4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions

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A meal preparation and delivery service business in Maseru
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Raphuthing, Lomile
The purpose of this study was to assess consumer preference for an online meal ordering and payment service in the food industry in Maseru, Lesotho. This service would offer office bound workers delivery of a variety of light meal alternatives, even catering for specific dietary preferences such as Banting and vegetarian. Lesotho is a small landlocked country in Southern Africa, wholly encircled by South Africa, and one of 46 countries that falls into the United Nations category of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) (UN, 2019). With South Africa being a more developed country and with better facilities and services all round, Basotho people continuously import South African goods, services, and culture, including ways of eating (Rantšo, 2017). In many areas of urban South Africa, consumers take it for granted that they can access a variety of prepared meals and have them to their door. This experience companies likes Mr. Delivery and Uber eats have made ordinary. Conversely, very few delivery services currently exist in Lesotho. The research explored the preference of Maseru’s working-class towards a new meal preparation start-up offering a menu with freshly prepared healthy eating alternatives paired with the convenience of delivery to the office in time for their lunch break. The research question was answered by collecting data from 60 potential customers, being office bound workers, from both the private and public sectors in Maseru within the 24 to 50 year age range. Data was collected using an electronic survey and analysed using Microsoft Excel and a statistical programme called Jasp.014. Frequencies and related graphs were created in Microsoft Excel, while Jasp.014 was used for Chi-Square calculations.
Adopting the theory of degrowth as a means to achieve sustainability in South African law
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Ramsay, Madison; Bapela, Mpho
Capitalism’s mandate of infinite, exponential growth on a planet with finite, non-renewable resources has resulted in global environmental crisis. Contextualized by South Africa’s industrial Minerals-Energy Complex, this paper submits that the growth imperative of neoliberal fossil capitalism is resulting in unsustainability in South African environmental management. Decision-making is skewed in favour of economic growth at the expense of sustainability. Degrowth is a movement that rejects the growth imperative as compulsory; it is a call not only to do less, but to do differently, a counterhegemonic alternative to capitalism that seeks environmental justice, decolonization of the North-South divide, and alternatives to growth and development. This paper posits that rejecting capitalism’s growth imperative and approaching environmental management from a degrowth perspective can inform sustainability in South African environmental law. It posits that degrowth can find applicability in South African environmental law through its compatibility with ubuntu, which in the context of this study is accepted as a similar counterhegemonic alternative to capitalism. This paper emphasizes ubuntu degrowth as a framework to conceptualize South African environmental management, insofar as it offers a transformative alternative to growth, and to capitalism itself
An analysis of the impact of the respective environmental, social and governance performances on firm value in South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-03) Rewachanda, Saihil; Sebastian, Avani
Background: There is increasing pressure on South African firms to invest in sustainable initiatives. As a result, the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance on firm value has become a significant area for research. Notwithstanding the growing importance of ESG performance, the majority of prior research has focused largely on ESG disclosure. From an integrated thinking perspective, firms are required to consider their impact on each of the E, S and G aspects of sustainable value creation. However, prior research has concentrated on combined ESG ratings, rather than disaggregating the ratings to analyse the impact of the respective environmental, social and governance pillars on firm value. Purpose: The aim of this research report is to examine the relationship between firm value and respective environmental (E), social (S) and governance (G) performance ratings in South Africa. Method: The study utilises ESG performance ratings from rating agencies, FTSE and Bloomberg, as well as internal and external perspectives of firm value. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis over the five-year period from 2018 to 2022. Results: No relationship between E, S or G performance and firm value was statistically significant, irrespective of the measure of firm value used or the ESG rating used. Implications: The results indicate that investors might not incorporate E, S and G performance ratings in their investment decisions. From an internal firm perspective, the results indicate that management might not incorporate E, S and G performances in their value creation decisions. Significance: Due to the findings of the non-significant relationships between E, S and G performances and firm value, this study contributes to existing academic research as it foregrounds the need for further investigation into the value relevance of ESG performance ratings on firm value
An evaluation of black crop farmers facing economic difficulties in the Mpumalanga province
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Makukule, Matrix Kulani; Larbi, Lee
