3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions

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    Advocating for the right to food in South Africa - an analysis of judicial activism, public interest litigation and collective action in South Africa as a strategy to secure the right to food
    (2016) Moyo, Busiso Helard
    This dissertation is an investigation of the conditions that would bring about the legal enforcement of the right to access sufficient food in South Africa as premised on the Constitution. This is motivated by the fact that modern-society has seen a gradual increase in the occurrence of socio-economic rights being protected through the legal opportunity structure of countries, ultimately leading to public interest litigation. At present, the right to food is being violated in South Africa. Taking into account the ambit of the constitution and several international instruments that speak to its realisation and the fact that there has been litigation on other socio-economic rights, suggesting that tools for litigation are in place, it is perplexing that right to food litigation has not taken place. The research question of this paper is therefore: which factors and conditions would have to be present for there to arise public interest litigation on the right to food in South Africa? Due to the fact that literature on right to food litigation is almost non-existent, especially for the African context, this is an explorative case study. The dissertation utilises an analytical framework to study the prospect of litigation on the right to food becoming a reality. The study is largely theory-driven, relying on various sources of evidence: secondary literature, conducted-research and official state documents speaking to the countries right to food narrative. The analysis reveals that there are many barriers to right to food litigation in South Africa. These mainly have to do with the conditions that impact the manner in which right to food violations are understood by the poor and marginalised in society on one hand and the responsiveness of the courts to the voice of the marginalised and poor on the other. The dissertation concludes that the most crucial factors for right to food litigation in South Africa to arise are the need for more information and awareness around the right to food; improved legal assistance for the hungry and poor; more trust in the legal system amongst those at the bottom of the pyramid; the need for a stronger focus on litigation strategies by civil society and advocacy groups and the need for judges to be more innovative in carrying-out their duties. The conclusions of this study have relevance for those working actively for the promotion and realisation of the right to food in South Africa.
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    Coping mechanisms of low-income urban households to escalating energy costs in South Africa
    (2016) Dlamini, Khetsiwe Thandeka Hazel
    Whereas the escalation of energy costs in South Africa over the past 5-years has been systematically reported, the extent to which low-income urban households are coping with the escalation has not been studied. Based on ethnographic data from Etwatwa in Ekurhuleni and secondary data from the Department of Energy and Statistics South Africa, the study evaluates the extent to which ongoing energy poverty mitigation programmes under FBE (Free Basic Electricity) and FBAE (Free Basic Alternative Energy) are facilitating how such households cope with the escalating costs. One of the key findings of the study is that FBE is not only inadequate for beneficiary household needs but also fails to accommodate large family sizes whose consumption goes beyond the set threshold of 450kWh/month. Since FBAE is only available for households not yet connected to the grid, the programme would not serve as a complementary intervention for households not benefiting from FBE due to consumption beyond the threshold. Based on the key finding of inadequacy of existing mitigation interventions (declining affordability of electricity, unresponsiveness of FBE to large-family size and the barrier to accessing FBAE while connected to grid) the study finds that energy poverty among low-income households and communities is deepening. As coping strategies, households resort to switching to alternative combustible fuels like paraffin, wood, coal, and solid waste which leads to indoor and outdoor air-pollution with related respiratory illnesses and under severe situations they resort to suppressing demand through options such foregoing cooked meals, irregular bathing/cleaning and space-heating in winter. The findings also allowed the study to critique the energy ladder model on its assumptions on linear energy carrier transitions in line with improved incomes of low-income households. In particular, the study finds that even as incomes of affected households improve, an ever increasing share of the income goes towards covering the escalating energy costs but still never managing to close the affordability gap for clean energy thus reinforcing a vicious cascade in energy poverty In order to systematically mitigate these escalating patterns of energy poverty, the study recommends the distribution of renewable technology through a more innovative FBAE policy which would allow municipalities, national government and other stakeholders to commit to more equitable long-term investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy interventions for such households. Key words: escalating energy costs, coping mechanism, energy poverty, Free Basic Electricity, Free Basic Alternative Energy
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    Relationship power and HIV sero-status: an analysis of their relationship among low-income urban Zimbabwean women, during the period May-Septermber 2011
    (2015) Rwafa, Teurai
    In Zimbabwe, HIV prevalence is higher among women than men of reproductive age- 18% vs. 12%. Gender power imbalances exist in our societies and result in relationship power imbalances; which increase women’s vulnerability to HIV. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between relationship power and HIV sero-status among low-income urban Zimbabwean women attending post-natal care clinics. Methodology: A secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey conducted among 2 042 women aged 15-49 years, attending six low-income urban clinics in Harare in 2011. HIV results were based on rapid HIV diagnostic tests conducted during ANC. Shona intervieweradministered structured-questionnaires were used to collect data. This secondary analysis was limited to women with a known HIV status (n= 1 951). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: The study population mean age of the 26 years (SD=5.8). HIV prevalence was 14.6% (n=299). Having a partner who ever refused use of any family planning method was associated with the women’s HIV status (aOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.10-2.78). A non-significant association was found between relationship control by the male partner and women’s HIV status after adjusting for other factors. Conclusion: Although there were patterns of high male partner control in intimate relationships, not all women were without agency. Our study provides further evidence that male dominance in intimate relationships increases women’s vulnerability to HIV. HIV prevention programmes, interventions and policies should address gender issues to help curb this disproportionate pandemic among the woman sub-population.
