WIReDSpace

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Communities in WIReDSpace

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 20

Recent Submissions

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    Exploring social workers’ views on pursuing postgraduate studies outside the social work field: Gauteng Province
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Zulu, Nokwanda
    The pursuit of postgraduate qualifications (Honors, Master’s and PhD) by social workers may be regarded as an act to improve their career prospects. Therefore, the current study aims to explore the views of social workers who were pursuing postgraduate studies outside the discipline of social work, in Gauteng Province. The researcher employed a qualitative research approach and a case study research design. Additionally, the researcher used the purposive sampling method, resulting in the recruitment of 12 participants. Participants were a share of both men and women, who had more than three years of working experience as social workers. Semi-structured interviews were utilised for data collection. The collected data were analysed using qualitative content analysis (QCA). The participants in this study were generally motivated to study further by their exposure to various undergraduate courses like psychology, the desire to gain more knowledge and skills, as well as career progression. Reasons for further studies, particularly outside the social work field, were loss of interest in the profession, and not willing to be a social work supervisor. Participants were further hindered from furthering studies in their field by a lack of self-development and growth, being underpaid and more. The current study can promote the development of social workers and contribute to the field of Occupational Social Work (OSW), as it promotes the health and well-being of employees. Moreover, the study’s findings may contribute to the curriculum changes of social work in the institutions.
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    Experiences of Social Workers Working from Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ekurhuleni Region, Gauteng Province of South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Raselabe, Matamela Felicia
    The COVID-19 pandemic created an overwhelming global crisis, prompting the World Health Organization to declare it a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. In response, many countries, including South Africa, imposed national lockdowns to reduce the spread of the virus. Social workers faced increased demand for their services and had to quickly adapt to new ways of working, including remote service delivery. This study explored the experiences of social workers working from home during the pandemic in the Ekurhuleni Region, Gauteng Province, South Africa. The study aimed to examine the impact of the pandemic on social work practice, the ethical dilemmas faced by social workers working remotely, and the resources provided by employers. A qualitative, exploratory research design was used, with semi-structured interviews conducted with 15 social workers. Thematic analysis revealed several challenges, including challenges in conducting face-to-face assessments, compromised service delivery, struggles in transitioning to remote work, and increased workloads. Ethical concerns also arose, particularly regarding confidentiality and privacy, while limited access to technology hindered communication and service efficiency. Additionally, the Department of Social Development did not provide adequate training, resources, supervision, or emotional support for remote work. The study recommends that universities integrate remote work skills into social work training, emphasizing ethical and legal considerations. Social workers should be equipped with reliable technology, such as laptops, secure internet connections, and video conferencing tools. Furthermore, virtual supervision should be established to provide guidance and emotional support. The Department of Social Development should also develop secure virtual platforms to protect client confidentiality and enable effective remote case management.
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    Unprofessional hair: The experiences of Black women with hair in South African Corporate Organisations
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Tezapi, Iyanla; Milner, Karen
    Despite the increasing acceptance and admiration of natural hair, Black women still alter their hair to resemble more Eurocentric hairstyles when immersed in certain environments. This is because, for Black women, their natural hair is not just hair; it is a phenotypical characteristic that has - and continues to subject them to racial discrimination (Gougen & Hamlims, 2021). This study explores Black women’s experiences in relation to their hair in South African corporate workplaces, examining ideas of professionalism within these spaces and their impact on Black women’s hairstyle choices at work and overall workplace experience. In South Africa, the pertinence of Black women's hair is not recognised, and consequently, injustices towards hair are often minimized, thus failing to recognise and address hair discrimination as a form of racial discrimination. Further exacerbating the situation is the limited scope of literature in South Africa documenting the challenges Black women face with their hair, particularly in corporate workplaces. A study of this nature is therefore essential because corporate workplaces often serve as a microcosm of a country’s