Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

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Subject: search.filters.subject.SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 48
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    Examining the relationship between governance and gross fixed capital formation in Sub-Saharan Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Machobani, Dennis; Mahonye, Nyasha
    This study delves into the intricate relationship between governance and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), aiming to address the substantial infrastructure deficit in the region. Employing the System GMM methodology, the primary research question focuses on understanding the correlation between institutions and GFCF in SSA. Subsequent sub-questions delve into the relationships between political stability and GFCF, as well as the composite index of institutions and GFCF. Policy recommendations highlight the pivotal role of good governance, advocating for reforms, institution strengthening, and enhanced transparency. The study's outcomes emphasize the intricate interplay of diverse factors impacting GFCF, prompting policymakers to adopt comprehensive strategies for sustainable development. Persistent effects of past investment choices underscore the necessity for continuous efforts to incentivize investment. Key determinants such as trade policies, current account balances, gross domestic savings, and government expenditure are identified, suggesting targeted interventions to stimulate private sector engagement and cultivate an environment conducive to heightened investment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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    South Africa’s Rural Development Strategy, its Application and Theoretical Underpinnings: using the application of the CRDP at Muyexe Village as a Reflector
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Manganyi, Kenneth; Lange, Jérôme
    Rural development in South Africa has been a key component of economic strategy since 1994. However, evaluation by both the government and outside actors reveals limited success in set targets. Integrated development, sustainability and community participation have been its key concepts, with land reform, infrastructure investment, skills development, provision of necessities and job creation as some of its important tools. The CRDP was piloted at Muyexe Village in 2009, a period when South Africa was still reeling from the GEAR strategy. As a contribution to the continuous assessment, this report is an enquiry about the content of the rural development programme and its application, and how these have been influenced by the theoretical underpinnings of the country’s macroeconomic policy choices. Reflecting on the Muyexe CRDP pilot, the report explores the theoretical anchoring of South Africa’s rural development strategy, design, and implementation. This is done by evaluating the literature on economic development, academic and official publications on South Africa’s post-apartheid macroeconomic posture, documentation on the design and implementation of the rural development programme and a case study at Muyexe village with information also collected from participants in the CRDP pilot projects, government officials and leaders of comparative communities using questionnaires, interviews and observations.
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    A multi-theoretical analysis of the complexity of land reform policy formulation in post- apartheid South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Jurgens, Richard Bartholomew; Hobden, hristine
    Recent years have seen a highly polarised public debate about land reform, centring on the question of whether the ANC government should seek to amend the Constitution to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation. The ANC finally adopted expropriation without compensation as its policy on land reform in 2018, a position on the question that appears to be a significant shift from its more reconciliation-led approach in the early democratic years. This dissertation analyses the land reform debate between 1994 and 2018 through a multi- theoretical lens, focusing, firstly, on the ANC-led government’s approach to policy formulation and implementation in this period, and secondly, on its approach to the parliamentary inquiry that it sponsored in 2018 to establish the public’s views on expropriation without compensation. Two related theories, the wicked problem framework, and framing theory, are used to shed light on the ANC’s approach to shaping the public debate on land reform during the period under review. An accountability model is used to evaluate the Joint Constitutional Review Committee’s approach to public engagement during its inquiry in 2018. The use of a multi-theoretical approach aims to provide new insights into the complexity of the land reform debate, and, at the same time, to illustrate the value and utility of theoretical tools in complex policy questions.