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    Product development training as a tool for empowemennt in crafts: a focus on training in pottery factories in the North West province
    (2015-08-25) Mahlangu, Isaac Bongani
    This dissertation aims to examine how pottery factories in the North West province were conceived and how relevant their functions are, within the confines of craft product development training initiatives, as potential contributors to social empowerment, job creation and economic sustainability today. The dissertation will trace and analyse the impact of specific training initiatives undertaken to empower potters from one of these factories. The focus will be on the methods used to transfer product design and craft manufacturing skills (craftsmanship) as well as evaluating the challenges and success of these methods in promoting self-reliance and sustaining livelihood economically. The impact of these methods will be assessed by the beneficiaries’ ability to integrate concepts, ideas and action as well as their understanding of the markets and ability to follow through orders. The research draws inspiration from the South African National Development Plan: Vision 2030 (NDP, 2011: 10). The plan envisages that by 2030; “the economy should be close to full employment; equip people with the skills they need; ensure that ownership of production is less concentrated and more diverse (where black people and women own a significant share of productive assets); and be able to grow rapidly, providing the resources to pay for investment in human and physical capital”. One of the key sectors anticipated to contribute in achieving the vision of the NDP is the craft sector as suggested by the Department of Trade and Industries (DTI’s) Customised Sector Programme (DTI, 2005). This vision is possible in the craft community if community development efforts are not rushed towards achieving immediate results, but rather focus on the long term of investing in and empowering people with the relevant skills. Writing about applying design to alleviate poverty, Thomas (2006) suggests that sustainable results can only be achieved in the long term because short term initiatives are dependent on single individuals from ‘outside’ organisations for designs and markets. And therefore this research focuses on pottery factories established in the year 2010 by Mintek’s Small Scale Mining Beneficiation Programme, particularly the Timbita Ceramic Incubator. According to the Minister of Arts and Culture the honourable Mr Paul Mashatile, the cultural and creative industries have the potential to be an important driver of economic growth and job creation (Business report, 5 April 2011, 17). Perceiving the creative sector beyond aesthetic and human development dimensions, and more as a sector with the potential to contribute to economic growth and job creation stimulated the assumption of more responsibility for stakeholders and government to invest in both financial and skills development. It is important then, to analyse whether the training methods implemented are efficient and effective in empowering these communities and whether or not they yield sustainable results. It is, therefore, anticipated that this study will contribute toward, at least within the South African context, the limited literature in craft development as an economic industry from the context of crafts product development and craftsmanship skills transfer. Applied research looking at practical cases will be combined with various literature engagements, and supported by semi-structured in-depth interviews used as tools to obtain information for this research.
