced. Despite the fact that businesses save money through these tax concessions, there have been apprehensions that these ITA Sections are ineffective because of their complex legislation and onerous criteria. Consequently, the aim of this research was to evaluate income tax concessions stipulated in Section 12E of the ITA, specifically regarding small businesses in Bloemfontein. In order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the income tax concessions offered to small businesses in Bloemfontein, interviews were performed as a qualitative approach of data collection. Ten participants with small business clientele who had an understanding of Section 12E were interviewed by utilising an interview schedule with open-ended questions. Findings revealed that the concessions provided in Section 12E were valuable to small businesses; however, due to a number of reasons, a sizable proportion of small businesses did not qualify for concessions as stipulated by Section 12E. It was recommended that the Government should promote the understanding and utilisation of Section 12E. Changes to the legislation were also proposed.
Open Access
The adoption of Fintech applications in wealth banking
(University of the Free State, 2023) Nel, Pierre Retief; Coetzee, J.
Financial technology, or FinTech, offers substitutes for some products used in traditional banking and non-banking finance services. In the financial sector, FinTech is a new idea. This field study’s main goal is to gain insight into wealth clients' perspectives of FinTech adoption within a wealth banking paradigm. It explains the factors that affect how clients perceive using FinTech services in the wealth management industry. The wealth management services industry's traditions and behaviour will alter as well as how AI will be adopted, different generations and population to name a few. This study explored further into the factors that influence wealth clients’ perceptions when adopting FinTech services as part of a large South African bank's wealth management client base. Due to technological advancements, the financial world has been changing quickly, and practically every facet of it now has a new look and feel. FinTech is the term used to describe this technological transformation in the financial sector. Even if the ‘FinTech influence’ has been felt throughout all financial services, the wealth management business is just beginning to experience it in comparison to other financial services industries. The clientele of wealth management is ageing, and younger people and women are significantly underrepresented. Despite the younger populations' interest in FinTech solutions, the wealth services sector currently provides only a few possibilities for them. The distribution of female clients in wealth management is lagging behind overall growth trends. Wealthy customers use a variety of wealth service providers, combine different wealth service options, and maintain a strong personal connection with either their wealth banker, investment manager, or both. FinTech services help wealth management clients operate more effectively while also increasing their usefulness and meeting their needs for services. Financial management clients employ FinTech service offerings from only well-known wealth service providers with confidence. South Africa's wealth management industry lags the US and UK's by several years. Currently, FinTech is seldom present in the core wealth management industry. In the South African wealth market, there aren't many entry-level Robo-advisors, but those that do exist don't pose much of a threat to the market leaders. Wealth management should acknowledge the impact of technology advancements on client behaviour. Ensuring a trusted relationship for wealth management is high priority in evaluating the bank/client relationship when incorporating or planning FinTech services in wealth banking. Also, to understand what drives client perception in relationship quality and how these perceptions need to be combined to find the right balance of quality. It is important for the wealth management business to understand the risk of an aging book and to implement proper wealth transfer strategies to include the next generation. With a diversified and growing investment market with increasing options, wealth management need to look at how they can deliver alternative asset classes to add value to a growing and more diversified client base. Managing complexity such as volatility, and the risk of various different asset classes, might be in the form of robo-advisors. Wealth management need to find the FinTech ‘disruptor’ of the status quo. Overall, FinTech has improved the services offered by the traditional wealth management sector. Wealth management need to accept the future lies in a fully digital FinTech platform that serves as a one-stop shop for all wealth management needs. Digital and online engagement is the future of the wealth management industry and wealth technology. The current nature of advice professionals will evolve, becoming a more individualised one-stop solution thanks to the more sophisticated client interaction digital platforms. South Africa's banking system is in a state of flux and change. On one hand, traditional banking models have seen a decrease in market share as fintech innovations have gained traction within the country. On the other hand, fintech has had its own struggles, with many South Africans still not having access to digital banking services. Fintech refers to the use of technology to offer financial services, including mobile banking, online banking, and digital wallets.
Open Access
Investigating the role of retail management skills in improving customer satisfaction at a retail group
(University of the Free State, 2022) Stegling, Beverly C.; Van der Westhuizen, H.
