Electronic Theses and Dissertations (PhDs)
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Item Women and emancipatory politics in the former Lebowa bantustan of South Africa, 1940s to present(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Bruchhausen, Sarah Lynn; Nieftagodien, NoorThis thesis provides a gendered and subaltern historical perspective of women’s emancipatory politics in the former Lebowa bantustan of South Africa from the late-colonial period of segregation (1940s) to the post-apartheid present (2022). It begins with an examination of the popular uprisings during the period of the 1940s to the early-1960s in which black women championed radical insurgent struggles against colonial-cum-apartheid processes of land dispossession, enclosure of the commons, excessive taxation, and the criminalisation of women’s subsistence lifestyles. Attention then shifts to the intensely repressive period in the aftermath of these rural uprisings and the making of the Lebowa bantustan during the 1960s and 1970s. In this period, women’s emancipatory praxes were drastically constrained and their political resistance took on more diffused and less organised forms. A popular expression of emancipatory politics during this period was the creation of different local women-made grassroots organisations engaged in collective praxes of care- giving, mutual aid, and community development, aimed at creating life-affirming projects and dignified ways of living, under harsh socio-spatial and political constraints. These rural women’s grassroots organisations developed in response to the growing crisis of social reproduction in Lebowa’s villages during the 1970s and were eclipsed by more militant modes of resistance in the insurrectionary climate of the 1980s. A younger generation of women, involved as comrades in the youth and labour movements, came to the fore as protagonists of the popular struggle for freedom in Lebowa, and engaged in certain aspects of the longer history of black women’s struggles for self-determination and rights to the commons in rural South Africa. Lastly, this thesis considers the 1994 transition to democracy and the subsequent post-apartheid era in today’s Limpopo Province. Using the Makotse Women’s Club as a case study, it argues that grassroots women’s organisations presently engaged in the praxis of a radical politics of care in villages of the former Lebowa bantustan are the most recent expression of an emancipatory mode of politics in rural South Africa with a long and rich history that stretches back to the radical uprisings of the mid-twentieth century. Overall, the history presented in this thesis suggests that the creation of autonomous spaces of the common and the defence of subsistence lifestyles has been, and continues to be, a defining characteristic of rural women’s emancipatory politics in the former bantustans of South Africa.Item Intersecting Epidemics: The implications of COVID-19 in the utilisation of HIV treatment services among people living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Zimbabwe(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Tapera, Talent; Odimegwu, CliffordZimbabwe has been working towards the last mile of controlling the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic where keeping people that are living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) is primarily important. Ensuring they are virally suppressed and can thwart opportunistic infections is key. The advent of COVID-19 potentially posed a threat of derailing or reversing the gains attained in the fight against HIV. Zimbabwe has more than one million people living with HIV (United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS [UNAIDS], 2020). The question of whether the COVID-19 pandemic intensified barriers and redefined the utilisation of HIV treatment services by people who are living with HIV on ART in Zimbabwe has remained largely unanswered in the literature currently available. Thus, the main purpose of this research was to examine the implications of COVID-19 in the utilisation of HIV care treatment services among people who are living with HIV on ART in Zimbabwe and the factors associated with it. This study defined, the utilisation of HIV treatment services as accessing and taking up a package of services expected to be received by people who are living with HIV on ART such as scheduled ART drug refill collections, viral load monitoring, Tuberculosis (TB) preventative therapy and TB screening. In addition, the study investigated the predisposition of people who are living with HIV in using the COVID-19 vaccine and the reasons behind not getting vaccinated. The study was anchored in the fifth revision of the Andersen behavioural model of healthcare utilisation. This model argues that the use of health services is a based on of three factors classified as (1) predisposing, (2) enabling and (3) need factors. The fifth model version of the model allowed the addition of environmental factors. The dependent variable was the utilisation of HIV treatment services and also COVID-19 vaccination among people living with HIV. As such, it was critical to anchor the study in this framework as it sought to identify the critical factors of utilisation of HIV treatment services and COVID-19 vaccination among people living with HIV. Therefore, following the Anderson model, the predisposing factors for this study were age, sex, marriage, religion, education and COVID-19 vaccination. The enabling factors were COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, COVID- 19 transport stoppages, distance to a health facility, transport cost to a health facility, fear of contracting COVID-19, non-availability of community healthcare services, and COVID-19 related stigma among healthcare workers. The need factors were opportunistic infection during the COVID- 19 period, COVID-19 infection, and contact with a COVID-19 case, while environmental factors were residence and type of health facility.Item Migration, Motherhood and Subjective Wellbeing: Experiences of Transnational Mothers in