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    The challenges of planning for poverty reduction in urban Kenya: the case of Nairobi's local authorities service delivery action plans (LASDAP) (2005-2007) planning approach in the Viwandani ward
    (2015-04-29) Lubaale, Grace Nyonyintono Kawomera
    This study explores the challenges of urban planning for poverty reduction that are faced by public institutions in urban Kenya. The existing studies in urban planning show that very little is known about these challenges. However, it is well acknowledged that globally urban poverty has increased at rates much higher than rural poverty. Indeed, poverty presents a dilemma for policy makers and citizens in Sub-Saharan African cities such as Nairobi and raises questions as to why poverty continues to grow despite the implementation of urban plans, policies and poverty reduction programmes. As a largely uncharted research area, it was necessary to explore the problem in significant depth; thus a qualitative research methodology was adopted to explore the case study of the Local Authorities Service Delivery Action Plans (LASDAP) in Nairobi’s Viwandani ward. Data were gathered and triangulated by means of focus groups and in-depth and semi-structured interviews. These were supplemented by key informant data, document reviews and an extensive review of urban planning and political science literature. A total of ninety-nine people including sixty-six men and thirty-three women participated in this study. The respondents were drawn from communities in Viwandani, city planners and other staff from the City of Nairobi, central government, and politicians. To analyse these data, a range of analytical techniques, namely a hybrid of categorisations, data displays, pattern matching and in some cases theoretical propositions were applied. These generated a set of themes for discussing the challenges of urban planning from the case study. The results were cross-checked with interview respondents and key informants and then validated in key feedback consultations in the study communities. This study shows that a long tradition of “power over the constitution”, embodied by the notion of an imperial presidency not only imposes one’s will over the people, but also can virtually destroy institutions. This study also finds that the legal framework for urban planning in Kenya is anchored in stakeholders’ involvement that only pays lip service to citizen’s participation and to accountability. Since the old Constitution was not supportive of participation and accountability, the planning predictably restricted space for citizen participation and did not provide for significant accountability by public officers. Therefore, the participation in the LASDAP in Viwandani was simply a sophisticated form of manipulation of citizens that is conceptualised as facipulation in the study. Facipulation here refers to the facilitation of a project to give the impression that citizens have the power to influence decisions of the state while at the same time being manipulated to ensure that the covert interests of powerful actors in the state are not undermined. The study reveals that challenges which public institutions face in urban planning for poverty reduction are both multi-layered and complex. The results show that the institutional framework for implementing the LASDAP in Kenya was by design defective in planning for poverty reduction. The study further reflects that the processes of constitutional development affect the form and types of political institutions established for urban planning. To achieve an urban planning framework for poverty reduction, therefore, institutional reform processes should be cognisant of and address the insidious power represented by the reluctance to shift the current institutional framework away from the status quo. The framework should also be aligned to the aspirations as expressed in the recently promulgated Constitution. In this Constitution citizens of Kenya are vested with all sovereign power and power is to be exercised only in accordance with the Constitution.
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    Trends and predictors of home deliveries in Kassena-Nankana East and West districts in Ghana: 2003-2009
    (2014) Millogo, Tieba
    Introduction: About sixty million of home deliveries occur worldwide every year. The vast majority of them in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC) where most of all out of health facility deliveries are attended by relatives and traditional births attendants . Poor hygienic conditions, ignorance of clean birth practices and lack of skills to manage the complications when they occur, make home deliveries unsafe for the mothers and their new-borns. Thus, getting pregnant women to give birth at health facility is critical in the efforts to improve reproductive health outcomes in many LMIC.
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    The perceptions of beneficiaries about the contribution of micro enterprises as a poverty reduction strategy : a study of women beneficiaries in Johannesburg.
    (2014-08-20) Chipuriro, Rejoice
    Micro enterprises have become popularised globally as the favoured option for development and have played a key role in poverty alleviation. The main premise of using micro enterprises has been to build the capacity of the individual to be self- sustaining and to move away from the continued dependency on state welfare. Micro enterprises are also seen as a key tool to allow participation of the disempowered population. In South Africa micro enterprises have been hailed by government as playing a pivotal role in creating employment opportunities for the poor people. The study was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of how beneficiaries view the role played by micro enterprises in reducing poverty. This qualitative research was based on case studies of 12 female participants who were selected using convenience sampling based on their availability and participation in micro enterprise initiatives. An interview schedule was used and the interviews were tape recorded. The major findings that emerged were that beneficiaries perceive micro enterprises as meeting their basic needs like food and rates, to others they were a way of supplementing income. Most participants perceived micro enterprise rather as a hobby than an effective income generating activity. None of the beneficiaries had business skills, equipment or information and capital to grow their business beyond their residential areas. None of the micro enterprises were able to create employment for others. Various factors such as lack of capital, low literacy levels, poor business management skills and non-entrepreneurial mind-set amongst others have resulted in this failure. Beneficiaries of this study perceived the income from their micro enterprises not enough to qualify their micro enterprises as a poverty reduction tool. The main conclusion drawn from the study is that whilst profit generated through participating in micro enterprises meet the beneficiaries’ basic necessities, it is insufficient income to meaningfully reduce poverty.
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    The influence of cultural dimensions on entrepreneurial intention in Madagascar's rural areas
    (2014-07-10) Ratsimanetrimanana, Fenosoa A.