Organisations in the recent economic era face an increasing need for their responsiveness to radical changes in market demands as well as the effective utilisation of new technology and ways of working. The workforce is becoming more diverse and educated, and technology is driving productivity within organisations. On the other hand, consumers are becoming more demanding of certain products and services and are better informed about competitive or alternative products/ services, hence the reason to satisfy them and retain them as long-term customers. The speed of change in the modern age is rapid, and innovation being at its centre has created an environment of instability and transformation, thereby cementing the emphasis of having well-skilled managers to lead its workforce into an age of rapid change and having to remain agile. Amongst the many skills that exist to aid managers in leading successful businesses, the researcher has focused on retail management skills, customer satisfaction in retail, a skills development framework to enhance retail management skills and innovative technological systems to support the store's operations. These areas have provided a supporting background to the most requisite skills needed for retail under this research study: how to achieve satisfactory customer service and experience. This research aimed to investigate the role of retail management skills in improving customer satisfaction in a retail group. The study aimed to achieve an in-depth understanding of customer satisfaction and retention drivers, with specific relation to management's retail skills in the customer service aspect. Data collection from floor employees of the store, customers and store managers was completed through in-depth, semi-structured interviews via purposive non-probability sampling. Interviews were conducted in value stores, superstores, and hyper stores, all based in Gaborone, Botswana. Themes and interpretive analysis were performed. The limitation of the study included time constraints, sample size and data collected through perceptions. The challenges that faced the retail store included the visibility of pricing, the difficulty of handling difficult customers, and a lack of fresh products being sold. The recommendations include adopting a hybrid pricing strategy, understanding why customers become difficult and how to deal with them and lastly, effective management and monitoring the quality of products sold to customers.
Open Access
Critical success factors for women smallholder-farmers transforming into commercial farmers, Lejweleputswa district municipality: Free State
(University of the Free State, 2022) Nkabinde, Lerato Patience; Peters, M. J.
Smallholder farmers play a crucial role worldwide in food security and economic growth. The study explores the transformation of women who are smallholder farmers to become commercial farmers, focusing on the Lejweleputswa District Municipality, Free State. However, women smallholder-farmers encounter numerous challenges that hinder the process. The study investigates inhibiting factors and identifies success factors that can accelerate transformation. Qualitative research was employed to gather data in the study using semi-structured interviews. The methodology employed assisted the researcher in discovering why women smallholder-farmers transform to become commercial farmers, the challenges inhibiting transformation, and the success factors contributing to successful change. Recommendations are made based on the results obtained during the interviews. These include doing due diligence with regards to lack of natural resources. As well as women smallholder farmers establishing and creating value chains in the area where they live. Furthermore, the study recommends that both the formal markets and women smallholders should enter into memorandum of understanding in terms of the specifications of agricultural produce. Results showed that more still needs to be done to avail resources and provide access to markets to transform women in smallholder farming to commercial farming.
Open Access
Accountability within the governance of intergovernmental relations in South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2020) Pholo, Goitsione Moses Pholo; Coetzee, T.
This study intended to investigate accountability, as advanced by public officials, elected officials, public and private sectors, stakeholders and the citizenry within the framework of governance and intergovernmental relations (IGR) in South Africa. In the process of the investigation, the study as guide solely by addressing the indicators outlined in its problem statement, and the aims and objectives as the frame of reference for the investigation. Accordingly, the study was of the view that there were basic and key concepts of accountability within the governance of intergovernmental Relations (IGR) that needed to develop the public officials, elected officials, stakeholders and the citizenry in order to deliver an accountable state and governance to the electorate. These basic and key concepts of accountability as indicated in paragraph designed and simplified user-friendly integrated governance model (IGM) to guide the intended users. In order to attain the maximum targets set by the study, the abovementioned indicators were adopted for the implementation and monitoring by the intended users to ensure optimum accountability measures within the governance of intergovernmental Relations (IGR). The study set out four indicators to guide the investigation as the means of the frame of reference, and they (i) Demonstrated accountable governance perspectives, which included the intensity of relations, governmental distance, power dependence and bargaining power within the three spheres of government, (ii) Conducted the analysis on the intergovernmental governance and determined the outcomes to live up to the standards, as well as expectations for executed functions, as outlined by the Constitution (1996), (iii) Developed the new integrated governance model (IGM) as an instrument, to guide the intended users towards ensuring the maximum implementation of the accountability measures within the intergovernmental governance, and (iv) Developed the set of practical enforceable findings, conclusions and recommendations for public officials, elected officials, stakeholders and the citizenry within the intergovernmental governance. The outcomes of the findings and recommendations supplemented the intended integrated governance model IGM) for ease of reference to the users. Therefore, the findings, conclusions, recommendations, as well as the integrated governance model (IGM) are the profound solution and the pillar of the study. Hence, the integrated governance model (IGM) of the study made the unique contribution and significance of this investigation.
Open Access
Accessing small business support programmes in Maseru, Lesotho
(University of the Free State, 2022) Monese, Azael Limpho; Beder, L.