Johannesburg(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-12) Zikhali, Thulisile; Vearey, Jo; Walker, RebeccaThe discussions on feminisation of migration have renewed research interests into the gendered nature of migration experiences. This highlights the implications of cultural norms and values on migrant women. Despite that there is a longstanding history of people migrating to Johannesburg from within the Southern African region, little is written about the experiences of cross border migrant mothers who leave their children behind. This study explores the intersections of migration, motherhood, and subjective wellbeing in Johannesburg inner city, drawing from the experiences of twenty women: originating from Zimbabwe (comprising 15 women), Ghana (consisting of 3 women), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (involving 2 women). Participant observations and semi-structured interviews are methods that were used to collect data in the following three Johannesburg inner city areas: Hillbrow, Berea, and Yeoville. These are migrant-dense urban spaces in Johannesburg. The study used matricentric feminism and constructivism as its philosophical resources. It also utilised concepts of precarity, embodied transnationalism and subjective wellbeing as analytical tools to examine transnational mothers’ experiences. Findings indicate that familial social history and cultural gender norms play a crucial role in shaping perceptions of motherhood and in determining what are seen as “acceptable” ways of mothering. The study also found that there were tensions and contradictions in mothers’ perceptions of motherhood: their convictions on meanings of motherhood and the roles that mothers are expected to play in families were not in alignment with their own contemporary realities. Contrary to studies that have been conducted elsewhere, for example in North America and Europe, this study suggests that transnational mothering strategies in Johannesburg inner city are largely mediated by localised contextual factors such as lack of documentation, unstable jobs, xenophobia and crime. These factors undermine mothering strategies by creating an environment of uncertainty which makes it difficult for mothers to fulfil their mothering obligations, for example, sending remittances on time, maintaining regular cross border communication and regular visits to home. This study contributes to conceptual advancement in transnational motherhood research by bringing the aspect of wellbeing to the fore. It does this by uniquely considering the use of subjective wellbeing in understanding mothers’ experiences and how migration was beneficial to their mothering goals and aspirations. Findings indicate that mothers demonstrated agency in dealing with various challenges. They found migration as emancipatory and they were determined to provide for their children as well as to secure their future.Item Bisexuality in Democratic South Africa: Experiences of Women in Johannesburg(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Khuzwayo, Zuziwe; Roy, SrilaThe field of gender and sexuality studies has been growing in academic institutions since the 1970’s. One of the reasons for its growth is that women across the globe are challenging conservative ideas and norms on how they should engage in romance, sexuality and heteronormativity which has implications for broader society. There has also been an increase in LGBTQI+ rights globally including in parts of the world where historically these identities were viewed as illegal and foreign to the indigenous people. In recent years though, there has also been a growing anti-gender backlash across the globe that has resulted in hard-won legal rights being reversed, or new legislation being imposed that is homophobic and transphobic. When it comes to research on sexuality, studies on bisexuality, however, and specifically research stemming from Global South contexts, is limited. This research contributes to the field of sexuality studies by looking at how bisexual women construct and express their sexuality, looking at multiple factors such as race, class, age and space in the city of Johannesburg. Using qualitative methods of life-history and in-depth interviews conducted during the six years of the PhD, this study shows how each of these factors shapes and influence an individual’s sexuality in a democracy where LGBTQI+ rights exist but are inadequately materialised. Drawing on feminist and queer theory, the study delves into how bisexuality is expressed and performed by women living in Johannesburg, and how challenges in claiming their sexuality exist outside but also within LGBTQI+ spaces. The study shows how queer women continue to carve out public and private spaces for themselves amid high levels of violence against women. Lastly, the research shows the continued regulation of women’s sexuality through heteronormativity in public and private spaces, and what this says about how women living on the African continent claim their sexuality in different waItem Operating under the Radar: Forestry Plantation Workers Everyday Resistance in Chimanimani District, Zimbabwe(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mvundura, Wellington; Pillay, DevanThis thesis explores and analyses the everyday forms and practices of labour resistance that rural commercial forestry plantation labour crafts to navigate a highly insecure post-colonial capitalist plantation labour process. It attends to the scholarly puzzle that in Zimbabwe, Africa, and elsewhere quotidian forms and practices of resistance are in a much less or barely empirically demonstrated and theoretically elaborated state in both resistance and labour resistance studies. This is even more pronounced in agrarian labour politics studies, yet agriculture labour constitutes a significant proportion of the overall industrial labour-force in xii Africa and elsewhere and is arguably the most easily exploitable form of wage labour. This motivated my empirical focus on commercial plantation labour. In light of evidence from Barura plantation estate, I argue that the workers may have to accept the fact of post-colonial capitalist