Theses and Dissertations

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The Meaning of Ukuthwasa: Urban Youth Perspectives on Social Change and the Persistence of tradition in the Eastern Cape
(University of Fort Hare, 2015) Xaso, Ziyanda Claire
This study looks at the continued persistence of precolonial cultural practices that thrive despite social, political and economic changes. It looks specifically at the process of "ukuthwasa" (the calling to be traditional healer or diviner) of urban youth in post-apartheid South Africa and how "ukuthwasa" impacts their psychosocial identity formation. The investigation is done through semi-structured interviews that focus on the life experiences of the initiate and the transformative nature of the practice that is able to redirect the psychosocial identity formation of the urban youth and invariably reorder a social systems. This invariably ensures the continuity of the practice even though it exhibits signs of integration with other influences such as Christianity. It shows that cultural changes that stem from economic development are extensive but are path dependent and have an imprint of the cultural heritage of the society, hence persistence. This is contrary to the prediction of a homogenised modernity by early modernization theorists. This highlights the relevance of persistent practices in modern society which can be used to deal with issues of youth identity.
Unravelling the Myths about Unplanned Pregnancy among Female Students at University Fort Hare East London Campus, South Africa
(University of Fort Hare, 2015) Chukwunyere, Amadi P
This research study examined: 1. the attitudes and perceptions of female university students towards unplanned pregnancies, their (pregnancies') associated influences and their social economic consequences on the participants and their family. 2. The level of knowledge, the sources thereof, and the girls' attitudes and perceptions toward contraception, abortion and their actual use as possible barriers in the prevention of unplanned pregnancies. 3. The possible interventions in curbing the phenomenon of unplanned pregnancies. Data for the study was gathered through in-depth-interviews with ten female undergraduate students at the University of Fort Hare in East London campus, who had the experience of unplanned pregnancy while studying. Selection of participants was done through snowball sampling. A number of factors responsible for the unplanned pregnancy are revealed, including: Inadequate and inconsistent use of contraceptives, ignorance about contraception or rejection of contraceptive use due to religious beliefs. Influential factors regarding unplanned child bearing include: The role of the mother and the boyfriend, traditional and religious beliefs, and the desire for child bearing and motherhood. Although the majority of the girls are knowledgeable about contraception, and their right to abortion, a number of barriers hinder them from putting this knowledge into practical use. Some of the most highlighted consequences of unplanned/unwanted pregnancy are the financial burden on the family and loss of study time.
Decentralization and poverty alleviation: The case of Nkonkobe Murdcipality in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa.
(University of Fort Hare, 2013-01) Mupambwa, Gift
In the quest to make local development participatory, inclusive, transparent, responsive, effective and pro-poor, decentralisation has been seen to be a solution. It is these positive virtues of decentralisation in promoting improved governance and better service delivery which contribute to improved livelihoods and poverty alleviation that have made it a major theme in current development arenas. Hence decentralisation has been considered a significant strategy towards pro-poor development. It is in this regard that the current project sought to assess the relationship between decentralisation and poverty alleviation in the Nkonkobe Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa. This study attempted to establish the relationship or link between decentralisation and effective poverty alleviation stratagems. It also utilized a deductive research methodology, explanatory in nature to assess the role of decentralisation as a pro-poor development policy mechanism.
Designed to disable? Disabilityfriendliness of Buffalo City municipal amenities in discourse and experience.
(University of Fort Hare, 2014-06-25) Febana,Ziyanda
According to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), the prerequisite of accessibility for people with physical disabilities goes beyond merely ensuring that there are "disabled friendly" resources in a built environment. Accessibility entails the availability of appropriate facilities to accommodate physical disabilities where and when needed. A casual observation of many municipal amenities in South Africa, particularly Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM), Eastern Cape, shows that the conceptualisation and design of many public amenities make these amenities "public" only in name and, from a disability point of view, are possibly embedded in a model that is fundamentally exclusionist. Yet few systematic studies have been carried out at the local level to confirm or refute this assumption. Utilising Elinor Ostrom's adaptation of the concept of common pool resources - a concept which was hitherto restricted to the analysis of shared ecological resources - this study examines the extent to which inclusivity matters within the context of the design and provisioning of municipal amenities that are meant to serve the public. The analysis is based on triangulated data obtained from a mini survey of paraplegic, blind and deaf people, physical observation of the relevant amenities, and key informant interview of officials in relevant BCMM departments.
HIV and AIDS youth peer educators: A study of HIV and AIDS youth peer education in East London and Durban.