The terms small and medium enterprise (SME) and entrepreneurship were developed in the late 1940s. In developing these terms, policies emerged that included grants, subsidised credits, and special taxes for SMEs. It also included the establishment of small business support agencies funded by governments for the benefit of SMEs. The agencies were established in Japan, the United States of America (USA), India, Tanzania and Turkey in 1948, 1953, 1954, 1966, and 1976, respectively (Keskin et al., 2010, p. 189). According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), SMEs are essential participants in the economy and the broader business ecosystem (OECD, 2022, p. 19). SMEs play a critical role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, providing employment and decent work for all, promoting sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation, and reducing income inequalities across countries at all stages of development (OECD, 2017, p. 8). In 2016, the government of Lesotho developed the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) policy, aiming to address the issues and problems affecting the development of MSME in Lesotho (Masupha, Beharry-Ramraj and Amolo, 2017, p. 7). The policy identified challenges to MSMEs as access to finance, market access, technological development and innovation, entrepreneurial training, skills development, infrastructural development, and business working space (Molebatsi, 2021, p. 20). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the small business support programmes in Maseru, Lesotho, by establishing the types of small business support programmes available, determining the barriers for small businesses to access the SMEs support programmes, and lastly, determining what needs to be done to improve existing small business support programmes to ensure that they address SME challenges.
Open Access
Islamist violent extremism and the fragile African state: the case in Kenya
(University of the Free State, 2022-07) Mokoena, Benjamin; Solomon, Hussein
What we know, and how we know about state fragility, Islamist violent extremism (IVE), and countering Islamist violent extremism (CIVE), is fiercely contested. It is no different in the case of state fragility, IVE, and CIVE, in the context of Kenya. The research aim was therefore to critically examine the relationship between state fragility, IVE, and CIVE (the case), in Kenya (the context). The Fragile States Index (FSI) was used as an analytical measuring instrument of state fragility. The research design is an explanatory, single-embedded, longitudinal, and contextualised case study, enabling a theory-based, empirical, retroductive, and deductive-inductive analysis. Three purposeful and snowball sampling-based research methods (elite interviews, field research, and a literature and data study) enabled triangulation within and between data sources. Kenya, as a veritable setting, was purposefully selected for being representative of the case. State fragility is defined by underperformance, misperformance, insecurity, violence (structural, direct, and cultural), fault-lines, and institutional failure at macro, meso, and micro levels of the state. The properties of state fragility, inclusive of the social structures that subsist in the fragile state, have causal capacity and tendency, providing not only the context and opportunity for, but actively generating Islamist violent extremism and impediments to CIVE, hence the failure of CIVE. The conduct of IVE and CIVE, in turn, help to compound state fragility. The combined observable outcome in Kenya are the persistent insecurity dilemma, the fragility trap, and the conflict trap. True to the new-wars paradigm and entangling a congeries of state and non-state actors, IVE and CIVE are a mixture of ‘war, crime, and human rights abuses’, which both add division and deepen division in an already divided society. True to its intractable nature, the long-war in Kenya will not be won by hard power. Much rather, it may be resolved by a negotiated social contract founded on inclusive social structures, institutions, norms, and values. In placing the fragile African state, in this case Kenya, at the centre of the discourse on state fragility, IVE and CIVE, the study makes a significant and original scientific contribution. It reveals the debilitating and conflict-generating properties of state fragility that initiate the causal chain that yield both IVE and impediments to CIVE. CIVE must therefore first account for and weigh the conditions and constraints created by state fragility. The study has also exposed the dangers of ineffective and counterproductive CIVE that privilege regime survival and bolstering state institutions over social cohesion and state legitimacy. Kenya reveals causal sequences (with causal patterns and causal mechanisms) that shed light on similar contexts in sub-Saharan Africa. This is greatly significant given the growing levels of state fragility and Islamist violent extremism, and the persistent challenges of CIVE in this subregion.
Open Access
Beyond the state-centric lens of the fragile state discourse: the case for hybrid political orders in Somaliland
(University of the Free State, 2021-11) Schoeman, Albert; Solomon, H.
