Faculty of Humanities (ETDs)
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Item Exploring factors leading to journalists leaving the profession in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Musi, Mampholodi Glorious; Sithole, EnockThis research looks into factors that lead journalists in South Africa to leave the profession to pursue other careers. Some journalists who have been bringing news to South Africans have been seen taking on jobs such as spokespersons and other roles in government and the private sector. This adds to the loss of skills newsrooms suffer due to the widespread retrenchments in the sector. A qualitative research method was used to gather data from 20 former print and broadcast journalists across South Africa, who shared their experiences in in-depth semi- structured interviews. The interviews were conducted over Zoom video link with journalists who left the profession between 2018 and 2023. This period covers the period before the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been a catalyst for some of the changes in the media landscape and the period post-pandemic. Using Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation, this study reveals that the lack of financial resources in many media houses has created a toxic mix that is pushing journalists out of the jobs they love, mainly because of poor salaries, added work responsibilities that are not matched with compensation, job insecurity, a toxic work environment, poor work-life balance, and unethical management. In general, the former journalists still love journalism but are moving away from the working conditions they were subjected to. Most journalists who have left the profession have more than 10 years of experience in the field. They take with them the skills and institutional memory built over the years – much to the detriment of the society they serve. Many say they are using the skills they have gathered in journalism to build new careers in the private sector corporate communications field and government, while others are running their businesses.Item Through the lens darkly: the transfiguration of the Black African image in South Africa and Mali(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mbele, Mara Iman Mhambi; Ligaga, DinaThis study offers a critical exploration of the dynamic conceptualisation of Blackness and Africanness, through the functionality of studio portraiture, captured within the diverse socio- historical contexts of selected West and Southern African countries. The objective of this study manifests threefold. Firstly, I explore the theorisation of Blackness and Africanness as both fixed embodiments of the colonial matrix of power; secondly, portraiture as an emancipatory structure for ontological resistance; and thirdly, ways through which Black African photographers subvert colonial photography conventions and reappropriate the medium for self-fashioning and self- representation. Where complexities of race, identity and representation intersect, I illustrate ways through which Blackness is discursively produced through specific socio-historical, economic and political legacies of “modernity/coloniality” (Mignolo 2007: 155) and sustained by mechanisms of hegemonic contemporary social structures. This research considers the pursuance of studio portraiture photography, circumscribed to the representation of the Black African body, as a means to elaborate how Africanness and Blackness are embodied through the fluid and fugitive Black African image. Not to conflate Blackness with Africanness, I have decided to make use of the paradigm Archie Mafeje describes as “Africanity” (2008). Concerning the examination of the para-ontological existence of Blackness, Africanness and studio portraiture photography juncture, I situate this study in a transdisciplinary approach, engaging with glitch feminism and decoloniality. Moreover, to highlight the reconstruction and futurity of Blackness, I analyse overall sixteen studio portraiture photographs captured by colonial administrators, postcolonial Black African photographers and contemporary Black African photographers, through my reconstructed multimodal and multisite research approach advanced Critical Visual Methodology (Rose 2001). I explore these images towards the thematic discussion regarding ways to which the potentiality of the Black African image is configured through peculiarities of Anglophone and Francophone colonial pictorial conventions, the shift in ontological bounds, glitching the cosmic Black African image, and lastly, decoloniality functioning as an engine of potentiality. Irrevocably, this research investigates to the extent in which socio-historical conditions produce racial identity; to what extent do the ways by which the Black body obtain the potentiality for autonomy and embodied subjectivity, that are enacted through portraiture photography as a medium and mode for ontological means of resistance and ultimately, to what extent is resistance performed in hegemonic contemporary structures towards writing a visual history of liberation.Item A Qualitative Study Exploring How South African Female Gender-Based Violence Survivors Use Creative Expression to Communicate Their Stories Publicly(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Wright, Mary-Anne Elizabeth; Harvey, ClareThis study investigated how South African female gender-based violence (GBV) survivors utilised creative expression to communicate their