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Item Budget 2025 Preview: Pressures and tensions along the austerity road to fiscal sustainability(Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, 2025-02) Sachs, Michael; Amra, Rashaad; Madonko, Thokozile; Willcox, OwenThis policy brief, ahead of the tabling of the 2025 Budget Review, considers the policy context and the fiscal and economic environment in which the Budget will be tabled. It considers the merits, limitations, and likely consequences of the government’s approach to budget policy over the medium term, as contained in the 2024 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), which redoubled efforts to consolidate public finances while attempting to promote capital spending. Since the MTBPS, several material expenditure pressures have emerged, some of which were flagged in the Public Economy Project’s (PEP) 2024 MTBPS analysis, and the economic outlook has been revised. Based on this, the Public Economy Project’s revised outlook for public finance finds that the government’s ambitious plan to stabilise debt over the medium term is unlikely to be realised.Item A panoptic view of the South African wealth tax(AOSIS, 2025-01) Ram, Asheer JaywantBackground: Wealth taxes are a topic of intense debate, with most countries having either abolished them or considered, but not implemented such measures. The South African government is contemplating the introduction of a wealth tax, purportedly to enhance revenue collection. Aim: This article examines whether the proposed South African wealth tax functions as a government panopticon, offering an alternative explanation for its introduction. It also considers the government’s transparency regarding the potential wealth tax. Setting: This article examined the opinions of tax experts in South Africa. Method: An interpretive approach is adopted. The traits of the wealth tax and the themes of the panopticon are identified and used as the row and column headings in a correspondence table, which serves as the research instrument distributed to tax experts. The tax experts indicate any associations between the themes of the panopticon and the traits of the wealth tax. Forty aggregated responses are subjected to correspondence analysis. Results: The potential wealth tax functions as a panopticon. It identifies and reveals relevant tax information about high-wealth individuals, appearing to coerce their compliance. Conclusion: There is credence to the alternate rationale for introducing a wealth tax in South Africa. Contribution: This is one of the first articles to apply the panopticon, a novel theoretical framework, in a tax context in South Africa. The findings are relevant to the exploration of similar taxes in other jurisdictions and provide a means for the critical evaluation of the motives behind tax policy decisions made by governments.Item Feeding children with autism in South Africa: the teachers’ perspectives(AOSIS Publishing, 2024-02) Adams, Skye N.; Matsimela, NthabisengBackground: Over 80% of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (autism) exhibit disruptive behaviours during mealtimes, highlighting the need for personalised care. In South Africa, teachers often take on the responsibility of feeding due to resource constraints and the time children spend at school. Moreover, children with autism have unique and individualised feeding requirements, which many teachers may not have the necessary training or skills to address adequately. Objectives: To explore the ways in which teachers of autistic children manage feeding difficulties in the classroom. Method: A qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured interviews. Eight teachers were interviewed on feeding autistic children between the ages of 3 years - 9 years in Johannesburg, South Africa. Data were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The findings revealed that teachers encountered distinct challenges when it came to feeding autistic children in the classroom, particularly concerning the management of associated feeding difficulties. Teachers employed several strategies to encourage eating in the classroom setting including: (1) bolus modification, (2) behaviour modelling, (3) positive reinforcement and (4) offering choices and alternatives. Conclusion: The study concludes the need for specialised support and training for teachers to address the individualised feeding needs of children with autism. Implementing targeted interventions and providing resources for teachers could enhance their abilities to effectively support children with autism during mealtimes and promote a more inclusive classroom environment. Contribution: This study highlighted the importance of including the teacher in the multidisciplinary team when managing the feeding challenges in children with autism.Item Comparing occupant satisfaction in Green versus Conventional Residential Real Estate in South Africa(Proceedings of the AfRES 2024 Conference, 2024-09) Masotya, Adam; Simbanegavi, Prisca; Weaich, Malcolm; Adewunmi, Yewande; Ndlovu, Pride; Gethe, FarananiThis study compares occupant satisfaction in green versus conventional residential real estate in South Africa. It investigates the benefits and satisfaction levels related to green developments, particularly in terms of energy savings and socio-economic Impacts. The research aimed to determine if there is a significant difference in occupant satisfaction between green and conventional residential developments. A quantitative approach was employed, utilizing stratified random sampling to survey 160 occupants from two developments: Crossberry Central (green) and Little Manhattan (conventional). Data was analysed using the Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon W tests due to non- normal data distribution. The findings indicate that occupants of green developments report significantly higher satisfaction levels. Key areas of satisfaction include air quality, utility savings, and environmental benefits. Green developments demonstrate higher