Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)
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Item Enhancing Women Entrepreneurship in the Agricultural Sector within the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Zondi, Nokubonga Happy; Mazonde, NomusaThe research aimed to explore the multifaceted aspects of enhancing women entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector in the dynamic KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The investigation explored the role played by women in the sector, challenges they face and potential strategies to foster their empowerment and success. A qualitative research approach was adopted for the research. The research engaged with 20 women entrepreneurs actively participating in agricultural pursuits within the KwaZulu-Natal Province. This research reveals that women-led agricultural enterprises contribute to the socio- economic landscape of KwaZulu-Natal. These women-led enterprises also emerge as crucial drivers to poverty alleviation, creation of job opportunities, and ensuring food security within households. However, persistent challenges pose hurdles to their endeavours, including limited access to resources, social and cultural barriers, limited education and skills, lack of information, and limited access to markets. . While government support initiatives have been put in place, the research emphasizes that lack of skills, which is a crucial factor, remains inadequately addressed. The research puts forth a number of recommendations including on-farm training programs, coaching or mentorship initiatives, and training workshops. All these factors are identified as integral components of intervention strategies.Item Effectiveness of the Socio-economic Interventions that Empower Women’s Resilience Against Gender-based Violence in eMalahleni(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Sibisi, ZaneleGender-based violence (GBV) is pervasive in South Africa, impacting both genders across demographics. Studies reveal alarming rates, with 51% of women and 76% of men experiencing or perpetrating GBV. Partner violence and femicide are particularly concerning, with one in five women facing violence from partners, and the femicide rate five times the global average. GBV incurs a substantial economic cost of R 35.4 billion yearly, akin to employing 200,000 primary school teachers. It manifests in various forms and involves multiple perpetrators, necessitating socio-economic interventions addressing poverty and gender disparities. Empowering women through economic initiatives and challenging traditional gender norms are crucial strategies. By evaluating socioeconomic interventions in specific contexts, such as eMalahleni, South Africa, researchers can gain valuable insights into the mechanisms through which these interventions empower women and mitigate the risk of GBV. A semi-structured interview guide was created for discussions on interventions against gender-based violence (GBV) in eMalahleni, drawing upon the Gender Transformative and Capability Approaches. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze data, ensuring rigor through peer debriefing and member checking. The study delves into the demographics and experiences of GBV survivors, highlighting the diverse challenges they face. Most participants, aged 21-40, deal with additional burdens if they have children. Education and employment status influence vulnerability. GBV survivors endure various abuses, often resorting to self-referral for support. However, there is limited use of non-governmental organizations (NGO) services. Participants stress the necessity of comprehensive interventions offering immediate and long-term support, including socio-economic empowerment. They advocate for ongoing assistance to aid effective recovery. Recommendations emphasize holistic support, community involvement, and government funding to combat GBV effectively. The study proposes an innovative framework for assisting GBV victimsItem Women of color in the South African workforce: workplace bias and its consequences(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mtya, Busisiwe; Maier, ChristophThis research study investigates the significance of women of colour in the South Africanworkplace by examining the impact of workplace bias and its consequences. The study takesan intersectional approach, considering the unique experiences and challenges faced bywomen of color in the workforce. The transactional model of coping and multi-level biastheories are employed to analyse the coping mechanisms employed by women of color andthe organizational and societal factors that contribute to bias. This research utilizes aqualitative survey methodology, specifically targeting MBA women of color from WitsBusiness School, who are employed in various industries across South Africa. The surveyaims to capture data on participants' experiences of workplace bias, coping strategies, and theconsequences of bias on their professional growth and well-being.Data collection from the survey questionnaire will be analysed using thematic analysistechniques to examine the correlation between workplace bias, coping strategies, andoutcomes such as career advancement, job satisfaction, and mental health. The study seeks toidentify the specific types of bias experienced by women of color and explore how thesebiases impact their career trajectories and overall well-being. Study findings are expected toprovide a better comprehension of the difficulties faced by women of colour in the SouthAfrican workforce and shed light on the effectiveness of coping strategies in mitigating thenegative consequences of bias. Moreover, the research aims to provide insights fororganizations and policymakers to develop interventions and strategies that promoteinclusivity and equality in the workplace, leading to a more diverse and equitable workforcein South Africa.Item Accelerating the advancement of black women leaders in corporate South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Letsoalo, Shamiela; Mazonde, NomusaAs of 2022, the disparity in corporate South Africa's top management positions were evident, with only 11% of Black women holding such roles, contrasting starkly with the 53.1% representation of white males in similar positions. Examining the progression over the preceding four years, the data from 2017 reveals that Black women occupied 14.2% of board positions, indicating a modest 6% increase during that period. This information substantiates the observation