Since the collapse of communism in the late 1980s, a "third wave of democratisation" has swept across the globe, encouraging many developing countries (particularly in Africa) to embrace liberal democratic, free market principles. However, several states appeared unable to sustain democratic governments and economic growth during the 1990s. This resulted in the rise and prominence of the fragile state discourse, which characterised these states as soft, weak, failed, or collapsing in accordance with the degree to which they failed to meet the Weberian criteria for statehood. This Western, state-centric approach has further been reflected in the efforts of governments, non-governmental organisations, and donor agencies to promote peace and state-building as a remedy to state failure. The study argues that the state-centric approach exemplified by Weber's definition of the state and embraced by fragile state discourse and Western state-building efforts has failed to provide an objective, counter-hegemonic, and emancipatory perspective on states labelled as weak, failed, or collapsed. Rather than that, the study focusses on Hybrid Political Orders as a complementary perspective that takes a post-Western approach more suited to comprehending the realities of fragile states while also acknowledging the role of traditional authorities in the hybrid state-building process. Current international relations theory, with a particular emphasis on statehood, the fragile state perspective, and state-building, is accused of being exclusive and catering to a small minority at the expense of most of the world's population. Rather than exaggerating the politics of public bodies, political science and international relations theory should place a greater emphasis on people or politics at the grassroots level. The study attempted to provide a post-Western revisionist and alternative perspective on current state-building practises by emphasising the role of Hybrid Political orders in Somaliland.
Open Access
An analysis of emerging governing coalitions at the local level in South Africa with a specific focus on Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay
(University of the Free State, 2021-11) Knowles, Kelvin David; Gouws, C. M.
The 2016 South African local government election was a defining moment, which changed the political and governance landscape of the country significantly. The results of this election saw the electoral dominance of the African National Congress (ANC) in major metropolitan municipalities diminishing and losing power through the formation of coalitions. Local government in South Africa is the third tier of government and is regarded as being closest to the people. Therefore, an inherent link exists between democracy and tangible governance affecting the lives of citizens. Moreover, the principal duty of local government is to deliver and ensure access to essential public services. This developmental role of local government is also accentuated in the White Paper on Local Government where the local government system is committed to working with communities to meet these communities’ socio-economic needs in a sustainable manner. With this in mind, were the social and economic needs of the communities of Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay met by the governing coalitions, which emerged, post the 2016 local government elections in these two metros? The coalitions, which emerged after the 2016 local government election in key metropolitan municipalities, necessitated an exploration into these fledgling coalitions and although coalition governments are not entrenched at the local level or are part of the South African political culture, the country has experienced some type of coalition at all levels since 1994. Accordingly, this study provides an analysis of the emerging governing coalitions as they relate to the minority governments of Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela at the local level. Clarifying the link between coalitions and minority government, the premise is that minority governments are formed when a singular political party fails to reach the required majority to govern. Page | vi Explaining this further, De Vos (2016) writes the following: A party who has obtained the largest number of seats on a municipal council (but not an outright majority) does not have an automatic legal right to form the municipal government. Any group of parties who can cobble together a coalition of 50% plus 1 can form a coalition government, regardless of whether the largest party in the coalition is the largest party in the council. Of course, the closer to 50% of the seats a party obtains in a municipal council; the easier it will be for that party to cobble together a coalition. The research objectives probe the factors enabling or preventing coalition formation and the features of these emerging governing coalitions. Another objective was to explore how these coalition governments affected the communities of Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay. This qualitative study used triangulation to provide a cohesive analysis of the data, which was comprised of semi-structured interviews, relevant documents, and other secondary sources. This study’s overview and conclusions attempted to explicate and establish coalition governance at the local level in South Africa. The 2016 local government elections brought a change in the balance of power and a reversal from the electoral dominance of the African National Congress (ANC). This facilitated a re-alignment of power by opposition parties to form emerging coalitions at the local level to affect governance. This study concluded that ideological and policy parity did not guarantee the survival of these emerging coalitions and that governance was adversely affected by their volatility. The lack of practical strategies which could have been applied more vigorously also negatively affected the efficacy of these coalitions. Thus, this study makes an original contribution to the interdisciplinary science of Governance and Political Transformation.