Black crop farmers continue to play a key role in South Africa’s agriculture. However, they have been faced with a lot of challenges. The objective of this study was to investigate the obstacles that stood in their way, the types of crops that they raised, and the potential solutions to their predicament. The study used qualitative research methodologies and was based on a sample of farmers from the province of Mpumalanga. These farmers were interviewed, and the responses were analysed in terms of their quality. Because they did not have appropriate access to lands, agricultural financing, and technical help, the findings imply that black crop farmers were impoverished. Land reform, equal access to agricultural finance, and technical assistance were some of the recommendations made
Antecedents and consequences of brand preference in the cement industry
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Pitso, Goitumetswe; Ligaraba, Neo
The study investigates the antecedents and outcomes of brand preference in the South African Cement Industry. The theoretical groundings of the study are the Theory of Brand Equity and the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The constructs examined include brand image, perceived quality, price, the influence of others, sales promotions, packaging, brand preference, word-of-mouth, and purchase intention. Design/Methodology A self-administered questionnaire was employed and obtained 260 valid responses. Structural Equation Modelling was used to test the proposed conceptual model and CFA was used to measure the relationship between the variables using SPSS v28 and AMOS. Findings The findings of the study revealed that perceived quality, brand image, price and the influence of others positively impact brand preference. Furthermore, the study found brand preference positively influences word-of-mouth and purchase intentions. The study revealed that sales promotion and packaging do not play significant roles as antecedents of brand preference in the cement industry. Originality/Value This study explored the choice of cement brand from a business-to-business point of view and from a retail to consumer point of view. As far as the author knows, this is first study to investigate brand preference in the South African Cement Industry
Challenges facing small, medium and micro enterprises servicing operational wind farms in the Eastern cape, South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Maraba, Mahlatse; Young, Bruce
Climate change has resulted in a review of how electricity is generated with the focus now being on renewable energy sources. In South Africa, this focus is facilitated by the Renewable Independent Power Producer Program (REIPPPP) which seeks to introduce an energy mix of solar, wind, biomass, and hydro into the traditional coal-dependent systems. REIPPPP promised economic benefits and some of the intended beneficiaries are Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). The purpose of this study is therefore to understand the challenges facing SMMEs in wind farms that are in the operational phase to understand if they are benefitting from REIPPPP. A qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews to obtain data from respondents offering various services to operational wind farms was employed. A sample size of 9 respondents was used to obtain this data. Applying thematic analysis to the collected data it was found that the challenges facing SMMEs are mainly due to lack of support, lack of finance, human capital, lack of policies and difficulty accessing the job market in the wind farms. All these challenges are as per Isenberg’s domains of entrepreneurship framework (Isenberg, 2010). Further themes that emerged are unfair competition SMMEs face and non-compliance issues by both the SMMEs and the wind farms. Given these challenges, SMMEs were negative towards REIPPPP. There is still a large potential for more renewable energy projects to be implemented in South Africa thus, these challenges must be well understood and addressed going forward for SMMEs to fully benefit. Some of the recommendations are for policies and regulations to be implemented by the government to ensure that SMMEs operate on a level playing field. It is foreseen that by addressing policies as a root cause, the remainder of the challenges can easily be addressed.
Consumption, Waste and the Middle-Class Mindset: A Qualitative Exploration of Gendered Attitudes and Beliefs in South African Suburbs
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-10) Borralho, Carina De Freitas; Iqani, Mehita
This dissertation explores the complicated relationship between South Africa’s growing middle class, and their patterns around consumption and waste. Crucially, it identifies who the middle class hold responsible for consumerism and waste management. It also looks at these ideas through the lens of gender to uncover variations in the way different genders perceive and approach consumption and waste. A qualitative approach was used (using interviews, waste diaries, and a survey). Preliminary findings indicate that middle-class white South African women tend to engage in conspicuous consumption, impacting their waste generation. However, women's family-oriented consumption also influences their purchasing and waste habits. Surprisingly, participants viewed women favourably in terms of consumption and waste, despite waste-diary evidence to the contrary. This research contributes valuable insight into consumption and waste as social, cultural, racial, and gendered matters – instead of purely environmental ones. Ultimately, it shows that gender, race and socio-economic class play a role in how much an individual consumes and wastes, and highlights the need for increased education around these topics in South Africa.