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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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    Community participation in rural development at Ga-Maja in the Limpopo Province
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Tema, Mokgatla Bernice; Khumalo, John
    Public participation in development, in South Africa, is embraced in the country’s Constitution and various legislative and policy frameworks. Despite this, participation is not adequately institutionalised in government, including in local government. The purpose of this study is to explore how community members perceive community participation in decision-making about and implementation of rural development programmes. The research is a qualitative case study with focus on the village of Ga-Maja in the Limpopo province. The research has, among others, found that the community is not fully engaged in its development. It has also established that conflict between the ward councillors and the traditional leadership is a hindrance to community participation in development. This conflict is largely caused by the vague description of the role of traditional leadership in government’s policy documents. Accordingly, government should empower the traditional leadership to play a definitive role in the development of rural communities
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    An exploration into change management perceptions and approaches of two provincial government departments
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Ndlovu, Zibusiso Khethiwe; Hobden, Christine
    Change in the South African public sector is unavoidable due to the turbulent political and economic climate and developing technologies presented to us by the 4th industrial revolution. It is widely acknowledged that organizational change is often plagued by failure, however, this study argues that contextual organisational dimensions such as deep structures and change ownership are frequently overlooked in public sector change management discussions. This prompted a qualitative case study between two Gauteng Provincial Government departments. This design enabled an in-depth exploration of approaches to change management in the two different departments to gain a better understanding of change management approaches within the GPG. Data was collected from recorded 30–60-minute semi-structured interviews with 12 key informants (senior, middle, and junior management staff in the respective provincial departments) identified through purposive criterion & snowball sampling. Interviews were transcribed identifying emerging themes and codes aligned to answering the research questions. Additionally, a desktop review of academic literature, departmental documents, and reports was undertaken to gain deeper contextual understanding and perspective of the GPG change management landscape. The study results revealed that the nature of change is characterised by a lack of ownership and poor reinforcement of change in the GPG. Furthermore, that communication within GPG exists, however, it doesn’t always filter down to the lowest employees
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    Municipalities and the provision of alternative accommodation to evicted residents
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Wetbooi, Nomalizo S.; Abrahams, Cayrn
    The demand for housing in South Africa is more than what the state can provide. This is demonstrated by reported cases of unauthorized occupation of land and the increased litigation in housing rights rendering housing as the most litigated socio-economic right in the constitutional democracy. Although there have been laws such as PIE in place to deal with procedural requirements of eviction, illegal eviction has continued to take place in municipalities. Provision for alternative accommodation has become a strict requirement for the courts to grant eviction. The responsibility to provide alternative accommodation has been given to municipalities. The research explores challenges accompanied by the provision of alternative accommodation by municipalities to evicted residents through a case study by the City of Tshwane
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    Public Participation in the Integrated Development Plan: A Case of Madibeng Local Municipality, North-West Province
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Pilane, Mmamodikwe Violet; Ndhlovu, Hlengiwe
    This study is premised on the argument that the Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) remains an integral platform for engaging local communities through inclusive participation in the planning, implementation and reviewing of service delivery priorities. When processes, as outlined in the legislative prescripts, are not rolled out accordingly, there is a risk of public officials using IDPs as a compliance tool, while local communities consequently turn it into a platform for contestation of competing development interests. This research explores the role of public participation in the IDP processes with specific attention drawn to the Madibeng Local Municipality in the North-West province. I argue that; while public participation remains an important pillar for facilitating consultative governance within local municipalities; different understandings of its purpose and processes, coupled with longstanding service delivery challenges, have turned the IDP processes into a platform for interrogating service delivery needs for communities whereas public officials view it as a compliance process despite it not yielding positive results. This is regardless of the provisions in the South African Constitution and other acts that govern municipalities that provide processes for inclusive government and obligates local government to adhere to these. Thus, continued service delivery related protests in Madibeng Local Municipality, that are over a decade old, suggest that there is a disjuncture between the service delivery priorities as articulated by community members and the actual services that are delivered on the ground by the municipality. Therefore, the argument pursued in this report suggests that democratisation of IDPs to open up for meaningful participation by allowing communities to lead the process, has an opportunity to transform IDPs into an effective process for effective service delivery and development. The study employs an explanatory research design to understand how and why Madibeng Local Municipality reports influx of service delivery related protests when it is not exempted from the local government legislative prescript that guide the processes of inclusive governance. Evidence presented throughout the report draws from a qualitative research design that triangulates semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation as the main methods of data collection. Data was collected to interrogate the dislocation between what the legislation dictates insofar public participation in the IDP and the ensuing implementation thereof.