4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions

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    The dynamics of place branding in Johannesburg: 1994 - 2019
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mbinza, Zenzile; Sihlongonyane, Mfaniseni Fana
    This PhD thesis lays the ground for understanding place branding processes from cities of the Global South. It critically explores place branding as an emerging mechanism for urban governance in Johannesburg. It is critical because place branding and its related processes have increasingly gained momentum in countries, regions and cities jostling for niche status in global economics. This thesis explores the different place brands that Johannesburg coined over time, focussing on the period between 1994 and 2019. It explored the city’s place brands under the five mayors that presided over Johannesburg, beginning with Dan Pretorius (1994 – 1995), Isaac Mogase (1995 – 1999), Amos Masondo (2000 – 2011), Parks Tau (2011 – 2016) and Herman Mashaba (2016 – 2019). The thesis employed a qualitative research methodology and case study design. Primary data Archival research and interviews were the primary data collection strategies. The ensuing discussion of place brands in Johannesburg reveals the dynamics and push factors that have contributed to the development of place brands under the time in question. Politics, economics, and activities related to globalisation emerged as leading drivers for the city of Johannesburg to develop its various place brands. The thesis found that Johannesburg followed a template similar to the cities of the Global North in its application of place branding. However, the thesis also found gaps in the city’s place branding processes. For example, there was limited engagement with the city residents when developing Johannesburg’s place brands. It pointed to a unilateral, top-down application of place branding in the city, which precluded it from using these processes as democracy-building tools. It necessitates the exploration of place branding from the perspective of city governments to begin encompassing issues of inclusivity and public participation. In this light, the thesis calls for a more strategic application of place branding in the Johannesburg.
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    The Complexities of Digitising Public Services in the City of Ekurhuleni
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Ngele, Sixolisiwe Solethu; Ndlovu, Hlengiwe
    This thesis is premised on the argument that while digital solutions in public service delivery offer significant potential for efficiency and accessibility, they also risk deepening existing divides if not carefully and inclusively implemented. The study examines the complex interplay of service delivery, governance, and community engagement within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, situated in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Through a comparative lens, it juxtaposes the lived experiences of residents in Thokoza hostels with those in the affluent suburb of Bedfordview, this thesis aims to illuminate the nuanced dynamics at play when digital public services intersect with diverse socio-economic disparities. The central argument posits that while digital solutions in public service delivery offer significant potential for efficiency and accessibility, they also risk deepening existing divides if not carefully and inclusively implemented. Grounded in the historical context of Ekurhuleni, where hostels originally served as temporary dwellings for migrant labourers during apartheid, this study sheds light on the enduring struggle for dignity and improved living conditions among predominantly black residents. Employing a qualitative research methodology, the study draws evidence from 12 in- depth interviews and 6 focus group discussions across diverse groups, including hostels and suburban residents, municipal officials, and local leaders, to comprehensively capture their experiences and perceptions regarding the digitalisation of service delivery and governance. The research draws upon theoretical frameworks of governance, service delivery, and spatial inequality, particularly rooted in the literature of post-apartheid urban studies. The findings unearth a stark contrast in the delivery of basic services and governance structures between Thokoza and Bedfordview. In Thokoza, residents grapple with dilapidated infrastructure, unaddressed service delivery grievances, and a palpable sense of municipal neglect, leading to the emergence of community-driven solutions such as ‘ukubhatala ngaphakathi’ (internal community funding for repairs). Conversely, Bedfordview residents enjoy relatively swift municipal responses and robust digital engagement, underscoring a digital divide that further entrenches existing disparities. Notably, the digital gap is epitomised by the My COE App, a municipal digital initiative aimed at streamlining service delivery reporting, which inadvertently side lines residents in Thokoza due to limited digital access and literacy. The contribution of the study lies in its illumination of apartheid’s enduring spatial and socio-economic legacies on contemporary urban governance and service delivery, cautioning against the exclusionary impacts of technological advancements on marginalised populations.
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    Land management and the use of communal land: The case of the Mchunu Traditional Authority and Alfred Duma Municipality
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Khanyile, Nonkululeko Nomfundo; Abraham, Caryn
    For centuries, traditional leadership in Africa was the sole authority over traditional land. They were in charge of allocating and managing land. The beginnings of colonisation and, later, apartheid in South Africa, disrupted these functions by traditional authorities. This posed a significant challenge to the traditional authorities. African countries were decolonized in the years that followed. Following decolonisation and the apartheid government, the citizens in South Africa elected a democratic government that established laws that could regulate how traditional leaders performed their duties in areas under their jurisdiction. However, in 2013, the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) was introduced, and this act presented conflicts between traditional authorities and the local government. The conflict emanates as a result of ambiguities in the act that do not specify the particular roles of local government and traditional authorities in relation to land use management. The research looked into how the Mchunu Traditional Authority (MTA) and Alfred Duma Municipality in Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal, interact on land governance issues. The study employed a qualitative research methodology and utilised snowball sampling. It used in-depth interviews to gather primary data. The questions focused on the governance interface between the two institutions and their distinct functions and roles. The study found that the local government and the traditional authorities are knowledgeable about their functions, which is contrary to some of the findings in studies referenced in the literature. It also found that the institutions have never experienced conflict on issues of land governance and continue to efficiently co- govern