(University of Fort Hare, 2015-02) Molose, Simxolele
HIV and AIDS youth peer education (YPE) in South Africa is largely studied from the point of view of organized institutions, such as schools and workplaces. Moreover, peer education research is frequently directed at measuring the effectiveness of the programmes, neglecting the role of HIV and AIDS youth peer educators (PEs) in the processes of YPE. The latter situation is what this study aimed to address, as the study explored work of community-based peer educators from ELHTA in Duncan Village and Scenery Park in East London and HOPE to educate in Durban, looking at particularly the difference that the PEs in the above programmes make through their work. The data used for this study was collected by the means of in depth interviews and focus group discussion methods.
Between skills development and skills protectionism: The discourse and practice of skills development in the Nigerian multinational corporate sector
(University if Fort Hare, 2016) Jiboku, Joseph. Olutoyin
Against the backdrop of arguments regarding the role of multinational corporations (MNCs) as custodians of modern skills and technology and as agents of socioeconomic transformation in developing countries, especially through training and human resource development, this study examined specific claims in this regard in• the Nigerian context. Specifically, the study examined how skills development strategies in selected MNCs in Nigeria reflected, or failed to reflect, the "prescriptions" and "idealisations" about national human capital formation as gleaned from the dominant discourses in the country's official manpower agencies, organised labour and organised private sector. Were there, for instance, specific MNC skills development strategies that potentially could undermine the notion of MNCs as "agents of socio-economic development"? Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from three MNC subsidiaries in Nigeria (Lafarge Cement Wapco, Unilever and MTN Communication), and from relevant national manpower agencies, organised private sector organisations, and two labour federations. One key finding was that, viewed against the backdrop of specific national "prescriptions" and "idealisations" about human capital formation in Nigeria, the terrain of skills development in the multinational corporate sector was one of connects, disconnects and paradoxes.
The contributions of Property and Inheritance Rights (PIR) programmes to the empowerment of widows: A study of selected Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Binga, Zimbabwe.
(University of Fort Hare, 2014-01) Tshuma, Roselyn
This study examines the contributions of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) driven Property and Inheritance Rights (PIR) programmes towards the empowerment of widows in Binga District, Zimbabwe. Focusing on two NGOs, Ntengwe and Zubo, this study examine how patriarchal power is legitimized through customary law and the impacts of such on widows after the death of their husbands. It further explores whether the PIR programmes/projects run by Zubo and Ntengwe are providing the necessary knowledge and empowering widows to fight property grabbing after the death of their husbands.
Rural agriculture and youth empowerment: perspectives of the youth and community members in Centane, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
(University of Fort Hare, 2014-01-27) Mkra, Zuzeka Prudence
The study explores youth perspectives regarding their participation in agriculture and its future in Centane, a rural community in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The study examines, firstly, the extent to which the assumption that youth lack interest in agriculture is evident in the study community. Secondly, it explores the extent to which youth involvement or the lack thereof defines the future of agriculture in the study community. The third research concern is the extent to which the relevant state-led agricultural policies support youth involvement in rural agriculture.
School feeding programmes in Chimutu, Malawi:Opportunities, benefits and challenges
(University of Fort Hare, 2013-12-04) Yasin, Janerose
Developing countries have the highest dropout as well as non enrollment rates among primary school pupils. However there are efforts to reverse the situation through interventions like school feeding programme to improve schooling outcomes. The aim of this study was specifically to find out the details of why school participation is still a problem among primary school children despite provision of food in primary school. This was achieved through discussions on community members' participation, benefits and challenges of the school feeding programme. Data collected from key informants and community members using in-depth interviews revealed the benefits and challenges as well as perceptions on community participation. Data was collected from 46 respondents of whom 14 were key informants from government and NGO implementers and 32 community members who are benefiting from the intervention in the area of Traditional Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe District, Malawi.
The Impact of Beliefs and Values on Agricultural Change: A case of Murom bedzi Irrigation Scheme, Zimbabwe.
(University of Fort Hare, 2013-01-29) Nyika, Emery; Komanisi, M.P.
Since the mid 1970s there has been an increasing effort to raise the level of adoption of agricultural innovations in small-scale farming for improved production. NGOs and governments have engaged in a participatory approach not only to empower local people, but also to give them an opportunity to learn, access, and utilize innovations that have been introduced in the agriculture sector. However due to several factors small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe have failed to fully adopt these changes that would enhance their farming activities. Most of these farmers have rather preferred maintaining and practising their preliterate farming methods. Like most irrigation schemes Murombedzi Irrigation Scheme is self funded due to the fact that the government has failed to fund most of such projects. This has subsequently left projects such as the Murombedzi Irrigation Scheme to provide for their own agricultural needs.
