Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters)

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Browsing Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters) by School "Wits School of Governance"

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    Impact of buyisa ubuntu food bank on livelihoods of kagiso residents during covid-19
    (University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Sekhokoane, Lindeni; Pillay, Pundy
    Food banks are set up as an option when governments are unable to safeguard the food security of their citizens. They intend to ease the numerous threats related to food insecurity. However, the ability of food banks to advance general food security outcomes is limited, even though they have a significant part to play in providing rapid solutions to extreme food dearth. They are meant to be a temporary way out for households that are destitute but a key to attaining food security. The aim of the study is to explore the impact of Buyisa Ubuntu Food Bank on beneficiaries during COVID-19, as well as to understand the coping strategies of these beneficiaries in the midst of the pandemic. Also, the purpose is to determine the extent to which the skills development program has empowered beneficiaries. In order to achieve this, the study sought to determine a) The difference that the Buyisa Ubuntu Food Bank has made to beneficiaries' lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, b) the extent to which the Buyisa Ubuntu Food Bank skills development programme has empowered beneficiaries, c) the coping strategies that were used by the beneficiaries in the absence of the food bank services. The study found that the food bank use in Kagiso Township is due to dire economic difficulties out of the immediate domain of control of beneficiaries, such as poverty and unemployment. The coping strategies utilised by beneficiaries in the absence of food bank services are unsustainable. In an attempt to address the issue of unemployment among the beneficiaries, structural theories of poverty suggest that macroeconomic policy, which stimulates economic growth, both locally and internationally, should also be seen as the key solution for sustainable job opportunities. The findings of the study further revealed that the Buyisa Ubuntu Food Bank made a financial difference in the lives of the beneficiaries through volunteerism and employment. Again, the skills offered at the skills development programme made a difference in the lives of some of the beneficiaries. However, the study found that the choice of skills in this programme is limited, and some skills are not of interest to beneficiaries. It is therefore recommended that the Buyisa Ubuntu Food Bank provides an avenue for beneficiaries to voice their expectations. It is also recommended that iv higher institutions of learning and businesses join forces to provide a variety of skills for people who are food insecure. Buyisa Ubuntu Food Bank faced some distribution challenges, as a result, beneficiaries received food once in three months instead of three consecutive months. This negatively affects the impact of the Buyisa Food Bank on the lives of beneficiaries. To address the food distribution challenges, it is recommended that the Buyisa Ubuntu Food Bank sticks to the standard operating procedure manual, which states that once the beneficiary is approved, the food needs to be distributed to them for threeconsecutive months.
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    The influence of digitalisation on the changing nature of employment within the South African banking sector workforce
    (2020) Naidoo, Therusha
    Digitalisation, and the acceleration of technological innovations, is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and is resulting in the disruption of many industries across the world. The growing impact that digitalisation is having on existing skills and jobs is a cause for concern as this will potentially result in job displacement and a skills and talent shortage. This research aims to better comprehend the influence of digitalisation on employment within the South African banking sector workforce to ensure that banks are ready for this impact. This will enable banks to act by designing and implementing informed plans of action for their employees as they drive towards a greater degree of digitalisation in their businesses, minimise potential job losses, and create new jobs. This research therefore seeks to investigate and understand the following research questions: • How has digitalisation affected employment in the financial services sector, specifically banking? • How has digitalisation changed the nature of jobs in banking? • What type of new jobs have been created as a result of digitalisation? • What can banks do differently when digitising as it relates to employees? To answer these research questions, a qualitative research methodology was applied with a single case study being utilised. The case study was conducted on one of the big five major banks in South Africa on which the study was conducted. The primary data was collected via semi-structured interviews with 15 respondents (executives and senior managers) who have experience in the organisation and/or exposure to how digitalisation has influenced the changing nature of employment across the various levels of employment within the banking sector. The key findings of this research are that: • Digitalisation has resulted in a decrease in the demand for routine, mundane, clerical, and administrative jobs, and an increase in the demand for highlyskilled and more service jobs that need to be fulfilled by individuals who are highly-skilled. • The three key drivers that have impacted the changing nature of jobs in banking as a result of digitalisation have been identified as: o Prudent and robust cost management, improving business efficiencies, and growing revenues and profits. o The clients’ influence on the changing nature of employment in banks. o The growing importance of the role of data in a bank’s digitalisation journey. • The new jobs that have been created as a result of digitalisation have been identified. • The key focus areas for banks as they digitise have been identified as: o Change management. o The need to upskill, re-skill, and/or re-purpose employees so that they remain relevant as new skill sets and expertise are required, and to ensure the future readiness of employees as digitalisation becomes more embedded in the organisation. o Increasing support by banks for growing entrepreneurs through the creation of an entrepreneur ecosystem. This research recommends that in order for banks to manage the impact of digitalisation on banking, they need to: • Identify jobs at risk of no longer existing, and implement ways to re-skill, upskill, and/or re-purpose individuals in these jobs so that they can be transitioned into highly-skilled jobs or jobs that are becoming more in demand as a result of digitalisation. • Upskill, re-skill and/or re-purpose employees to ensure that they have the skills to cope in the digital world. This can be done through a variety of initiatives such as learnerships, academies, mentorships, and partnering with Fintechs. • Establish entrepreneurship support systems to decrease the dependency on formal employment.