    Understanding the triggers of the intention was, is and will be at the heart of scholars’ preoccupations when dealing with the universe of entrepreneurship. This unique pioneering research aimed at comparing the Malagasy main ethnic groups in terms of measures of cultural dimensions and perceived desirability and examining the effects of this perceived desirability on the relations between cultural dimensions and entrepreneurial intention. A non-experimental cross-sectional survey, based on a cluster sampling with quota approach comprising three sub-samples of ethnic groups and a structured questionnaire directly administrated by trained interviewers, was the source of data of the research. The use of relevant robust statistical tests characterised the data processing of the research, which revealed that there is no important difference in the measures of cultural dimensions among main ethnic groups in Madagascar’s rural areas. The level of perceived desirability and the relationships between cultural dimensions and entrepreneurial intention are not importantly moderated by perceived desirability among the main ethnic groups in Madagascar’s rural areas. Furthermore, it has been discovered that to some extent, Madagascar would not be a country of ethnic diversity and beginning to understand the Malagasy entrepreneurial profile based on cultural dimension, perceived desirability and entrepreneurial intention is possible. Within the context of an unprecedented level of poverty of the population of Madagascar, which strangles the way to a harmonious and sustainable development, the findings of the research would make an invaluable contribution to the setting up or the refining of policies and strategies targeting the promotion of entrepreneurship in general and self-employment in particular. It is broadly acknowledged that the key to alleviating poverty is based on the encouragement of self-employment of all individuals.
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    An exploration of the exit plans of the beneficiaries of the foster care grant in Soweto.
    (2014-07-07) Rembuluwani, Rendani
    Most social assistance programmes have exit strategies in place which require beneficiaries to end their participation in the programme either on an involuntary or voluntary basis. This can occur when the socioeconomic circumstances of the recipients have improved so they accomplish programme objectives and no longer need programme benefits (World Bank, 2000). Despite this ideal of being able to exit the grant system it seems that the withdrawal of the foster care grant can erode quality of life, particularly in circumstances where the foster parents do not have exit plans put in place. The aim of the study was to explore the exit plans of the recipients of the foster care grant in Soweto and the challenges they face in coming up with these plans. The study adopted a qualitative approach and it was exploratory in nature. Ten foster parents and four key informants from the Department of Social Development were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using two separate semi-structured interview schedules for participants and key informants. The data gathered was then analysed using thematic content analysis. The results of the study revealed that there was little knowledge and understanding about the foster care grant and what it seeks to do. The study also revealed that there were no exit plans put in place by foster parents. These results of the study found that the participants had very little knowledge of what an exit strategy was and they did not have set exit plans to exit the grant. Other findings indicated that there was no support for participants from their social workers in terms of the sharing of information and the development of exit plans. This study will thus contribute to the discourse on social assistance in general and foster care grants in particular. Furthermore, it will help to sensitise social workers on the need for exit plans for the recipients of foster grants.
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    The socio-economic bearing of donor aid suspension in Malawi between 2007 and 2011 : a case study of the World Food Programme (WFP) school meals programme in Chiradzulu District.
    (2014-06-11) Malikebu, Charles
    In Sub-Saharan Africa, one of the world’s poorest regions, governments heavily rely upon donor Aid in order to sustain their national budgets and address the exacerbation of poverty. Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the region is no exception and part of the cause of the poverty is donor aid suspension. The United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) in Malawi introduced the School Feeding programme in 1999. The intention was to reduce dropout rates, promote regular attendance, increase enrolment, and improve children’s ability to concentrate and learn, and improve government capacity to implement a school meals programme. During the period between 2007 and 2011, the WFP announced the temporary suspension of the programme for half a million children in 10 of the 13 Malawian Districts of which the Chirazdulu district was one. Since the suspension of the programme, no proper study has been conducted to indicate the bearing of the suspension. The purpose of the study was to explore in which ways suspension of Aid provision by the WFP from 2007 to 2011 affected the school meals programme and the socio-economic status of the beneficiaries of the programme in the Chiradzulu district in Malawi. Participants in the study were three teachers at two schools where the programme is offered and four parents from the two schools who were involved in the administration of the programme. A qualitative research approached was used and a case study design was applied at two schools in the Chiradzulu district where the WFP’s school meals programme was implemented. Semi-structure interview schedules that were pre-tested were used during the individual interviews conducted with parents and teachers. The school meals programme is still implemented at the two schools today. The main findings revealed that donor aid suspension affected the continued implementation of the school meals programme and the socio-economic wellbeing of the programme’s beneficiaries. There was a reduction in school attendance by learners, increased absenteeism, evidence of malnourishment amongst learners and increasing pressure on parents to provide breakfast for the learners before they went to school. For the programme to have a sustainable impact it is recommended that its implementation must not be interrupted by aid suspension, the programme must be expanded but remain targeted and not become universal and the Malawi government assume full responsibility of the programme and stop reliance on foreign funding.
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