levels of satisfaction regarding reduced utility bills, improved indoor air quality, and contributions to environmental conservation. The study concludes that green residential developments significantly enhance occupant satisfaction compared to conventional housing. This suggests a socio-cultural shift towards valuing sustainable living environments, emphasising the importance of promoting green building practices to improve both environmental and occupant well-being.Item Life became harder with COVID19 exploring the experiences of the COVID19 pandemic among youth living in eThekwini district South Africa(Biomed Central , 2024- 07) Closson, K.; Dong, E.; Zulu, Bongiwe; Dietrich, Janan; Zharima, Campion; Jesson, J.; Pakhomova, T.; Beksinska, Malgorzata; Kaida, A.Background: In South Africa, pervasive age and gender inequities have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and public health response. We aimed to explore experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic among youth in eThekwini district, South Africa. Methods: Between December 2021-May 2022 we explored experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth aged 16–24 residing in eThekwini, South Africa. We collated responses to the open-ended question “Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you in any other way you want to tell us about?” in an online survey focused on understanding the pandemic’s multi-levelled health and social effects. We used a thematic analysis to summarise the responses. Results: Of 2,068 respondents, 256 (12.4%, median age = 22, 60.9% women) completed the open-ended survey question (11% in isiZulu). Results were organized into three main themes encompassing (1) COVID-19-related loss, fear, grief, and exacerbated mental and physical health concerns; (2) COVID-19-related intensified hardships, which contributed to financial, employment, food, education, and relationship insecurities for individuals and households; and (3) positive effects of the pandemic response, including the benefits of government policies and silver linings to government restrictions. Conclusions: We found that South African youth experienced significant grief and multiple losses (e.g., death, income, job, and educational) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trauma-aware interventions that provide economic and educational opportunities must be included in post-COVID recovery efforts.Item Intersectionality in Action: learnings, challenges & recommendations from IDRC-supported research in the global South(Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS), 2023) Dawson, Hannah J.; Lynch, Ingrid; Mhlana, Siviwe; Mokhema, SeipatiThe call for integrating intersectionality into development research and practice has surged in recent years. Advocates consider it a crucial perspective for understanding the interconnected forms in which oppression manifests and is experienced by marginalised groups of people. This approach is seen as valuable in crafting targeted, context-specific policy interventions to address diverse social problems. Despite its growing prominence and alignment with social justice agendas, confusion persists about what intersectionality entails. Ongoing debates centre on its origins, purpose and distinctiveness when compared to other conceptual tools and transformative methodologies. Existing intersectionality research often prioritises scholarship from the global North, particularly North America, which overlooks the diverse realities and perspectives of the global South. It is essential to highlight that intersectionality, as both a concept and a way of thinking, was present in various feminist traditions in the global South well before gaining prominence in the United States and academic discourse. Given the lack of a precise definition for intersectionality, scholars and practitioners increasingly emphasise the importance of investigating its application in specific research contexts and practical applications. The collaborative initiative "Promoting Intersectional Development Research," led by the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) at the University of the Witwatersrand and Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC), has provided an opportunity to interrogate the concept of intersectionality and critically evaluate its relevance for development research in and for the global South. The principal objective of this project is to “understand, inform and promote intersectional approaches to development research” across different programme initiatives of the IDRC. More specifically, the project aims to: 1. Document the diverse application of an intersectional approach in IDRC-supported research projects. 2. Synthesise the lessons on the benefits, limits and barriers of incorporating an intersectional approach into research, and identify opportunities and challenges for applying intersectionality to research dissemination, policy application and engagement. 3. Identify the needs for strengthening capacity among IDRC staff and partners to enhance understanding and facilitate practical learning about the application of an intersectional lens to development research. To achieve these objectives, SCIS partnered with eight organisations to examine their application of intersectionality in an IDRC-supported research project. The resulting case studies demonstrate intersectionality in action, exploring how diverse researchers and practitioners apply its concepts and principles. These studies reflect on the relevance and usefulness of employing an intersectional lens within diverse contexts and projects that employ a range of epistemological and methodological approaches. They offer insights into both the alignment and tensions associated with adopting an intersectional lens.Item Key barriers to green building implementation in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-07) Mompati, Lerato; Mandlate, Mike; Kabini, Karabo; Nomvalo, Usiphe; Laryea, Samuel; Li, Baizhan; Essah, Emmanuel Adu; Mensah, Sarfo; Liu, Hong; Yao, RunmingDue to climate