Corporate Entrepreneurship and Environmental Sustainability in South Africa’s Chemicals Sector
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Ntshani, Itukiseng; Pooe, Kagiso (TK)
Companies in the South African chemicals industry are under pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their operations while ensuring job preservation andvalue creation for all their stakeholders. Greenhouse gases primarily emanate from burning and processing fossil fuels like crude oil and natural gas. Over 90% of the feedstock for chemical production is obtained from fossil fuels (IEA, 2018), which is not environmentally sustainable. Literature suggests that applying the concept of corporate entrepreneurship can play a vital role in developing solutions to enhance a company’s economic, environmental, and social outcomes (Aparicio et al., 2020). Despite this suggestion, the amount of research done on the application of corporate entrepreneurship to address environmental sustainability challenges is limited, especially in the South African context. This study applies a qualitative research methodology, using a case study research method to investigate if corporate entrepreneurship can address environmental sustainability challenges in South Africa’s chemicals manufacturing sector. Secondary data on companies in South Africa’s chemicals manufacturing value chain was obtained from various digital platforms and triangulated with primary data from interviews to conduct this research. Interview participants included individuals from environmental conservation NGOs and government agencies. The collected data was analyzed in ATLAS.ti through coding and visualization techniques. The results indicate that companies in South Africa’s chemicals manufacturing sector are applying elements of corporate entrepreneurship theory to develop strategies to address environmental sustainability challenges. Individuals from environmental conservation NGOs and government agencies believe corporate entrepreneurship can effectively address environmental sustainability challenges in the chemical manufacturing sector. Most strategies, plans, and projects announced by the companies are yet to be implemented. Therefore, it is yet to be confirmed if these strategies will effectively address the environmental sustainability challenges
Effects of cognitive biases and heuristics on mining equipment selection on platinum mines in Rustenburg, South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Ramaphakela, Thabo; Stacey, Anthony
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of cognitive bias and heuristics on mining equipment selection, on platinum mines in Rustenburg South Africa. Shaft Engineers, Procurement Manger and Engineering Managers from Rustenburg platinum mines were the participants in the study. A total number of eight interviews were conducted on five mines around Rustenburg. The exploratory design and qualitative approach were used in the study. Interpretive phenomenological and semi-structured interviews approach were used. Open ended question were asked, these kinds of questions allowed the participants to engage and participate effectively. The information was analysed using a thematic approach. Heuristics and bias across life span of a decision maker, have influence in the decision-making ability of the decision maker. Engineering Managers and Shaft Engineers are not immune from cognitive bias, heuristics, and their effects during mining equipment selection. Managers must be rational when selecting mining equipment, but the research indicate that under limited time and lack of information, managers turn to cognitive biasness and heuristics (“Mind shot cut”) during decision making. The study shows that the participants with more experience used fewer heuristics than those with less, especially when the stakes were high. These support that the decision maker who have high cognitive level (Knowledge) use their intuitive “gutfeel” to take a calculated risk. The "bounded rationality" of decision-makers has been acknowledged by decision theories, as having cognitive constraints. People tend to attribute meaning to changes based on their own set of beliefs, perspectives, and conceptions
Exploring drivers of vertical forward integration in South Africa’s platinum mining industry
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Pheto, Simon; Oro, Ufuo
Historically, South Africa has positioned itself as a net exporter of refined and semi-finished Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) related products, which has stayed the same. This position generates much-needed foreign capital during commodity booms, but it has a long-lasting catastrophic impact on the economy. As a result, the South African PGMs industry is experiencing the lock-in effect of only specialising in exports of refined and semi-finished PGMs-related products. This trade pattern impairs South Africa’s capability to develop a comparative advantage in the export of finished PGMs-related products. This research seeks to identify, explore, and obtain an in-depth understanding of the drivers of vertical forward integration to migrate the PGMs industry from the export of refined and semi- finished PGMs-related products to finished PGMs-related products. The drivers of vertical forward integration were identified in the literature review. An in-depth understanding of these drivers was obtained through a qualitative research study. The themes associated with these drivers were identified by running structured interviews and analysing the data in Atlas.ti software. The structured interview results show that export-led industrialisation policies targeting international trade, innovation capabilities, relatedness of capabilities and foreign direct investments (FDI) will transform the South African PGMs industry into a manufacturing sector and exporter of finished PGMs-related products. However, the above drivers of forward vertical integration require a strong and progressive institutional regime with large institutional capital. The input-output model of the forward vertical integration process in South Africa’s PGMs industry takes the PGMs reserves as an input transformed resource and institutional regime as transforming resource. The four remaining drivers, international trade, innovation capabilities, the relatedness of capabilities and FDI are important components in the transforming process. The transforming process entails the creation of new knowledge and new technology, absorption of foreign knowledge and technology, the liberalisation of international trade and entrepreneurship. The output of the above model is finished PGMs-related products
