Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters/MBA)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37942

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Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities

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    Environmental, social and corporate governance investment on organizational sustainability: A case of the South African mining sector
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Dlamini, Mlandvo Brian Thembinkosi; Mondi, Lumkile
    Mining companies continue to mine and process minerals as the demand for such minerals remains high and will do so into the future for livelihoods to be sustained. However, there are many risks associated with mining and mineral processing activities concerning environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. For organizations listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), there has been a mandatory call for ESG disclosure by these organizations to disclose what they are doing to eliminate or mitigate against risks associated with ESG. Addressing these risks requires a significant financial investment. The purpose of this research is to provide insight into the costs and benefits of investing in ESG within the context of the South African mining industry, with South Africa being a developing country. ESG matters have not been fully studied in developing countries. The appreciation of what focusing on them requires in as far as investing financially relative to the costs remains a crucial consideration. Managers and leaders have been left asking themselves what it would cost to invest in ESG, along with the reward it is expected to bring. The aim of this work is to review what seven of the JSE listed mining companies have invested towards addressing ESG risks and what benefit it has brought them. Secondary data available from the sustainability reports and annual reports of BHP Group Limited, Glencore plc, Anglo American plc, Gold Fields Limited, Anglo American Platinum, South32 Limited and Anglogold Ashanti, was sourced for this study. The chosen companies were chosen based on their value, being over R100 billion by market capitalization. These are companies for who’s data would be available as they are obligated to disclose their actions concerning ESG. From the results, the stakeholder community is in favour of companies having measures inplace to address issues concerning ESG risks. Disclosure of the actions taken increases awareness for the company and because of this, the reward is brand awareness leading to organizational sustainability. The amount of money invested in ESG is negligible compared to the long-term reward for the company. The study concludes that investing in ESG contributes to organizational sustainability. This research has provided the answers to the questions asked about the benefits of investing in ESG. Those who have done it are greatly rewarded. It isrecommended that mining companies set aside a budget to eliminate or mitigate against issues associated with ESG metrics to enjoy long-term sustainability
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    Digital banking penetration in underserved communities in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Mdluli, Ntokozo; Totowa, Jacques
    This purpose of this research paper is to investigate the impact that the closing of bank branches and the influence of digital banking as an alternative has on the banking population in underserved communities. For the purposes of the study, these communities are those that face barriers and challenges in gaining access to and using resources. Access to electricity, problems with broadband infrastructure or internet connectivity, employment, language, and literacy are just a few of the issues. With the rapid rate of bank branch closures globally and in South Africa, which are due to a variety of factors such as operational cost savings for banking institutions, looting unrest that resulted in property destruction, and the rate of digitalization, underserved communities are at risk of becoming financially excluded. The study sought to answer four research questions. Understanding the factors that influence underserved communities' banking activities, investigating the impact of traditional banking channel closures such as bank branches on underserved communities, determining whether the traditional banking channel closures result in financial exclusion of underserved communities, and making recommendations to banking institutions on how to lessen the impact of traditional banking channel closures. As part of the study, the researcher used a quantitative research approach, distributing a questionnaire to 179 members of underserved communities across South Africa. The key findings of the research showed that the results for two out of four hypotheses were statistically significant. We were able to show that the closure of bank branches increases the use of digital banking in underserved communities and may result in financial exclusion of people in underserved communities. In contrast to the literature review findings, we discovered that bank branches have no influence or impact on the community in underserved areas, and that issues with electricity and internet connectivity, a lack of digital literacy, and security concerns do not prevent underserved communities from using digital banking
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    Social and Labour Plans and wellbeing of South African mining communities
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Letsoalo, Katlego; Pooe, T.K
    The mining industry in South Africa has been instrumental to the developed of the economy however legacy issues were inherited by the Republic as a result of apartheid policy that existed and were key to the mining sector. A number of policies aimed at ensuring that the broader society and mining host communities benefit from mining activity were introduced by government. Despite the policies and initiatives implemented by mining companies and local government, these communities continue to protest due to lack of basic needs in these areas. This raises the question of whether development initiatives these communities are effective. The relationship between mining companies, communities and local government is captured in the MPRDA with a focus on Social and Labour plans (SLP). This relationship is explored using Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which apply to all countries and reflect universal goals and targets that define the global community's desire and opportunity towards a sustainable future. They study will using SDGs to optimal evaluate whether mining companies and local government have really improved the standard of living in these communities and the overall well-being
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    An outcomes evaluation of the ‘differentiated care’ antiretroviral therapy delivery in South African urban township
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Tebeila, Tebogo
    With the high prevalence and massive expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART), alternative ART delivery models are needed in scaling up, delivering ART, and maintaining high-quality services to people living with HIV. Various differentiated care ART delivery models were implemented in health facilities across South Africa, notable results from the literature suggest that differentiated care ART delivery models were piloted and implemented at scale, nevertheless, there is little evidence on the scale-up of these models on patients’ outcomes in South African urban townships. Ultimately, the research seeks to assess the outcomes of the differentiated care ART delivery models in a South African urban township called Tembisa in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. The research is a quantitative, retrospective cohort analysis. Logistic regression and Chi- square tests were used to determine rates of retention and factors associated with loss to follow-up. Behavioural theories were used to interpret the research findings. The research findings revealed that rates of retention were at 91.8 per cent and loss to follow-up was at 8.2 per cent. Furthermore, health facility, age at enrollment and duration on ART were associated with the probability of being lost to follow-up, nonetheless, there was no difference in sex and no association with modality. The finding from the study confirms that alternative ART care models are important in scaling up and delivering ART within an urban township setting, although there was poor viral load specimen collection at the scheduled clinic appointment good rates of retention in care and viral load suppression were achieved. Overall, the implementation of the intervention in a similar setting should be customized to patients aged between 18-24 years or younger, and those with a duration on ART of fewer than 24 months at enrollment differentiated care ART delivery models to reduce the probability of being lost to follow up after enrollment
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    The effect of information and communications technologies deployment on citizen engagement in a South African metropolitan municipality
    (2022) Khumalo, Musawakhe
    Even though the South African government has joined other nations across the globe to embrace the use of selected technologies for citizen engagement, there has not been much meaningful impact on the decision-making process or governance because the government failed to realise that their engagement mechanisms were poor, their selected applications were not user-friendly, and they required more technicalities for participation with little or no protection for users. This study is designed to assess the effect of the deployment of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on citizen engagement in the City of Tshwane Municipality. This quantitative study adopted a survey research design. The study sampled 136 councillors randomly out of 205 councillors in the City of Tshwane via a structured questionnaire. The retrieved questionnaires were analysed using charts, simple percentage and frequency, cross-tabulation, chi-square and linear regression. In the end, the findings of the study revealed that the most critical operational changes needed to enhance citizen engagement in the City of Tshwane Municipality were improved support from the IT division/department, acquisition of technological tools for councillors, and regular live online Q&A sessions with citizens (e.g. Facebook Live, Twitter Spaces). In addition, the study found that improving the IT division/department support would enhance citizen engagement in the City of Tshwane Municipality the most. Based on the findings of this study, the research recommended, among other things, that the municipality should see the selected technologies for policy creation and public participation and comments/projects and ward monitoring as a potent tool for enhancing accountability, feedback, and municipal development rather than as a tool for political campaigning or propaganda since technology usage significantly affects citizen engagement