Heritage Transformation and the role of Museums in Post-Apartheid South Africa:The Case of the East London Museum
(University of Fort Hare, 2010) Sokupa, Thabile
The traditional understandings of museums and the heritage sector in general have been challenged in post-apartheid South Africa. The main challenge has been how to transform meaning making, heritage construction, and knowledge production in these sectors from the colonial and apartheid past to represent the diversity of South Africans. Based on an in-depth study using unstructured interviews from a sample of museum staff, museum visitors and community members; this study investigated the extent to which permanent displays in the East London Museum have transformed to -depict cultural diversity and heritage of all South Africans, in particular the history of black South Africans.
Titanium mining and social displacement in rural Kenya: An ethno-ecological study of Kwale community,Coal Province
(University of Fort Hare, 2012-01) Abuya, Willice Onyango
The literature on community-mining enterprise conflict is currently dominated by discourses on equity, compensation, land ownership and environmental degradation. The present study examines this conflict from an ethno-ecological perspective, bringing into focus the meanings that communities attach to "nature" and cultural artefacts. The study examines how such meanings intersect with local experiences of social displacement, compensation and resource extraction, and how they mediate and catalyse the witnessed conflict. The study was conducted among the indigenes of titanium-rich Kwale, in Kenya's Coast Province, displaced in 2007 to make way for large-scale titanium mining operations.
Small-Scale Farming of Gqumahashe Village, Alice District, Eastern cape Province
(University of Fort Hare, 2007-04) Komanisi, Mzwandile Paul
The persistence of rural poverty, the underutilization of agricultural resources, and the sluggish innovativeness in many African countries serve to demonstrate, in part, that despite the availability of modem communication techniques, the agricultural extension services in these countries do not effectively reach the target group.
Pro-Capital Mandatorism and Autocratic Management Style in Labour Relations; The Transkei experience between 1976 and 1994.
(University of Fort Hare, 1998-12) Abankwa, Joseph, Kwadwo
The aim of this research was to investigate labour relations in the former Transkei with the focus on work place relations and the role played by the state in regulating such relations. The questionnaire instrument was employed in this study. Pilot studies were utilised in preparation for the administration of the questionnaires. Simple Random Sampling was employed to select the sample of the representative population for the questionnaires. The questionnaires were administered to 636 workers and 120 management staff. All the 636 workers and 80 management staff completed the questionnaires. Nine trade union officials and Dr Bikitsha a minister in Chief Matanzima's government between 1979 and 1983 were also interviewed. To achieve maximum returns assistants were employed to administer the questionnaires. The study revealed that workers in the former Transkei, especially those in industry, were exploited by their employers. This was made possible by Chief Matanzima's refusal to allow the formation, let alone the operation of trade unions in the former homeland. It is worthwhile to note that, the government itself, the largest employer of labour in the Transkei, neither wished to consult nor negotiate with its workforce. Instead, liaison committees were established to liaise between workers and their employers in an attempt to bring about industrial peace at the workplace. An inspectorate division was also established to monitor the goings-on at the various workplaces and to report back their findings to the relevant authorities for action to be taken where and when necessary. Regrettably none of the two institutions performed its function as expected. As a result, workers' legitimate demands were ignored by their employers and in the absence· of trade unions to intervene on their behalf, they (workers) had no means at their disposal to have their grievances attended to. It was also revealed that the two governments that followed Chief Matanzima's government (Chief George Matanzima and Stella Siqcau governments respectively) did nothing to alleviate the plight of the workers until after the overthrow of Siqcau's Government in 1987 and the coming to power of Major General Bantu Holomisa.