stories of GBV publicly. Within the constructivist paradigm, the study was further interested in how this public communication of GBV from the survivors themselves influenced and acted as a mode of counter-discourse in relation to the prominent discourse around GBV in South Africa. The study was done through conducting a critical narrative analysis (CNA) and visual discourse analysis (VDA) of three selected creative works, which communicated first-hand accounts of GBV, sourced from the public domain. The Pieces were selected through purposive sampling and the modes of creative expression were an artwork, a video of a performed poem, and a short story. The combination of CNA and VDA was chosen for this research as the creative works are a mixture of spoken word, written text, and other visual elements. The VDA allowed for an in-depth analysis of the visual components of the creative expressions with the hopes of providing a complete analysis within the CNA framework. Findings from this research suggest that creative works do potentially offer space for South African female GBV survivors to share their stories publicly. Through exploring social responses to the Pieces it seems that the sharing of these creative expressions further appears to have contributed to the social discourse which elicited engagement and conversation from other members of society. The creative expressions were additionally found to meet the criteria of counter-discourse. The Pieces challenge GBV dominant discourses such as victim-blaming, victimisation of survivors, and shame and stigma through relinquishing shame and blame and highlighting the strength and resilience of survivors.Item Back from the Brink: De-escalation of Conflict During the Four Crises of the Taiwan Strait(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Tshabalala, Matshepo Kholofelo; Small, MichelleThe Taiwan Strait remains a critical flashpoint in East Asia, with significant implications for regional and global security. This study explores the Four Crises of the Taiwan Strait, investigating historical tensions, military strategies of brinkmanship and deterrence, and the diplomatic relations between the PRC, ROC and the USA. Through qualitative analysis, this paper endeavours to understand the causal mechanisms and strategies that have been employed to de-escalate conflict. Key aspects of this research include an examination of China's strategic objectives, the effectiveness of the use of brinkmanship to achieve these objectives, Taiwan's evolving political landscape and defence strategies, and the United States’ policy manoeuvres aimed at maintaining regional stability and protecting Taiwan. The study analyses incidents and crises to identify patterns and triggers of escalation and de-escalation. The findings highlight the importance of deterrence, diplomatic engagement, concession and appeasement. This study contributes to the broader discourse on conflict resolution and ongoing efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.Item Beneath These Saline Stars(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Wilhelm-Solomon, MatthewA plague of drowning strikes an unnamed lakeside city. Hospitals are flooded with patients – primarily Black youth – who have died on soccer pitches, in their homes, and on the streets. A disgraced and divorced white journalist, now working on the arts pages of his newspaper, named Lüderitz Edward Leveza writes a profile on a performing artist and medical doctor, Isiwa: they are tattooed with black lightning, and walk as if on the point of falling. Isiwa is searching for the childhood song stolen from them when police arrested their mother—an activist against the former dictatorship—as a child. They provide Lüderitz information on deaths at the hospital where they work. Lüderitz’s investigation of the drownings takes him deeper into his past, his documentation of torture during the dictatorship, and his entanglement with Isiwa’s life. Together, Isiwa and Lüderitz see inexplicable visions in the city’s sky: men-of-war pass over his apartment block, a shoal of sardines weaves through the tower blocks, and whales arrive to mourn the dead. Isiwa leads an occupation of the city’s Freedom Square in protest against the deaths, but they are increasingly isolated and then arrested. Lüderitz is removed from his job and is mainly alone, punctured by Isiwa’s absence and left longing for them. During this time, he helps a young journalist called Zé in his investigations into the protests and drownings, which lead to a terrifying outcome. Beneath These Saline Stars is an aesthetic reworking of post-colonial journalistic realism and surrealism. It explores moral complicity with violence, loss and queer desire, rebellion and mourning, and the search for healing in a time of concatenated ecological, public health, and political catastrophes. A reflective essay follows the novel, in the form of crônicas – a Brazilian style of fragmentary essay. These explore diverse themes, both theoretical and personal, related to the context, influences and resonances of the novel: transatlantic literature and music; magical realism; créolité and postcolonial thought; Candomblé and climate change. The juxtaposition of these fragments aims to illuminate the personal, literary and political tides from which Beneath these Saline Stars took form.Item Bridging the Gap: Achieving Professionalization Through Memes(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Greaves, Megan; Parkins-Maliko, Natasha‘Bridging