Open Access
A governance perspective on policies and practices combating youth unemployment in South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2021-10) Phokontsi, Gaelebale Lilly; Swanepoel, M. P.; Coetzee, T.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of South African youth development policies in ensuring the development and empowerment, especially regarding employment, of young people in the country. The research is based on policies such as the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Act of 2008, the National Youth Policy 2015-2020, and the National Development Plan: Vision 2030, which is a policy that ensures effective service delivery in a cost-effective manner, while ensuring that the rights of all citizens of South Africa are protected. The study observed that unemployment is high amongst youth in South Africa and that this has a direct bearing on poverty levels and standards of living. The impact and effects of the strategies that are adopted to prevent youth unemployment are not reported in a manner that outlines their effectiveness and efficiency in dealing with youth development and employment. This scenario posed a problem for the research. Hence, the study focused on these policies to address the challenges facing youth and to attempt to synergise the policy implementation process for efficiency and accountability in governance. The study utilised qualitative research and the critical approach, as this is social studies research. Phenomenology was used to grasp the situation. The approach is meant to make an objective judgement and ensure an emancipation agenda, which exposed the needs and struggles of the youth. To achieve its objectives, the study introduced and defined concepts such as policy, policy process, policy analysis and policy theory, which were key in the analysis of policy. Within the policy process, the study focused on policy stages, such as problem identification, agenda setting, policy formulation, policy analysis, and policy implementation. Furthermore, the study defined the concept governance and its theories because these theories were later used in the application to decide on the relevant theory, which could work in addressing the youth development issues and challenges discussed in the study. Amongst the theories was the rational choice theory, the elite theory, the interpretive theory, the network systems theory and the developmental theory. The governance principles and modes were brought in as part of the discussion because modes are critical for decision-making and failure to adhere to the principles results in government’s inability to provide for and protect the basic human rights of the youth. The study outlined the challenges faced by youth in South Africa to justify the investigation because young people are drowning in problems that seem to mushroom into greater socio-economic and political problems, which the government is unable to handle. Then, content gathered through the policy and governance theory was applied to determine the relevant theory that could be applied to remedy the dire situation through theory application challenges. This includes the deployment of unskilled implementers; the role of the NYDA as an implementing agency; the supply-side approach of the government; the government’s consultation and engagement processes; poor monitoring systems; the centralised education curriculum; and poor planning versus the implementation of government programmes. The process enabled the research to conclude that network governance should be applied in South Africa and the theory is in line with the District Development Model (DDM), adopted by the government in 2019. The motivation for network governance stems from the findings of the study that youth development challenges are related to policy process, specifically implementation. The failure in implementation can be traced back to NYDA’s capacity to influence process. Government possess inadequate monitoring and evaluation strategies. The education system which is central to development and capacity building of youth requires review and realignment. Despite acknowledgement of the importance of good governance principles, government failed in application of these principles. The confusion related to the definition of the concept youth by various policies impedes service to youth. Hence, the view that network system of governance is relevant and necessary to tackle youth unemployment from a collective worldview. Network governance is promoted because it promotes a collaborative, collective, and inclusive approach to youth development. It calls for collective decision-making and allows transparency and openness in the implementation of youth programmes. The study acknowledges the strength of network governance because stakeholders share responsibilities, expertise, skills, institutional capacity and planning sessions. Communication and consultations are key in network governance. Through the findings, the study made various recommendations in relation to governance, leadership, capacity building for the NYDA, and the review and realignment of the education system. The outline of the effectiveness of network governance is highlighted through the Youth Development Framework, which was developed to guide the implementation of network governance in addressing youth unemployment. The Framework highlights the role of stakeholders from the key sectors, such as the social, public, academic and private sector, as youth development problems cannot be resolved by the public sector singlehandedly. Collaboration is key to youth development and empowerment. Finally, it can be deduced that youth unemployment is the result of poor governance and poor policy implementation. The government must strive towards collaborative governance to succeed in empowering young people.
Open Access
The status of the public protector within the governance framework in South Africa
(University of the Free State, 2019) Phera, Molefinyana Solomon; Coetzee, T.
𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 The Public Protector (PP) is a genus of the Ombudsman and its status within governance has been a controversial subject in the national discourse in South Africa. This institution was created in terms of Section 181 of the Constitution as part of the coterie of institutions mandated to protect and strengthen constitutional democracy. These institutions are colloquially called the Chapter 9 institutions. They have been described as not forming part of government, although they are an integral part of the governance system in South Africa. It has become necessary to study the status of one of these institutions, namely the PP, within the governance framework in South Africa. The governance framework consists of the institutions that form the trias politica, the co-operative government and the organs of state, as defined in Section 239 of the Constitution. This research has indicated that the PP, like all other Chapter 9 institutions, exists outside the trias politica and co-operative government framework, but it is an organ of state as defined in Section 239. As a result of this complex status of the PP within the governance framework, the researcher has defined its place as being part of co- operative governance, although it is not part of co-operative government, as defined in Chapter 3 of the Constitution. This characterisation of the status of the PP means that it is not part of the intergovernmental framework and it is not restricted by the legal and structural strictures of this framework, but it is required to co-operate with other organs of state to achieve its objectives of protecting and strengthening constitutional democracy and promoting good governance. This study has been a normative exercise, which places the PP within the trilogy of normative frameworks: the governance and Ombudsman theoretical frameworks; good governance as a normative function; and the normative values that inform the ethics of the PP as a genus of the Ombudsman. The study’s findings and recommendations seek to further elucidate and embed the status of the PP within the governance framework in South Africa. Therefore, it makes an original contribution to the interdisciplinary science of Governance and Political Transformation. ___________________________________________________________________
Open Access
An analysis of regime capacity and a nascent environmental conflict in the Orange-Senqu, the Nile and the Niger River basins
(University of the Free State, 2017) Mahlakeng, Mahlakeng Khosi; Solomon, H.
𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 For much of the past century, the hydropolitical landscape of African transboundary river basins has been affected by water scarcity. The analysis of hydropolitics is referred to here as the politics of water, which symbolises the most complex relations and interactions between states that share river basins. According to Elhance (2000:202), such hydropolitics is a function of two variables: the rate of change in the hydrologic system and the institutional capacity to absorb that change. The United Nations (UN) identified the Orange-Senqu, the Nile and the Niger River basins, along with six other African river basins susceptible to potential water-induced conflict, as being at risk of tensions and/or conflict. The discourse and interest of this study in water as a potential source of conflict concentrates largely on the Orange-Senqu, the Nile and the Niger river basins. This study takes a comparative perspective of these transboundary river basins and outlines foreseeable transboundary river challenges for regional security, considering the impact of environmental scarcity. The selection of these basins is prompted by these regions being marked by serious environmental challenges that are detrimental to combustible hydropolitics over such shared water resources. Moreover, these cases are situated in three different regions and are aligned to different already functional regimes, with protocols and/or charters on shared watercourse. As such, they make for a helpful comparative case study analysis. These cases provide ideal and fascinating examples of the links between climate variability and change, water resources, human security, conflict, adaptation and regime capacity. The transboundary Orange-Senqu River Basin, located in the Southern African region is, after the Congo and the Zambezi river basins, the third largest river catchment in Africa. The basin stretches over four countries that includes all of Lesotho, a large portion of South Africa, southern Namibia and southwestern Botswana. The Orange-Senqu basin faces challenges of water scarcity due to soil erosion, wetland degradation, pollution, irrigation, mining, industries, population growth, power generation and domestic consumption. The unequal distribution of freshwater resources is also a fundamental factor posing a threat to the economic and social development of the Southern African region. The Nile River Basin (NRB), located in the region of North East Africa is an international river shared by eleven riparian countries. These are Burundi, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan and South Sudan. This makes it the world’s longest river at about 6,700km or 4,100 miles. The NRB faces considerable challenges including rapid population growth, water scarcity as the NRB countries are known for their arid and semi-arid conditions, poverty, environmental degradation and uneven distribution of the Nile waters. The NRB is centrally challenged by disputes over the unequal use of water between upstream and downstream riparian countries. The Niger River, located in West Africa, is the third longest river in Africa after the Nile and Congo, flowing for 4,200 km and extending into 10 countries (Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Benin, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria). The Niger River Basin also faces challenges of population growth (with a total population of approximately 100 million and a growth rate of around 3%), agricultural run-off, oil production (the source of a host of environmental issues) and climate change, among other challenges. Regarding the institutions and institutional capacity required to promote cooperation among member countries and ensure the integrated development of resources, the study focuses on the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM), the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), and the Niger Basin Authority (NBA). ___________________________________________________________________
Open Access
Traditional leadership and its relation to the democratically elected local government structure in Kwazulu-Natal
(University of the Free State, 2007-05) Koenane, Mojalefa Lehlohonolo Johannes; Khumalo, L. Z. M.; Coetzee, T.