Factors enabling copper beneficiation in Botswana
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Coetzee, R. J.; Schaling, Eric
Botswana’s Kalahari copper belt (KCB), which extends into the North-West of Botswana, is a prospective zone that offers the opportunity for a large copper production sector to provide diversity and growth for mining in Botswana. Despite good quality orebodies with good grades, the disadvantage of long and expensive logistical routes has softened project financial returns in the past and hampered the development of new mines on the KCB. The Botswanan government identified the need to investigate the creation of in-country, downstream processing (beneficiation) facilities to improve the global competitiveness of in-country producers and provide future opportunities for job growth. While in-country beneficiation has been explored over the years by various stakeholders, the low quantity of primary copper sources and an uncertain outlook on exploration deterred further investment. The study further seeks out to improve the potential stakeholders’ understanding of the relevant enabling factors and underlying risks of in-country beneficiation through practical discounted cash flow modelling. Should Botswana want to drive in-country processing and enact a beneficiation legislation framework, it would need to explore options such as incentivising with tax structures and developing associated infrastructure to ensure electrification, water supply, rail network availability and other needs such as housing. Tax incentives from the government are recommended to stimulate foreign direct investment. Viable government incentives such as i) granting special economic zone status, or more relevant ii) to divert 1% of the mineral royalties payable by miners to the government to this new facility in exchange for a proportionate minority equity state. Four viable scenarios for in-country beneficiation were developed where the NPV7.7%,real 2022 of a new copper processing facility could range between US$ 358 – 422 million. Furthermore, the total value generated by the facility, undiscounted over life of operation, was estimated to be US$3.6 billion. 10.1% of the total project value generated would be recovered by the Botswanan government through corporate tax, dividend withholding tax, personal income tax and value added tax. The value added to the Botswanan economy would contribute an additional 2.2% to Botswana’s gross domestic product. The total value generated towards nation building was calculated to be at least three times larger than the profit generated by the facility owners.
Innovation policy change and inclusive agricultural innovation in South Africa
(2022) Ndzotoyi, Phatheka Tania
Agricultural innovation by both commercial and smallholder farmers is useful to economic growth and sustainability. In South Africa and many other developing countries, smallholder farmers make up the majority of farmers. The smallholder farmers face different challenges such as water scarcity and climate change. For this reason, farmers engage in different forms of innovation activities at a small scale. This study applied a combination of inclusive growth and inclusive innovation concepts as a lens to explore innovation policy and ways to promote inclusive agricultural innovation in small scale agriculture. This study adopts a qualitative method to analyse data. The study used primary data and also policy documents analysis. Primary data was gathered through semistructured interviews which were conducted with smallholder farmers, who serve as the primary participants and key informants for the study. A randomised selection was done to recruit thirty study participants from Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Data analysis made use of a cross-case analysis from the two areas in order to understand the constraints of innovation in the small-scale agricultural sector. The key findings for the study reveal that small-scale innovators in the agricultural sector are hindered by lack of resources, funding, and access to innovative technologies. These challenges negatively affect up-scaling of innovations and participation in valuable markets. The implications of the findings suggest that smallholder farmers must be supported in order to successfully execute innovative activities. The support includes having strategies and programs to provide the required resources to improve innovative capabilities of farmers. Policymakers need to revise and redesign policies that enable smallholder farmers to operate. Stakeholders in the NSI should provide interventions that support the specific needs of smallholder farmers to be functional and profitable. The study aspires to contribute to understanding innovation among smallholder farmers in South Africa through investigating the manner in which changes to the innovation policy in South Africa could promote smallholder farmer agricultural innovations that contribute to food security, job creation, and the burden of diseases in the agriculture sector.
