3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item An exploration of experiences of foster parents raising African foster care children with absent fathers(2017) khaba, VuyisileThe phenomenon of absent fathers is not uniquely a South African problem but it is a global issue affecting numerous countries such as Norway, the United States of America as well as other African countries such as Nigeria, Swaziland Botswana to mention a few. Levels of paternal absence in South Africa seem particularly high in comparison to estimates for many other African countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The absence of fathers in their children’s lives leave children vulnerable after their biological mothers pass on and are subsequently placed in foster care as a measure of protecting and securing the child. The primary aim of this study was to explore the experiences of foster parents raising African foster care children with absent fathers in the Mpumalanga Province in Gert Sibande region, Msukaligwa sub-district. This study used a qualitative approach with an exploratory design. The research instrument that was used was an interview schedule and the data collection method that was employed was face-to-face semi structured interview. Data were analysed through thematic content analysis. The participants in the study comprised of 20 foster care parents aged from 25 years old and above. The main findings of this study were that foster parents seemed to perceive fathers as economic providers and most of them expressed that their absence seemed to be felt especially when it comes to the lack of financial provision. In addition to financial hardships, emotional and cultural hardships were also identified. The study recommends that more studies of this nature need to be done in order to come up with intervention strategies that governments need to use in order to release some of the strains faced by foster parents who are raising African children in foster care. The conclusion of the study is that South African families require attention, considering that father absence has taken a toll. The ripple effect of father’s failure to be present in their children’s lives and support their children will increase the number of children depending on state interventions such as foster care placements.Item Radio frequency identification technology adoption: South African retailers' perspecitve(2013-07-16) Sarpong, Bernard OppongIn recent years, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology has transformed from being unknown to mainstream applications that help facilitate the managing of manufactured goods and materials. Its information storage capacity as well as its ability to transfer information through contactless means without line-of-sight translates to significant advantages to deliver various benefits for retailers and their clients in the retail settings. However, up until now RFID technology has gained very little momentum and the status of adoption particularly of retail organisations in South Africa is unknown. To fill this research gap, an exploratory study that draws on the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework was employed to provide a deeper understanding of South African retailers’ perceptions of RFID adoption. Five interviewees representing their respective organisations participated in the study. The findings suggested that the adoption level is very low and only one organisation from the sample used had done a pilot project. The results also indicated that cost, standardisation and government support influenced the adoption of the technology. Complexity and technology competence were not considered to have any influence in the adoption of the technology. Competitive pressure was not deemed influential if the technology was not embedded in the whole supply chain, a somewhat surprising result. There were no anticipated impacts on the employees if this technology was implemented. Methodological and practical implications are also discussed.Item Perceptions of cross-racial adoption in South Africa.(2010-08-06) Hall, Victoria AnnThis study aimed to explore possible ways in which racist ideology and counter positions to this ideology are played out in discourses about cross-racial adoption (CRA) in the current post-apartheid context of South Africa. Three focus group interviews were conducted with 18 psychology students at the University of the Witwatersrand. The study adopted a social constructionist approach to knowledge and transcripts from the focus groups were analyzed using discourse analysis that combined techniques from Braun and Clarke (2006) and Parker (1992, 1999). Analysis revealed that students’ discussion focused mainly on the extent to which they thought black children raised by white parents should (or should not) be exposed to black culture. The discourses underlying these opinions appeared to gain social legitimacy for their speakers through three overarching repertoires, all of which tended to be used to divert attention away from the political ramifications of arguments. Firstly, participants claimed that their arguments were made with “the best interests of the child” at heart. Secondly, participants constructed particular meanings of the relationship between ‘race’ and identity by framing these meanings as central to “knowing who you are”. Thirdly, participants distanced themselves from accountability for their opinions by framing them as reflections of “other South Africans’ attitudes” towards ‘race’ and CRA. Overall, the analysis revealed that processes of racialisation show strong persistence in both black and white people’s discourses about CRA, but tend to be overtly expressed as a value and tolerance of different cultures and ethnicities. However, counter voices to these discourses did emerge in prominent challenges to the idea that ‘race’, ethnicity and culture are intrinsic and immutable features of people. Less prominent were the occasional counter voices that suggested these constructs are nevertheless pertinent, because of the ways in which they may be used to either challenge ‘racially’-derived inequalities between groups, or to fuel the prominence of racist ideology in society.