that Black women face substantial underrepresentation in high-ranking corporate roles within South Africa and that their advancement to these positions has been notably sluggish. The study's theoretical framework employed a comprehensive approach by integrating three interconnected perspectives: Intersectionality Theory, Organisational Leadership Theories, and Marxist Feminist Theory. This triangulation offered a nuanced exploration of the factors influencing the acceleration of Black women leaders to top positions. A deliberate selection process involved choosing 8 Black women leaders from 7 companies and 1 state-owned entity for participation in this study. The selected individuals participated in either face-to-face interviews or virtual open-ended question sessions through video conferencing platforms, Zoom or Microsoft Teams. During these interactions, the participants candidly discussed their career paths to executive positions, highlighted obstacles faced during their journeys, and reflected on the strategies that enabled them to overcome challenges in their pursuit of leadership roles. The participants described the challenges they encountered which in their view impeded their progress in pursuit of career advancement to senior and top management positions. The study delved into the professional journeys of these accomplished Black women leaders through semi-structured interviews. Targeting c-suite and senior-level professionals, including CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and group executives, the research explored their experiences across diverse sectors such as financial services, professional consulting, technology, government entities, and mining. All participants, who were situated in Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, were deliberately selected from the researcher's professional and personal network. Purposive sampling ensured representation from various leadership roles. This qualitative exploration, rooted in the participants' lived experiences, uncovered insights into systemic barriers, and organisational initiatives affecting the accelerated progress of Black women leaders to senior and executive positions, and the strategies which supported them in their advancement to leadership roles. The study's approach provided more information on the lived experiences of the participants, urging further research and interventions to enhance and accelerate the representation of Black women in senior corporate positions in South Africa. The study addressed a pressing issue of transformation and diversity in corporate South Africa by offering practical solutions for Black women leaders and companies. It emphasised the significance of actively building and nurturing professional networks, mentorship, and continuous learning as pivotal strategies for Black women navigating corporate landscapes. Additionally, for companies aiming to foster diversity and inclusion, the study underscored the importance of clear communication of policies, effective mentorship and sponsorship programmes, and the promotion of an inclusive organisational culture. Providing flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance and addressing specific challenges faced by Black women leaders were identified as key contributors to a supportive environment. The study concludes by recognising its role as a foundational exploration, shedding light on the challenges faced by Black women leaders in corporate South Africa, offering solutions, and serving as a baseline for further in-depth investigationItem Gender and Transitional Justice in the Central African Republic(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) George, Lucia; Swart, MiaThe Central African Republic has been the scene for many years, even decades, of many conflicts and almost permanent political, social, and economic instability. During the most recent conflicts, in 2002/2003, and in 2012/2013 until today, women have been the first victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), understood in its broadest sense as also including violations of socio-economic and cultural rights of which they were the first targets or from which they suffered the most disproportionate consequences. This thesis proposes to assess whether the transitional justice mechanisms created in the Central African Republic can combat GBV by challenging the unequal gender norms and structures pre-existing the conflicts and, therefore, bring about a significant change in the life of women in the country. To do this, this thesis proposes to look at the concept of transformative justice to analyse what this concept means in theory and practice. In doing so, three different modes of justice will be successively studied: interactional justice, distributive justice, and normative justice from the perspective of a feminist analysis of transitional justice.Item Strengthening Accountability for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence under International Human Rights Law(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Leung, Ka Yan; Chenwi, LillianThis research report critiques the current mechanisms available for ensuring accountability for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the context of international human rights law. It appraises the international, as well as regional, legal frameworks for SGBV, identifying common mechanisms flowing from those instruments. The report also identifies gaps and current challenges in the efforts to provide increased accountability for survivors and victims of SGBV. Key findings include an inefficient, heteronormative approach in respect of, and protection for, non-binary and gender-diverse victims of SGBV, and poor reporting by states in terms of the international human rights instruments. It concludes that taking a more gender-inclusive approach to instruments, and advocating for a new binding instrument with a more encompassing human-rights framing, may be of value, alongside the development of more progressive feminist jurisprudence. While these solutions do not claim to be the cure for all SGBV violations, they will greatly contribute to the protection of persons affectedItem A feminist ontology to data commercialisation: Evaluating women's access to information and privacy within the medico-legal sphere in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Neto, Ângela Pacheco; Swemmer, SheenaWith the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, rapid exchanges of data have intensified. Technologies like biometric