Perceptions of energy efficiency consequences of implementation of ISO 50001 in South Africa’s pulp and paper industry
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Kapp, Juanita; Hildebrandt, Diane
With loadshedding taking place daily, often more than once a day, businesses suffer financial losses (Maphumulo, 2021). Research findings revealed that SA is only 38% transition ready towards energy efficiency (World Economic Forum, 2020). Adopting and implementing the energy efficiency option holds various benefits and might even create economies of scale for businesses if understood and implemented correctly. Environmental strategies ensuring an increase in efficiency and a decrease in risks to the environment are known characteristics of resource efficiency and cleaner production. The United Nations introduced 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). Goal 7 refers to affordable and clean energy, which is a topic directly impacted by this research. Other SDGs included in this research are Goal 6 clean water and sanitation; Goal 8 economic growth; Goal 9 industry, innovation, and infrastructure; Goal 12 responsible consumption and production; and Goal 13 climate change. The implementation and maintenance of ISO 50001 serves as a central focus point, although other frameworks and models that could be used for an EES will also be referenced. Benefits and motivators for the transition towards energy efficiency will also be discussed. Another factor highlighted is the geopolitical implications that SA faces and how to better position the country to become more transition ready.
Rail infrastructure developments and their productivity impact with special reference to institutions in five Southern African development community countries
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Dzawanda, Bernard; Ferddeke, Johanes W.; Mahonye, Nyasha
This thesis investigates the determinants of rail infrastructure investment and its impact on productivity growth in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe for the period 1960 to 2018. The descriptive analysis of rail infrastructure data covers the period from 1939 to 2018. With the exception of South Africa, data availability limited the study analytics to start from 1960. The five Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries share a common history in terms of development, and their rail networks are interconnected. The focus of the study is on the quantity of rail infrastructure. Based on the augmented Bond, Mairesse, and Mulkay (1997) investment model, we apply the Pooled Mean Group estimator of Pesaran, Shin and Smith (1999) on novel datasets of rail infrastructure measures to estimate the drivers of rail infrastructure investment and efficiency in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Estimation results suggest that economic, geostrategic and institutional factors drive rail infrastructure investment, efficiency and productivity growth in the four countries. GDP is found to have an insignificant impact on rail infrastructure investment. South Africa being distinctly different from the other four countries provides a different contextual setting to investigate the determinants of rail infrastructure investment and efficiency, and its impact on productivity growth. We separately apply time series analysis in the case of South Africa using the Bounds Test technique of Pesaran, Shin and Smith (2001). Estimation results suggest that GDP has a significant negative impact on rail infrastructure investment in South Africa. Government investment has a significant negative impact on rail infrastructure investment. Research results suggest that geostrategic factors have a significant positive impact on rail infrastructure investment in the four countries, and insignificant on rail infrastructure efficiency except in the case of passenger rail infrastructure investment where the impact is negative. In contrast, geostrategic factors have an insignificant impact on rail infrastructure investment in South Africa except for mixed rail infrastructure investment where the impact is negative. The impact of geostrategic factors on rail infrastructure efficiency in South Africa is found to be positive.
The role of institutional arrangement in the development of the agro-processing sector (2011-2015)
(2020) Moyo, Cynthia
The study unpacks institutional arrangements which were available when developing the agro-processing manufacturing sector with the milling industry as a case study in the period 2011-2015. In-depth interviews were conducted with the respondents from five institutions (DTI, DAFF, IDC, NAMC and GDARD), FABCOS and Old Mutual Masisizane Fund respondents did not owner the interview invitation which led to the study relying more on secondary data. The key findings revealed that there are common factors that have been contributing to the inefficiencies in policy implementation which includes territorial disputes and policy inconsistency. The study also learnt that there were no concrete institutional arrangements on the ground, thus the network was weak or non-existent. Issues of coordination, information sharing, business practices and moral hazard among the few factors contributed to little or no current visible successes to date which led to policy and network failure. Therefore, industrial policy durations must be introduced to the project at planning phase to avoid lack of participation at implementation phase. Involved institutions need to understand and play their roles rather than focus on how well institutional arrangement is integrated to avoid weak network systems (Provan & Milward, 1995). The institutional arrangements between government and private sector need to be strengthened to avoid or minimize poor business practices on entrepreneurs once they have received funding. Thus, within network systems, mentoring institution need to be included to ensure that businesses are run effectively. Moreover, government need to work together with DFIs for funding purposes as this will ensure that their priority areas are also considered by DFIs when identifying their strategic areas. Agricultural policies must be drafted together with industrial policies because both policies strive to contribute to the national long-term vision such as job creation, poverty alleviation and reduction in inequality (Briones & Felipe, 2013)