English: The role of traditional leadership in South Africa has remained a controversial issue over the past fifteen years. The focus of this research is to investigate the relationship between the modern political system of governance and the traditional leadership as forms of dual system of governance in South Africa. The thesis raises issues as catalysts for robust debated, to move beyond standard political arguments particularly when it comes to the meaningful role traditional leaders must play in South Africa today. Debates surrounding the institution of uBukhosi primarily polarised the South African society and this is normal as it is the case with all other issues. There seems to be two opposing schools of thought on the subject of traditional leaders, even within the African National Congress’ ranks. The thesis also gives a background to these two theoretical schools of thought and attempts to explain the reason why there is some difficulties formulating a policy document that is implemental. In this thesis, the two opposing viewpoints are represented by ‘modernists’ and ‘traditionalists’ respectively. The other position is recognising the role traditional leaders played and believe that traditional leaders have a role in the democratic dispensation and must form part of local governance in rural areas. This relationship is examined from the government’s documentations, official political statements by politicians and most importantly, how policy (theory) is implemented (praxis) by both government and the institution of traditional leadership. The argument brought forward in this thesis holds a view that the institution of traditional leadership possesses the ability for understanding how to govern and effectively make people come to an agreement through consensus about social problems that they share and the possible solutions to these problems, rather than depend on political elites and bureaucrats. In this way the system of traditional leadership provides values that are absent in the democratic form of governance. The thesis also focuses on issues of governance and political transformation that was introduced in the ‘Interim’ Constitution and further developed in the Constitution. In order to establish good working relationships between the institution of uBukhosi and elected government structures, ‘trust’ is essential between these two systems. Thus the researcher takes a moral stand that government must demonstrate a ‘political will’ to remedy the situation and work towards authentic recognition of the institution of uBukhosi and African culture. The study further puts forward a view that traditional leaders must be seen to be apolitical in decisions they make. Further more, the institution of traditional leadership must constantly revisit itself and seriously revise its strategies with regard to the position of women in the succession debate for position of leadership as traditional leaders and other aspects that are seen as inherently opposed to the Constitution. In other words, the institution must also transform, it cannot remain static. There must be a ‘political will’ to come to terms that people on the grassroots want their traditional leaders to remain in authority, therefore traditional leaders’ role in governance must be made clearer. The study provides for a rational involvement of the institution of traditional leadership in the negotiated state. Given the fact that South Africa is currently a constitutional state guided by democratic principles, democracy should prevail, however, not at the expense of the destruction of the institution of traditional leadership. Thus, democracy should not thrive by destroying traditional African leadership system. Finally, this thesis perceives the dual system of governance as two sides of the same coin.
Open Access
Vigilantism as a feature of political decay in the post-1994 South African dispensation
(University of the Free State, 2007) Swanepoel, Lenie; Duvenhage, Andrè
English: Little research has been done on the phenomenon of vigilantism in South Africa. Vigilantism describes the action of citizens who take the law into their own hands, making use of violent methods, in the context of inadequate law enforcement by the state and the collapse of public order. In an environment of political instability, lack of public order and related security problems, groups such as People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD), Mapoga-a-Mathamaga and “people’s courts” have come into being as vigilante organisations. This article describes and analyses vigilantism in South Africa against the backdrop of disintegrating public order.
Open Access
Die transformasie van politieke instellings in oorgangstye - 'n rekonstruksie, interpretasie en evaluasie van S. P. Huntington se teoretiese bydrae
(University of the Free State, 1994-11) Duvenhage, André; Wessels, D. P.
When the present state of affairs in world politics is being reviewed, the single predominant characteristic that emerges is the fundamental and radical political changes that occured during recent years. The development from an old world order to a new one, with by implication, the transformation of political institutions in countries, is demonstrated, inter alia, both by the collapse of communist governments in the USSR and in prominent East Bloc countries, and by a worldwide process of democratization. South Africa, too, is at present caught up in a process of drastic political change which, particularly since 2 February 1990, has had farreaching implications for existing structures and political institutions. Indeed, South Africa, as is the case with numerous other countries worldwide, illustrates the fact that the transformation of political institutions during transitional periods is a prominent feature of present times. A theorist that made an enormous contribution towards understanding the transformation of political institutions during periods of transition is the controversial S.P. Huntington. In numerous contributions dating back to the late fifties and particularly to the 1960's, Huntington succeeded in explaining theoretically the phenomenon of the transformation of political institutions during periods of transition and in so doing he clarified a topical and complex phenomenon in world politics. Huntington's contribution is regarded as being of such importance that he is considered to be one of the foremost political scientists of the post World War II period. The following factors served as motivation for this study which has the following title: The Transformation of Political Institutions during periods of transition - A reconstruction, interpretation and evaluation of the theoretical contributions of S.P. Huntington: 1. The topicality of his contributions during a time of sweeping political changes. 2. The status (importance) that his theories attained which resulted in Huntington emerging as a pioneer in his field of study. 3. The gap that exists within contemporary literature as regards the reconstruction, interpretation and evaluation of all the Huntington's contributions with reference to the phenomenon of the transformation of political institutions during periods of transition. This study attempts to make a contribution' towards: * The development of a metatheoretical framework by means of which political change in general and Huntington's theories in particular may be reconstructed, interpreted and evaluated. ** Determining Huntington's position within the identified field of study in the light of the particular contributions made by him. *** The reconstruction, interpretation and evaluation of Huntington's contributions by applying the metatheoretical framework as developed for use in this study.