change, South Africa is faced with economic and health challenges. Adopting green building technologies reduces the amount of energy usage, however the implementation of green building in South Africa has been slow. This research aimed to identify the barriers on the implementation of green building and the methods that can be adopted to enhance the growth of green building in South Africa. A qualitative research method was be adopted. The open-ended interviews were conducted with built environment professionals. The main barriers of green building implementation are: initial high cost, lack of awareness, lack of incentives, and resistance to change. Recommendations to enhance the growth of green building practices in South Africa include: updating building codes, expanding training programs, fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, offering financial incentives, promoting the re-purposing of existing structures, and using performance-based contracts. The paper has highlighted the key barriers of green building implementation in South Africa and developed a database of the relevant studies which can further guide future researchers, stakeholders and policymakers in this area.Item Evaluating the new universities project outcomes using the PMBOK project performance domains(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-07) Mosalaesi, Tsholofelo; Laryea, Samuel; Laryea, Samuel; Li, Baizhan; Essah, Emmanuel Adu; Mensah, Sarfo; Liu, Hong; Yao, RunmingThe Project Management Institute (2021) PMBOK Guide seventh edition presents eight essential domains or activities that are crucial to ensure the success of a project. PMI (2021) defines these Project Performance Domains as a group of related activities that are critical for the effective delivery of project outcomes. The PMI’s new focus on performance and project outcomes marks a significant shift away from traditional project management tools and techniques. This paper uses the eight PPDs as a framework to determine the critical factors that enabled the success of the new universities project based on the eight domains. A completed project with comprehensive data was used for the analysis. Hence, data from the project close out report was analysed using the thematic analysis method to identify the key project performance practices that were formulated and implemented to successfully achieve the intended outcomes. The key success factors identified relate to the role of the client as a leader, stakeholder’s productive working relationship and the delivery of the project within 1% of the control budget. There may be a common assumption that all clients may employ project managers who may possess the skills to execute these critical functions successfully. However, this is not always the case on all projects, and there is also varying degrees of competency among project managers. Therefore, clients should ensure that those playing leadership roles in their projects are well equipped to perform these critical functions successfully as a condition to achieve better infrastructure project outcomes.Item Barriers to digitalization of procurement – a review(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-07) Ojo-Fafore, Elizabeth; Laryea, Samuel; Laryea, Samuel; Li, Baizhan; Essah, Emmanuel Adu; Mensah, Sarfo; Liu, Hong; Yao, RunmingThe concept of digital technology is making waves in the construction industry in developed countries; however, it is not the same story in other nations as there are several barriers militating the progress of adoption of the new concept. This study aims to investigate the barriers militating digitalization of procurement in Construction, to proffer solutions. This study investigated possible barriers affecting the implementation of digitalization of procurement using a descriptive literature review. Several past works were reviewed to fill the gaps and apply new methods that will enable the digitalization of procurement. The study discovered several barriers restraining the digitalization of Procurement, but there are three common barriers to the literature reviewed; insecurity, cost, and Lack of skilled expertise. This industry will bring overall improvements in project time, quality, cost, and safety standards as well as client requirements and satisfaction. This research paper is of the view that digitalization will increase productivity and the competitive advantage in the Construction industry. In conclusion, there is a need to prioritize investment in digital tools and technology to have ease of adoption of procurement digitalization.Item The impact of inflation on house prices in South Africa: effects of COVID-19(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-07) Simbanegavi, Prisca; Weaich, Malcom; Mpofu, Bekithemba; Moobela, Cletus; Laryea, Samuel; Li, Baizhan; Essah, Emmanuel Adu; Mensah, Sarfo; Liu, Hong; Yao, RunmingThis study investigates the impact of inflation on house prices in South Africa, with a particular focus on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research aims to elucidate the nature of the relationship between inflation and housing, and to determine how the pandemic has influenced this dynamic. Utilising monthly data from January 2010 to April 2022, the study employs Johansen cointegration and Granger causality tests to assess long-term and causal relationships, respectively. The findings confirm a positive long-term relationship between house prices and inflation, indicating that housing serves as an effective hedge against inflation. However, the results also reveal structural breaks in this relationship, with significant changes observed during the COVID-19 period. The Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) highlights short-run adjustments and the speed of return to equilibrium. This study provides valuable insights for investors and policymakers, demonstrating the resilience of housing investments during economic disruptions and underscoring the importance of considering regional and temporal factors in real estate investment strategies.