the Gap: Achieving Professionalization through Memes’ focuses on how social media is a useful marketing tool that South African Sign Language interpreters can use to promote the professionalism of interpreting. Up to now, there has been little focus on the ways South African Sign Language interpreters can use social media memes/behaviours to promote and advocate for the mainstream recognition of interpreters. This research bridges that gap by conducting a discourse analysis of the various hashtags South African Sign Language interpreters can employ to promote their personal brands as well as the brands of interpreting agencies. It also looks at the various social media strategies individuals and companies use to reach wider audiences. Although social media is a useful tool to promote professionalism, it does not come without its risks and ethical concerns. These risks are discussed in depth, and it is imperative that interpreters keep these risks in mind when using social media.Item Exploring How Civic Technologies are Contributing to Governance in Nigeria and South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Zisengwe, Melissa Tsungai; Abrahams, Lucienne; Burke, MarkThis research paper explores the African civic technology (‘civic tech’) ecosystem, with specific reference to its contribution to governance in Nigeria and South Africa. The research was informed by a qualitative methodology that used a comparative descriptive and explanatory case studies approach. Drawing on the African civic tech database and expert interviews, the study examined the drivers that influence the development of civic tech, its contribution to governance, and approaches to addressing challenges in the civic tech ecosystems in the two case study countries. The paper finds that in both countries, civic tech is driven by many variables, such as the proliferation of digital technologies, failing government systems, and international agendas. However, the foundations of most civic tech organisations are linked to governance issues experienced by both countries. Therefore, civic tech is often a result of the increased demand to strengthen the voice and capacity of citizens to engage and participate in governance issues that affect them directly. The findings suggest that civic tech influences governance in various areas, including indirectly and directly influencing innovation in government departments, opening up data, and leading to more transparency about government activities and governance challenges. The study found that civic tech has significantly transformed how citizens participate in decision-making and engage with the government, accentuating citizens’ voices on issues that affect them. The study concluded that civic tech has emerged as a social accountability mechanism as it plays a fundamental role in creating channels for citizens and other non-governmental actors to participate in governance. However, while civic tech is improving governance, the research concluded that it remains challenging to measure its influence due to how civic tech is constructed, adopted, and used. Consequently, there is an urgent need for the civic tech field to establish and streamline institutional monitoring and evaluation. This would enable the field to combine efforts and create a synergy where civic tech impact measurement is concerned.Item Kusengenzeka noma yini: Wakithi singayibiza ngani lendawo?(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Chiliza, Mhlonishwa; Hlasane, RangoatoKusengenzeka noma yini means ‘anything can still happen’, serving as a metaphorical phrase or a saying in isiZulu, which hints at the ambiguities of life within hostels. The phrase is interpretive, and multi-layered, reflecting the beauty, complexities, and systematic violence within the spheres of black social life in South Africa. Wakithi singayibiza ngani lendawo? means ‘what should we call this place?’ This is both a question and a double-sided statement, drawn from the everyday practice of yarning inside the hostel arena. South African hostels are congested and temporal, thus allowing for progress, failure, and the crafting of practices that include exploring life opportunities, self- determination, and recreation of freedom by the dwellers. Wakithi singayibiza ngani lendawo? is a critical question that encapsulate the feeling of yarning and provides a wide range of avenues to negotiate for a new image of hostels. For images that are real or authentic and challenge preconceived portrayal of black migrant residents in South African archives, see the exposé framework between the 1950s -1990s in the documentary series by Ernest Cole, Peter Magubane, Roger Meinjtes and Eli Weinberg. The practice of this resistance group of photographers exposed the injustices of the apartheid regime, while their approach is invasive and shows a violent gaze. It exposes the hostel residents as poor, needy, undignified, bitter and hopeless, and these negative elements overshadow the beautiful experiments that have always been practiced inside the hostel. The purpose of my praxis, through visual arts, is to explore these beautiful experiments inside the hostel by employing a wide range of mediums, such as drawing, sculpture installations, performance (video) and photography. It is a diverse approach that allows for new meanings and ideas to manifest, enabling a new image of hostels to emerge. The work or praxis serve to address the ‘missing narrative’ to reclaim the loss dignity of hostel communities. Inside the hostel engage with intimate objects, and interpreting different types of sounds within the conceptual frame of Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments Intimate Histories of Social Upheaval (2019) which is drawn from the work of Saidiya Hartman. The wayward framework and a mode of close narration, influences my philosophical as I navigate hostels to find a newly informed image that is far more human and comprehensive.Item An Exploration of Audiologist and Patient Communication during Adult Tinnitus Management Sessions in Gauteng, South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Stonestreet, Micaela Ruth; Kanji , Amisha; Watermeyer, JenniferIntroduction: Tinnitus is a prevalent symptom of hearing loss and can have a significant impact on quality of life. Recently a large body of research exploring patient-centred care and communication practices in audiology has emerged. However, there remains a paucity of research on communication in tinnitus management consultations. Aims: The aim of this study was to explore interactions between audiologists and patients in initial adult tinnitus management sessions. The objectives of this study were to observe the communication processes of audiologists in this setting, as well as explore how audiologists negotiate complexities such as patient expectations, emotions, decision-making and goal setting with patients. Methodology: This study implemented a multimethod exploratory qualitative design incorporating interactional analysis of video recorded audiological initial tinnitus consultations, triangulated with participant interviews. The research was conducted at two hospitals in the public healthcare sector of Gauteng, South Africa. The data comprised of seven video-recorded interactions between five audiologists and seven patients, supplemented with interviews with all 12 participants after the tinnitus consultations. The video-recorded interactions were analysed by means of a hybrid sociolinguistic analysis approach with principles of interactional sociolinguistics and theme-oriented discourse analysis. The video- recorded data was triangulated with the interview data in order to strengthen the analysis and overall confirmability of the study. Results: The findings of this study highlight six communicative actions that contribute to patient-centred communication in initial adult tinnitus management sessions, namely: agenda setting, breaking from a scripted approach, prioritisation of patient concerns, engaging in emotional and psychosocial topics, shared decision-making and expectation setting. The results of this study show that audiologists are not consistently implementing these 5 communicative actions within their adult tinnitus management consultations, which has implications for patient-centred care. Conclusions: The study provides insights into the current communication practices of audiologists in adult tinnitus management sessions in South Africa. The research highlights both the strengths and weaknesses of audiologists in their use of effective communication strategies and patient-centred care, specifically in information exchange, responsiveness to patients’ emotions and psychosocial stressors, and shared decision-making. Audiologists need to consider how they can transform the concepts of patient-centred care and effective communication into practical actions within their tinnitus management. These findings can raise awareness among audiologists about their communication practices in tinnitus management consultations. Additionally, they offer insights into practical communication strategies that can be implemented into tinnitus management consultations and provide valuable insights for future researchers, educators and policymakers.Item Disability and Masculinity: How Young Men with a Disability Navigate Masculinity in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Moonsamy, Michaela Anne; Langa, MaloseThis research project aimed to contribute to the body of knowledge in the global south literature on masculinity by exploring how young men with a physical disability construct and navigate masculinity. Theories such as Ecological systems theory, Social identity theory and Gender role strain theory served as the theoretical framework. Semi-structured interviews were used as the data collection method. There were seven participants in total, five identifying as black and two identifying as Indian, all with varying degrees of physical disabilities. Participants were selected using purposive snowball sampling. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the data. Five themes were constructed from the data: How young men with disabilities define their masculinity; Challenges of not meeting Hegemonic Masculinity Standards and the coping strategies used to manage these challenges; Disability and its contribution to identity formation; Relationship with others: living with a disability and how this relationship affects masculine identity; and Embodying masculinity. The study revealed that young men with a disability reject/reformulate hegemonic masculine ideals to standards they can meet but can also simultaneously draw from hegemonic ideals. In addition, various challenges faced by men with a disability were explored as well as how relationships affect identity formation while living with a disability. Limitations and future recommendations are discussed.