Social capital in community food gardens in Alexandra Johannesburg
(2020) Bhayla, Schlain Andrea
Social capital is a common outcome in community food gardens, yet detailed measurement of the concept is often unclear. Little is known about social capital in Johannesburg gardens and how it is mobilised. This research used both qualitative and quantitative methods to understand how gardeners mobilised social capital, and how Nan Lin’s weak-tie position emerged in Greater Alexandra Greening Route gardens. Further, it sought to understand what the theoretical and policy implications of measuring social capital were. Lin’s conceptualization of social capital, resources embedded in a network, was used. The Resource Generator, a social capital measurement tool, was adapted using findings from focus groups and used to measure access to social capital. Semi-structured interviews were used to understand the mobilisation of social capital. Findings suggest social capital is present in GAGR gardens and mobilised to achieve gardeners’ aims. Gardeners may also benefit from expanding gardens to serve a community purpose
Social reproduction, labour markets, and economic change in South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Francis, David Campbell; Valodia, Imraan
The South African rural economy, and its relationship to the industrial economic heartlands, has been the focus of study for many decades. In the 1970s, Harold Wolpe provided an incisive materialist analysis of apartheid. He argued that the rural economy served as a site of the reproduction of labour for capitalism in urban South Africa, thus ensuring a supply of cheap labour. His cheap labour thesis has formed the backbone of political economy analysis in South Africa ever since. But Wolpe, and other such as Mike Morris, who studied the relationship between the rural economy and the development of capitalism in South Africa, were largely unconcerned with the highly gendered nature of cheap labour, despite the fact that women were actively excluded from mining and the industrial economy by law, and played a critical role in the reproduction of life and labour in the Bantustans. Following the end of apartheid, the legal barriers preventing women from working in the main economy were dismantled, and women’s labour force participation rose rapidly. But this legal equality has not translated into substantive equality: women in rural areas continue to be significantly worse off economically than men. Unemployment rates are significantly higher for women, and they earn lower wages than men, even where they do the same work. Women continue to undertake far more unpaid work than men, and girl and women-headed households are more likely to live in poverty. Furthermore, despite well-developed literature on South Africa’s political economy, we know little about the productive and reproductive lives of rural women in contemporary South Africa. This thesis critically re-examines Wolpe for the 21st century by providing a materialist, gendered analysis of the economy of Agincourt, Mpumalanga, an area which remains on South Africa’s geographic and economic periphery. It shows how households in this part of rural South Africa are responding to the ways in which capitalism in South Africa has changed in the post-apartheid period. This thesis illuminates the important links between labour force participation, paid work, unpaid work, and livelihood strategies among households in the Agincourt area. It argues that focusing on the role of South Africa’s rural areas as sites of the reproduction of labour, as per the cheap labour thesis, ignores the highly gendered nature of social reproduction and its contribution to the reproduction of both labour and life. This thesis further contends that the role of South Africa’s rural areas cannot be investigated or theorised without a specifically gendered approach which includes women’s work in the analysis. It adds to our knowledge about an area of South Africa which is important in its own right. And Agincourt is also emblematic of the conceptual and methodological challenges of studying rural areas and their relationship with the economic 8 heartlands of urban South Africa in a way that does not marginalise the economic lives of women. It further contributes methodologically and epistemologically to studying the intersection of paid and unpaid work. It draws on a mixed-methods approach – a household survey of 600 households and 24 in-depth interviews – to investigate women’s economic lives in this marginalised place, and to re-examine the relationship between South Africa’s economic core and its periphery from an explicitly gendered perspectiv
Sustainability of SMEs in the South African manufacturing and agriculture sector from 2010 to 2020
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Rikhotso, Masana Ludwick