socio-political climate (Mokoena, 2020), and this is amplified in South Africa, where the remnants of colonial and Apartheid intervention (mirrored in corporate spaces) are prevalent. Using qualitative research methods rooted in an interpretivist design, data was collected from 16 Black women working in South African corporate organisations. Participants were interviewed using one-on-one semi-structured interviews conducted on Microsoft Teams, and the data from these interviews were manually transcribed. Thematic analysis revealed three key findings: (1) In an effort to fit in and avoid the daily adverse effects of having natural hair in corporate workplaces, Black women negotiate their identities by wearing Eurocentric hairstyles; (2) There are specific conditions, such as seniority in the workplace, having a ‘good’ Afro, and self-advocacy which permit Black women to feel empowered to wear their hair naturally at work; (3) Corporate organisational culture indirectly and subtly influences Black women’s hairstyling choices – often putting them in positions where they have to pander to the white male gaze and dominant Western ideology in order to be considered professional.
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    Exploring the role of NGOs in rural poverty eradication: A case study of Qwaqwa in the Eastern Free State
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Nkoebele, Nthatisi; Muleya, Emmison
    Non-governmental organisations can play a significant role in alleviating poverty in rural areas. This study aimed to explore the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in eradicating poverty in Qwa-Qwa in the Eastern Free State. A qualitative research approach was adopted, employing a case study research design and a purposive sampling technique to select participants. The sample comprised thirteen individuals: nine from three NGOs, three from the Department of Social Development, and one local economic development manager in the Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews guided by an interview framework. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data, using Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-step framework for thematic analysis. The study found that NGOs are critical in efforts to eradicate poverty in Qwa-Qwa. Community Nutrition and Development Centres, creating short-term employment, and collaborating with other agencies are some strategies that NGOs employ to combat poverty in Qwa-Qwa. NGOs faced challenges such as funding, support from stakeholders, and a lack of volunteers, which adversely affected their capacity to adequately respond to poverty issues in Qwa-Qwa. Importantly, it is essential to support NGOs in rural areas with the necessary financial resources through multi-stakeholder collaborations to effectively alleviate poverty. Additionally, NGOs require resources such as funding, collaboration, skills development, effective partnerships, and an understanding of community assets to tackle poverty. This study concluded that NGOs, government, and private partners must be intentional and pragmatic in their approach to poverty eradication. NGOs also need to be equipped with the requisite skills to address complex poverty challenges. Lastly, communities are not passive recipients; they possess inherent assets that are valuable in the fight against poverty. Therefore, NGOs should be regarded as catalysers for poverty eradication efforts in rural communities, and every effort must be made to support their initiatives.
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    A Comparative Analysis of Biometric Technology in Ghana and Nigeria’s Electoral Systems: Pre- and Post-Implementation
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025) Ngwanaamonna, Keletso Winnie
    The adoption of biometric technology (BT) in African nations aims to enhance electoral integrity, but its effectiveness remains debated. This study examines the effectiveness of BT in improving the integrity of electoral systems in Ghana and Nigeria. It argues that while BT has improved voter registration accuracy, reduced fraud, and strengthened public trust, its impact remains contingent on the broader electoral governance framework. The study adopts a qualitative comparative case study approach, analysing data from election observation reports, peer-reviewed literature, and official election documents. It applies Mozaffar and Schedler’s electoral governance framework to assess BT within the broader contexts of rule-making, rule application, and rule adjudication. Ghana and Nigeria’s electoral systems are analysed across three phases— pre-implementation, implementation, and post-implementation years. The findings reveal that BT has significantly improved electoral integrity in both countries by reducing multiple registrations, increasing voter roll accuracy, reducing multiple voting and impersonation, and enhancing public trust in elections. However, the study found that some challenges persist, including technical failures, susceptibility to political manipulation, and accessibility issues. The study contributes to existing literature by offering a comparative perspective on how similar technologies may yield different outcomes across distinct political environments. It recommends strengthening legal frameworks, improving technical infrastructure, and enhancing voter education to maximise BT’s effectiveness. By addressing these gaps, the study advances scholarly discussions on electoral governance and provides policy insights for electoral management bodies in Africa.