monitoring, female-oriented technologies, and artificial intelligence bring with them a host of legal issues related to consent, access, privacy, and liability. Vulnerable populations or groups must be given particular attention as standard data practices serve to reinforce existing inequalities. For this reason, female-directed and female- generated health data is specifically considered herein. By employing a data feminism lens, it becomes apparent that the current South African regulatory framework has been legislatively misapproached with regards to the medico-legal sphere in South Africa. The methodology herein draws on critical review methods, thematic analysis, and legal discourse analysis, ultimately utilising the general principles of research inherent in the socio-legal sciences. A responsive and flexible health data law that incorporates intersectional narratives is advanced. This holistic response must account for the two-faced coin of female access to information and privacy in order to address historical structures of power inequityItem Diversity And Inclusion In The Workplace Of Civil Engineering Firms In South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Ramone, Ntsitile; Woytela, KambidimaThe narrative of engineering as a masculine profession has replicated the observation that engineering is incongruous for women. Although efforts to encourage females to get into the engineering field have been made, a number of them have failed. At the same time, it has been argued that the way gender is ‘done’ in work can help diminish or increase inequality between the sexes. Diversity symbolises the synchronicity of employees with an extensive variation of socio-cultural, socio-economic as well as demographic characteristics. Inclusion designates the optimal employment of a blended workforce for the development and success of an organisation by providing a sense of connection, empowerment, acknowledgement, respect to the diverse workforce as well as integration. Gender inequality can also be viewed as the cultural and social situation in which gender determines different rights and self-worth for women and men, which are echoed in their imbalanced access to rights, as well as the hypothesis of pigeonholed social and cultural roles Using case study research exploring diversity and inclusion in the workplace of South African civil engineering firms in Gauteng, this study aims to explore the relationship between diversity and inclusion attributes such as gender inequality, pay disparities, gender based discrimination, skills as well as unfavourable work conditions and how they affect job performance and in turn inhibit growth in the industry. A case study approach was used through conducting semi-structured interviews that enabled in-depth insights from participants to get a thorough understanding of the concepts under reviewItem Experiences of positive psychology coaching for women’s success in workplace(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2018) Mokwele, MapasekaThe findings of the study revealed that positive psychology coaching assists the coachees in their ability to develop positive thinking; it helps to improve confidence and resilience, enhances self-awareness and interpersonal skills, enhances learning and knowledge and also enhances decision making skills. Despite this, there were challenges that were highlighted during the use of positive psychology coaching. There were three core challenges that were revealed by the findings, which were the personal coachee challenges, environmental challenges, as well as the PPC tools and methodology challenges. The findings show there were overall benefits which entailed higher level of self-awareness and control where the coachees were able to tap into their strengths, increased their energy, eliminated negative thoughts and felt empowered in so far as being able to achieve all their desires. It is evident that positive psychology coaching is a vital tool for women in leadership as it enhances their ability to go for what they want and believe in themselves, thereby reaching their optimum psychological aspects resulting in success in the workplaceItem The Role of Philanthropy in Women Development through Food Security(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Makhubele, Thandi; Qobo, MzukisiFood insecurity remains one of the critical issues for countries in the African continent. According to Pérez-Escamilla, (2017, p. 1), “food insecurity occurs when people do not have access to nutritious food and where food production is inadequate.” Most of the world’s rural population relies on agriculture for its livelihoods and to bolster their local economies (The World Bank Group, 2020). Small-scale farmers are the backbone of the agricultural sector in most rural areas. They (Small-scale farmers) provide access to food for vulnerable groups, including women and children (Misselhorn & Hendriks, 2017). Meanwhile women are the most affected by food insecurity, even though they are the main contributors to food production in most Sub-Saharan countries (Doss, 2018). Women in rural areas, in particular, rely on agriculture to fight food insecurity and to participate in local economies. In South Africa, small-scale women farmers ranked lowest in income accumulation, equal access to food production resources such as land and markets and financing (Sishuba, 2019). For this reason, government subsidies and philanthropic support are crucial for engaging women and assisting them with resources that can allow them to have equal access to land, resources, skills, and finances as their male counterparts. This research investigated the intersection between and among philanthropy, food security and women-owned initiatives in the agricultural sector in Limpopo. The study focuses on small- scale women farmers in the Vhembe and Capricorn districts in Limpopo, the two regions that are popular for large scale farming in South Africa. The research sought to answer the question; ‘what is the contribution of philanthropy to women development in the agriculture sector?’ A qualitative research approach was employed to explore the role of philanthropic organisations in women development, particularly in the agricultural sector in Limpopo. Two questionnaires through an online survey were used as the main methods to collect primary data . Forty seven (47) respondents were targeted. Of these, twenty four (24) were small scale farmers while twenty three (23) were drawn from philanthropic organisations operating in South Africa