Aim: South Africa’s start-up SME failure rate is on the higher end. Estimates place the failure rate of formal SMEs in South Africa between 70% and 80% in the first 5 years (News24, 2022, p. 1). This study investigates the relationship that demographic factors of SMEs play to their survivability. The main aim will be to identify predictors of SME survival and make recommendations that will assist other SMEs to increase their odds of survival. Methods: Secondary data were obtained from the South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC), which is a South African registered company that facilitates SMEs to get access to business and finances from larger organisations. The scope of the research is limited to SMEs that operate in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors. The research only focuses on formal SMEs, which are those that have been registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and thus file for taxes. Given a lack of a formal database available to extract the data, individual files were sent to the researcher from the SASDC data administrators. The files sent comprised of data on an individual SME in the format of a Microsoft Word document and a PDF. The data were manually collated by the researcher to create a database that could be analysed through the STATA 17 statistical tool. The selection of variables was based on available demographic data in the files informed by literature from previous similar studies. A bivariate analysis was conducted to assess if there is a relationship between the dependent variable (survival) and the independent factors. To conduct the analysis, Kaplan-Meier and life tables were used alongside the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: The multi-variable analysis found that demographic factors could indeed be associated with SME failure. For example, SMEs that had owners with less work experience had lower survival odds. Overall, using the Cox proportional hazards model, the hazard ratios for work experience and the gender of the CEO identified these as factors that played a role in SME survival. 10 Conclusions: The findings highlight that although there is further research that needs to be done on this topic, there are demographic factors associated with failed SMEs and these factors can be used as predictors of SMEs. Caution must be taken not to discriminate against SMEs with these factors but to equip these SME CEOs with tools to prevent failure
The impact of leadership on productivity at Harmony Kalgold operation
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Montshonyane, Ramosiako; Matshabaphala, Manamela
Background: The significance of good leadership styles in respect of productivity cannot be overemphasised in the modern world of global change. The change in leadership and their diverse styles has affected the rate of production at Harmony Kalgold Operation. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of leadership styles on productivity in the case of Harmony Kalgold Operation in Mahikeng-Kraaipan, South Africa. Setting: The research study was undertaken in South Africa and particularly focused on the Northwest Province. Only a quantitative research method was employed with a sample size of 50 members selected from the organisation of study. Methods: The positivist and quantitative approach through a questionnaire survey was employed to collect data for the research study. A quantitative research methodology was adopted through a random sample of 50 employees. Results: Within the company, there are four main types of productivity. Democratic leadership is directly correlated with productivity. Authoritarian leadership style has a strong negative correlation with productivity. Charismatic leadership style has a positive correlation with productivity. Similarly, transformational leadership style was found to relate more with productivity and the leadership style should be developed by modern leaders. Transactional leadership style had a little negative relationship with productivity and entails a carrot and stick method to accomplish organisational goals. Conclusions: There are at least five most common leadership styles which influence Harmony Kalgold operation 's productivity. These are autocratic, democratic, laissez- faire, transactional, and transformational leadership. There are at most four measures of productivity at Harmony Kalgold. These are capital, physical, labour, and total productivity. Indeed, leadership styles influence productivity in diverse ways. Each situation requires each own leadership style to improve productivity. However, the situational theory of leadership suggests that no single leadership style is best.
The perception of the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the production in South African mines
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Ledwaba, Solomon
The aim of the study was to explore the perception of Fourth Industrial Revolution(4IR) strategies and practices in relation to production process performance in the mining industries at selected mines in South Africa. The study followed a quantitative research methodology, and a sample of 110 employees at the selected mines in South Africa, consisting of 60 mine workers, 10 information technology employees, 10 middle managers, 10 operations managers, 10 health and safety personnel, and 10 executive officers were drawn using a simple random sampling approach. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire with a 5-point Likert Scale. Data were analysed using the SPSS version 4.1. Findings from the study reveal that employee level of awareness of the concept of 4IR and associated technologies had a significant impact on how employees perceived the current 4IR strategies. Though findings show that a high percentage of employees were involved in the 4IR strategy development process, most believe that the current 4IR strategies and practices did not fully represent the interests of all stakeholders. While some were of the perception that the strategies and practices were designed to improve productivity and reduce employment costs, others believe that it puts workers’ jobs at risk, as mines had started replacing humans with 4IR technologies such as robots and drones. However, findings reveal that the adoption of the 4IR technologies according to the perception of employees, has improved health and safety within the mines

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Browsing 4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions by SDG "SDG-12: Responsible consumption and production"

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