plantation wage employment, the plantation-specific modalities of statist ethno-national citizenship, and state-sanctioned partisan national politics while contesting the terms and conditions under which these mutual systems of domination and exploitation occur. The practices do not seek to radically decompose the historical material- cum-symbolic bases of these systems of power. The everyday practices of defiance mediate the workers’ realisation of piecemeal de facto material and status gains more than the de jure recognition of those gains. My major empirical contribution is the discovery and foregrounding of the quotidian practices of subaltern groups as an integral part of politics. In a specialised and methodical manner, I re- centre the mundane everyday acts of plantation labour as workplace politics namely labour resistance. Theoretically I deploy and test the conceptual-cum-theoretical positions of seminal scholars on (everyday) resistance and modify some of these positions in light of empirical evidence. Methodologically, I break from the intention-oriented and foreground the practice- oriented approach to everyday resistance. This study is based on a continuous fourteen-month long on-site ethnography at a state-owned commercial forestry plantation. Ethnography was instrumental for the contextualised in-depth discovery and thick description of the workers’ forms, practices, and dynamics of subterranean labour resistance. It also enabled the cultivation of high levels of trust and rapport required to discover a sensitive, incriminating, and largely backstage (hidden) social phenomenon like quotidian labour resistance. For data collection I used three levels of participant observation, unstructured in-depth interviews, casual conversations, and deep hangouts.Item Personhood and Gender in a Traditional African Community(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Nyirenda, Vitumbiko; Etieyibo, EdwinThere is a common assumption that traditional African societies were gender-neutral and lacked hierarchical gender ordering. Proponents of this view argue that women in these societies held significant positions, challenging notions of subordination and oppression. They contend that women have historically been leaders, advisors to kings, queens, soldiers, and landowners. However, some scholars argue that this assumption does not reflect the lived experiences of many African women, who face discrimination and oppression by men and society. This perspective suggests a distinct conception of personhood, indicating that African communities are inherently gendered, which in turn shapes their concept of personhood. The primary claim is that personhood has often been presented in non-gendered terms, based on the general assumption of gender neutrality in traditional African communities. However, this does not align with the realities of these communities. This dissertation thoroughly explores the intellectual divergence surrounding various understandings of gender in African society and its relation to discussions on personhood. Regarding gender, I argue that in the African context, it is viewed as complementary, fluid, and relational, indicating healthy and positive gender relationships within the community. Concerning personhood, I argue that it is often presented in non-gendered ways. Those who fail to recognize this perspective often conflate modern social issues with the dominant values of traditional African communities.Item Women, State Law, And the Crisis of Chieftaincy: The Case Of Nswazi Village In Zimbabwe(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Muradzikwa, Tracey C.; Dube, S.I.Increasingly, post-colonial African states have been grappling with the issue of the gender- gap within traditional leadership institutions, resulting in contestations between state laws and traditional customary laws. Using the landmark succession of Indunakazi Sinqobile Mabhena of Nswazi in Umzingwane district, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe as a case study, the dissertation provides a new perspective on female traditional leadership through studying the in-depth the negotiation of the legitimacy of Mabhena’s chieftaincy. The study is a “feminist ethnography” of the daily life of Chief Mabhena in a Nswazi community to establish how the governance strategies of women chiefs are configured in practice, with a focus on debates and contention regarding the succession and legitimacy of Indunakazi Mabhena. Drawing on more than one year of fieldwork and making use of a qualitative narrative ethnographic research methods, the Zimbabwean case shows how African women play a significant role in the reconceptualization of legitimacy in traditional leadership and the perceptions of the people of Nswazi on the legitimacy of Indunakazi Mabhena in particular. A key finding of the thesis is that the legitimacy of traditional leaders primarily lies with the community accepting the rulership of the appointed leader through celebrations, ceremonies, and commitment to the well-being of the people that preserve their heritage and lineage. To that end, the naturalization of male chieftaincy primogeniture is put to question.Item Evolution of Enforcement: United Nations Enforcement Actions Under Article 42 of Chapter VII(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Custer, Scott; Brosig, MalteThis dissertation presents a comprehensive examination of the evolution of peace enforcement operations under the framework of the United Nations Charter's Chapter VII, Article 42. Through a qualitative research methodology, incorporating in-depth case study analysis and process tracing, the dissertation explores the changing actor constellations in peace enforcement, highlighting the shift from predominantly Member State-led operations to more complex arrangements involving Regional Arrangement and the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (UNDPO). By analyzing seven specific cases in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Libya, and Mali, the research identifies key causal mechanisms that have shaped the actor constellations of peace enforcement missions. The findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of the conditions under which peace enforcement operations are initiated and the strategic considerations that guide the international community's response to threats to peace and security. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these evolutions for future peace enforcement endeavors and the broader study of peace and conflict resolution within the field of International Relations.Item Role of Men in Teenage Pregnancy in the Bojanala district, North West province, South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Petlele, Rebaone; Mkwananzi, Sibusiso; Odimegwu, CliffordTo Professor Odimegwu, words aren’t enough to express my appreciation for your guidance, support and enduring patience. Thank you, Prof, for guiding me through this journey, not only during my PhD, but from my undergraduate years. Thank you for not giving up on me. You have been instrumental in my career progression and achievements. I am most grateful. Dr Mkwananzi, thank you so much for being there for me. You have been my sounding board, you have been rooting for me from day one, thank you for giving of your time, your grace, and all you’ve shared with no reservation…including the laughs. Thank you. To my DPS family, you have been a source of motivation and my constant support system. Thank you to all staff members, past and present. Dr Sasha and Prof Nicole, you have been a constant and positive feature in my academic journey. You have taught me, mentored me and became a great example of what I could achieve. I appreciate you both very much. Ms Gloria, thank you for everything you do. To my fellow PhD brothers and sisters, what an amazing bond we share, thank you for the camaraderie, this journey was so much better with you by my side. You’ve been there and I cannot thank you enough, I know our journey doesn’t end here. To everyone at Community Media Trust (CMT), I am most grateful. Your organisation’s support has been immeasurable. Thuso Molefe, thank you for saying yes, thank you for facilitating all the reinforcement I needed to see through my fieldwork. Boitumelo, ka leboga (thank you) Sistas, your assistance opened so many doors, thank you for all that you did for me and with me. Mam’Wendy, thank you for being there when we needed you. The work you do is a calling, I appreciate all the counsel you provided during this time, not just to my study participants, but those moments I needed to debrief too. I know your work isn’t done yet, thank you for everything. Levite Solomon Mabolawa, you have gone far beyond the call of duty. You were there during all the phases of my fieldwork, you took on multiple roles, you used your resources and time to ensure I achieved what I was there to do. Thank you for being selfless, this would not have been possible without your daily acts of kindness. Thapelo Moloto, you’ve been more than a fellow researcher but a big brother. Thank you for nurturing this process like you would your own. I am so grateful. You never hesitated to take on this task, and I am so happy that it was you who accompanied me on this journey.Item An ethnographic study of outside-circularity and deconstructive creation from the waste reuse practices of the urban waste precariat(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Reyneke, PierreThe study consists of an ethnographic inquiry into the waste reuse practices performed by the urban waste precariat on the landfill and streets of Pretoria East, City of Tshwane. I analyse the contribution of this social grouping to the urban circular economy and environment by conceptualising of these waste reuse practices as value-production processes not rooted in capitalism, practised outside of state and formal market recognition and support. I term these forms of existing circularity “outside-circularity” and identify an alternative value-production process termed “deconstructive creation”. The deconstructive creation process produces life from capitalist ruins, an alternative form of value to capitalism. This form of value draws on new formations of kinship and exchanges in a subsidiary and care economy, and functions on principles of everyday communism. Life from the capitalist ruins finds expression in two ways. Firstly, urban life that is more than mere material sustenance is produced, and a form of social solidarity as new kinship formations develop between Zimbabwean migrants in the City of Tshwane. Secondly, urban space is produced in the form of street craft markets and garden beautification to transform the suburban aesthetic. I problematise portrayals of waste reclaimers as an undifferentiated group exclusively performing reclaiming and recycling of paper and packaging materials. For this I develop and apply the social categorisation ‘urban waste precariat’, to move beyond the term ‘reclaimer’ with its singular focus on paper and packaging recycling. The term urban waste precariat incapsulates both recycling and reuse practitioners and hereby, I portray the complexity of the urban waste economy to include waste reuse practices, a cluster of waste work excluded from the literature in South Africa, thus far. Methodologically, I identify points of transition that are seminal to the circularity of the practices seen as meshwork. These points are discard, salvage, disassembly, transformation, exchange, and use. In addition, I trace circuits of material flow, both human and nonhuman, to portray the meshwork that entangles to form waste reuse practices. Through critical ethnography and by viewing waste reuse practices through the concept of skill, I show how space is relationally produced by tracing the socio-spatial history of traditional craft making skill development. The ethnographic data illustrate how this skill is employed in waste reuse practices, from artist hubs in Zimbabwe (Mbare and Chitungwisa) to its emergence through migration in Pretoria East’s informal iii street markets and suburban gardens. The study thus argues for the potential of sustainability and circularity to emerge from such skilled waste reuse practices of deconstructive creation.