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Communities in WIReDSpace

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 19

Recent Submissions

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    Health Access for universal distribution of life saving drugs in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Makhwiting, Matome; Rangasamy, Logan
    Access to essential medicines is a critical determinant of health equity and a prerequisite for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). In South Africa, progressive policy instruments such as the Essential Medicines List (EML), Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs), and decentralised initiatives like the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme have been introduced. However, equitable access remains constrained by systemic inefficiencies and user- side barriers. This study adopts a qualitative, literature-based approach guided by the Levesque conceptual framework to examine how access is conceptualised and operationalised within the public health sector. Findings reveal persistent provincial disparities in medicine availability, recurrent stockouts, limited adoption of digital inventory systems, and user-level challenges including health literacy gaps, indirect costs, and reduced engagement with care. Comparative insights from low- and middle- income countries highlight the effectiveness of decentralised procurement, community-based delivery, and public-private partnerships in improving access. Policy recommendations include institutionalising Health Technology Assessment (HTA), investing in digital supply chain infrastructure, expanding community delivery models, and mitigating user-side burdens through targeted interventions. The study concludes that sustainable improvements in access require an integrated, equity-driven approach that strengthens system responsiveness while enhancing user agency.
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    Perceived Factors of Importance influencing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance Indicators in Private Equity, South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Makhathini, Galelekile Cecilia
    Background: Private equity investment managers rely on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risk and performance indicators to understand and measure ESG impacts in order to make decisions that will improve the positive ESG impacts and minimize the negative ESG impacts of their investments. Private equity investment managers assess for ESG risks and impact in order to safeguard the assets that they invest in on behalf of their investors. However, currently applied ESG risk and performance indicators do not divulge the true reflection of material issues associated with investments and these indicators do not encompass the main criteria/factors that investment managers should thoroughly understand regarding a firm’s ethical impact and sustainable practices. Objectives: The purpose of this research study is to understand the perceived factors of importance influencing ESG risk and performance indicators used by private equity investment managers during the investment screening and due diligence phases for investment decision making purposes. Subsequently, assist investment managers to consider ESG risk and performance indicators that divulge the true reflection of material ESG impacts associated with the potential investment company during the investment screening and due diligence phases to avoid reputational and financial risks that ultimately reduce investor confidence in private equity firms. Methods: The research methodologies included research paradigm, research propositions, reliability and validity of instruments and the study, data collection, research participants, participants description and data analysis. Thematic analysis was used to identify, analyse and interpret themes from the collected qualitative data. Results: The results indicated that perceived factors of importance influencing ESG performance indicators in Private Equity during investment screening are predominantly focused on sound corporate governance practices because business ethics enable participants to assess the potential investment for compatibility to the investment mandate and exclusion list. Such understanding enables the participants to avoid investing in activities which contravene the mandate and ethical approach of the investment mandate and exclusion list. The findings highlight that the perceived factors of importance influencing ESG performance indicators in Private Equity during investment due diligence are predominantly focused on environmental and social factors because according to the 5 participants, understanding labour and working conditions, environmental commitment and communities investing determines the investment company’s social image and ultimately its reputational and financial risks. The overall results indicated that pre-investment, most participants want to mainly understand the ESG aspect associated with Corporate Governance, Labour and Working Conditions, Environmental Commitment and Communities Investing. The perceived factors of importance influencing ESG risk and performance indicators that the participants want to understand pre-investment are triggered by Political, Economic, Societal, Global, Environmental and Legislative issues (PESGEL) and internal Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats issues (SWOT) considerations. Conclusion: The perceived factors of importance frameworks derived from this study provide a holistic framework, which investment managers can adopt to inform decision making during investment screening and due diligence. The ESG perceived factors of importance identified in this study may be useful to private equity investment managers in order to divulge the true reflection of material ESG impacts associated with the potential investment. Therefore, it can be concluded that this proves the research proposition, P1, that perceived factors of importance influencing ESG risk and performance indicators that are predefined are likely to be more effective for decision-making purposes than perceived factors of importance influencing ESG risk and performance indicators that are not predefined.
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    The Capacity of Township Salons to Grow Beyond Micro and Small Businesses in Gauteng
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Makalima, Xoliswa; Mazonde, Nomusa
    The township hair salon industry in Gauteng plays a significant role in the local township economy by providing employment opportunities and essential grooming services. However, despite their potential for growth, most township salons remain micro or small enterprises, facing substantial barriers to growth. This study explores the factors influencing the limited growth of township hair salons, examining key constraints such as access to finance, market saturation, business management practices, and infrastructural challenges. Using a qualitative research approach, the study explores data from academic literature, industry reports, and government publications to identify the structural, financial, and operational limitations that hinder business growth. Findings indicate that a lack of access to formal funding, poor financial literacy, and the absence of business tools contribute significantly to the stagnation of these small businesses. Additionally, the geographical and infrastructural design of townships, coupled with unreliable electricity supply and transport limitations, further exacerbates growth challenges. The research also highlights the impact of high competition and the absence of business differentiation as factors that restrict profitability and sustainability. The study concludes that township hair salons require targeted financial support, entrepreneurial training, and access to business development resources to facilitate their growth. Recommendations include government and private sector interventions to improve funding accessibility, business education initiatives, and regulatory adjustments to create a more conducive business environment. Further research is suggested to conduct an understanding of the spending patterns and preferences of township residents regarding hair salon services; this could assist businesses tailor and differentiate their hair salon business offerings and create sustainable businesses with increased profitability.
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    Stakeholder Alignment Among Healthcare Providers in the National Health Insurance (NHI) Implementation Plan
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Maifala, Paballo; Mavengere, P.
    This research investigated the critical factors influencing stakeholder alignment among healthcare providers in South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) implementation plan. The study addressed the pervasive scepticism and resistance within the private healthcare sector, driven by financial uncertainties, a lack of clear communication, and distrust in the government’s capacity to manage the large-scale health initiative effectively. Through a qualitative exploratory design, utilising semi-structured interviews with private sector stakeholders including private sector specialists, private sector nurses, and hospital operational management, the study uncovered key concerns including inadequate public healthcare infrastructure, potential financial losses for private entities due to unclear remuneration models, and the risk of exacerbating existing human resource shortages. The findings highlighted a demand for transparent funding mechanisms, genuine and inclusive stakeholder consultation, and demonstrable improvements in public healthcare services as prerequisites for successful NHI rollout. The research concludes with actionable policy recommendations, emphasising the need for strengthened public-private collaboration, and robust public education campaigns to foster trust and achieve universal health coverage in South Africa.
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    Examining the Efficacy of Enterprise and Supply Development in the South African Mining Industry
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Magudulela, Noluthando; Horne, Renee
    This study examined the efficiency of Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) initiatives in the South African mining industry. It examined how such initiatives are implemented, the challenges they face and how they are aligned with national transformation policies. The study draws on qualitative insights from 11 ESD professionals and draws on the Mining Charter, B-BBEE legislation and relevant academic literature. The study found that while ESD has been institutionalised in many mining companies, implementation is inconsistent and often dependent on compliance. Major challenges include regulatory complexity, operational fragmentation, limited supplier capacity and inadequate post-programme support. However, success indicators such as enterprise growth, job creation, supply chain integration and market diversification suggest that well-structured and strategically embedded ESD initiatives can bring about significant change. The study emphasises the need for mining companies to move to integrated, impact-driven strategies that promote supplier resilience and inclusive economic development. The study contributes to the current discourse by offering practical recommendations for strengthening ESD practices and by reinforcing the importance of leadership engagement, cross-functional alignment and industry-wide collaboration in achieving sustainable transformation outcomes.