Open Access
The effectiveness of development aid in Lesotho for good governance and political transformation
(University of the Free State, 2017-05) Nko, Edward Ret'selisitsoe; Coetzee, Tania
English: The thesis commences with the discussion that looks at the process of development aid as a catalyst for good governance and political transformation. This includes the practice of capacity building and reforms of institutions of governance and transformation, but also the technical introduction of institutions of accountability and development agenda. It sets also in motion the idea of policy reform agenda and capacity building to encourage the further channelling of development aid to achieving development outcomes. The thesis sets out that development aid is still continuing in Lesotho but the country is unable to pull out of the poverty cycles or to economically and socially achieve minimum standards of development and self-sustainability. In these circumstances, it will appear apparent that overseas development aid is likely to continue as is becoming a primary source of income in Lesotho. The study demonstrates that aid is a catalyst for development which in order to be effective, must be directed to supporting good governance and political transformation. Aid thus has been given on the belief set that it’s a means for capacity building to assist the developing countries to achieve far reaching goals that would help them in attaining development, economic growth and pulling out of poverty. The tone of this study discusses aspects of aid and development that can explain these patterns of growth, building on recent critical studies of aid and development in good governance and political transformation mostly across other African countries. It points to features that are inherent in foreign aid, but have become increasingly relevant with the recent changes in development discourse that seem to produce economic gains and greater social development outcomes. This study will make use of a descriptive and explanatory correlation method of research aimed at evaluating the contribution of development aid to good governance and transformation in Lesotho. It thus describes and seeks to understand the development aid discourse and its contribution to good governance and political transformation. It also makes use of the theories of development, governance and transformation to draw conclusions relating to how development aid can be effective if good governance and political transformation can be achieved. The study forms a large part of the global argument that draws relationship between aid effectiveness and good governance and political transformation. The study’s conclusion provides recommendations about how to appropriately ensure the continuation of development aid to achieve good governance and political transformation based on the case of Lesotho. The recommendations lay parameters for the success of Lesotho’s aid effectiveness agenda and sustainable development outcomes.
Open Access
International politics in an era of democratic peace: the enduring quality of Waltzian structural realism
(University of the Free State, 2017-01) Coetzee, Eben; Solomon, H.
English: International politics continue to be marked (or, more properly) marred by debilitating continuities. Across time and space, and against the vogue of inside-out explanations of international politics (with democratic peace theory as the example par excellence), the study points toward the enduring quality of Waltzian structural realism in theorising and explaining international-political outcomes. The study, accordingly, shows the enduring usefulness of systems theories of international politics and, as against this, the inadequacy of reductionist theories in accounting for international-political outcomes. Waltzian concepts and expectations such as the tyranny of small decisions, balance-of-power theory, emulation and competition, and strange bedfellows are borne out by an examination of the past, present and (as far as possible) future of international politics. The study also shows the lack of empirical and theoretical vindication for democratic peace theory. In making a case for the poverty of democratic peace theory and, as against this, the enduring quality of Waltzian structural realism, the study examines international politics from the period ranging from Ancient Greece to the future of international politics, illustrating that we have much to learn from Waltz’s structural realist theory. Short of the system being transformed, and on account of the evidence presented in this study, Waltzian structural realism is set to remain the basic theory of international politics. In more ways than one, the future of international politics is set to look very much like the past.
Open Access
Die owerheidstaak
(University of the Free State, 1957-02) Wessels, Francois Jakobus Hendrik; Strauss, H. J.
Abstract not available
Open Access
Die staatsfilosofie grondslae van die Suid-Afrikaanse staatkunde sedert 1910
(University of the Free State, 1970-09) Van der Watt, Louis; Strauss, H. J.
Afrikaans: Ons toeleg is 'n ondersoek na die religieus-verankerde staatsfilosofiese rigtings wat sedert 1910 beslissend was in die Suid-Afrikaanse staatkunde. Hierdie denkrigtings het in belangrike wetgewing nie onbetuig gebly nie en is daarin én in die betrokke debatte na te speur. Die staatsfilosofiese grondslae wat die Suid-Afrikaanse staatkunde met betrekking tot sekere wetgewing beinvloed het, is ook kenbaar in die uiteenlopende stellingname van bepaalde politieke partye. Ook dááruit sal die hoofrigtings afgesonder en getipeer word. Om die omvang te beperk, word slegs vyf onderwerpe as ondersoekveld gekies en die staatsfilosofiese beginsels wat daaraanten grondslag lê, ontleed. Ten einde die staatsfilosofiese grondslae van die Suid-Afrikaanse staatkunde bloot te lê, moet ons vooraf rekenskap gee van die religieus-bepaalde staatsfilosofiese grondslae wat vanuit Wes-Europa sedert 1652 na Suid-Afrika oorgedra is - as deel van die Westerse beskawing - én wat ons denke hier te lande sedertdien beheers het. 'n Historiese oorsig van die religieus-bepaalde staatsfilosofiese denkrigtings vóór 1910 word dus vooraf aan die orde gestel.