Designed to disable? Disability- friendliness of Buffalo city municipal amenities in discourse and experience
(University of Fort Hare, 2014) Febana, Ziyanda
According to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), the prerequisite of accessibility for people with physical disabilities goes beyond merely ensuring that there are “disabled friendly” resources in a built environment. Accessibility entails the availability of appropriate facilities to accommodate physical disabilities where and when needed. A casual observation of many municipal amenities in South Africa, particularly Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM), Eastern Cape, shows that the conceptualisation and design of many public amenities make these amenities "public" only in name and, from a disability point of view, are possibly embedded in a model that is fundamentally exclusionist. Yet few systematic studies have been carried out at the local level to confirm or refute this assumption. Utilising Elinor Ostrom’s adaptation of the concept of common pool resources - a concept which was hitherto restricted to the analysis of shared ecological resources - this study examines the extent to which inclusivity matters within the context of the design and provisioning of municipal amenities that are meant to serve the public. The analysis is based on triangulated data obtained from a mini survey of paraplegic, blind and deaf people, physical observation of the relevant amenities, and key informant interview of officials in relevant BCMM departments. The findings suggest, among other things, that there is a weak perception among municipal officials regarding the rights of people with disabilities and that the perceptions appear to be rooted in a mind-set that regards disability, rather than the ‘engineering’ of the physical (public) space, as the ‘problem’. Even so, the thinking that public infrastructure cannot be ‘altered’ to meet ‘everyone’s needs appears to permeate the municipal bureaucracy. As a result, the Municipality has only attempted to create the bare minimum of accessible environment (catering only for wheelchair users), and this despite the existence of a constitutional mandate that dictates otherwise. The study concludes from these and other findings that for municipal amenities to become common pool resources in the sense advocated by Ostrom and other scholars, a social rather than a medical model of disability must dominate municipal and bureaucratic thinking.
The socio-cultural factors underpinning maize farming in Ethembeni location, King williams town district
(University of Fort Hare, 2014) May, Nokonwaba
Maize is the staple food for most South Africans. This means that if maize crops are damaged that will affect the food security of many South Africans. Maize is an important staple food and a source of food security in Ethembeni location. The study found that maize has multiple uses: including that local farmers (1) use maize to make local drinks as a basic ingredient (including, amarhewu and umqombothi); (2) maize is used as food umxhaxha (a mixture of maize and pumpkin) and inkobe (maize boiled whole, i.e without being previously stamped); (3) and maize is given to livestock as feed. Local farmers also grow maize because the crop offers an avenue to raise money through which they sell at informal markets. The funds from the sale of crops are used to buy fertilizers, hire tractors and help cultivate fields. Also many people use these funds to purchase needed goods and consumables. Despite the significant role and contribution of maize production in the local economy, illiteracy, lack of credit, lack of access to agricultural lands, and desires for employment in the urban centres have added to the decline on maize farming in the study area. This bring us to the question of how we transform a traditional maize farming-system, dominated by socio-cultural constraints into a modern-farming type arrangement, whereby there is potential to advance maize production. Data was collected from 50 smallholder farmers who participated in maize production using purposive sampling and key informant interviews. The main data collection techniques used include participant observation, key-informant interviews, questionnaires, oral history and focus group discussions. Results indicate that land ownership, easy access to farmland, levels of education, age, labour, and infrastructure are essential for the development of maize farming. The researcher suggested strategies which aimed at addressing current socio-economic constraints ought to be addressed by local traditional leaders and government councillors who should view the issue of land ownership seriously and grant women land rights which are essential for any agricultural practices. What is equally important is that the current channels of communication that ought to be developed among government officials and local famers need improvement so that famers can have better assistance and improve on their agricultural production potential and capacity.
Cultural impediments, land and female farmers : the case of Lower Gqumahashe, Nkonkobe Municipality
(University of Fort Hare, 2016) Magwa-Bobotyani, Nompumelelo Aretha Ntomboxolo
This study sought to investigate how cultural barriers hinder female farmers from accessing land at Lower Gqumahashe village. This settlement is situated in Alice, Eastern Cape Province, Republic of South Africa. The hypothesis of the study is that land rights and customs at Lower Gqumahashe limit the participation of female farmers in agricultural development. There are several factors that interfere with land ownership at the study area and elsewhere in the world. However, this study only explored the effect of marriage since it is the only factor that has negative effect on accessing land at the study area. The researcher adopted a qualitative research approach because she wanted to observe and describe events as they occur. The goal of the researcher was to capture all the richness of the everyday behaviour. The findings of the study suggest that, female farmers at Lower Gqumahashe, as elsewhere in the world, are not immune to gender imbalances based on customs. At Lower Gqumahashe, as elsewhere in the world, land is the most essential resource, because a very large proportion of people depend on it for cultivation and therefore their livelihoods. This study recommends that, there is a need for a re-assessment of property ownership as well as legacy customs and practices. Furthermore, the study recommends that class and sex discrimination can be rectified if the government is committed through its extension of credit program makes provision to ensure loans for women are available.
Assessing risk perceptions, vulnerability and asset adaptation in the context of climate change : a study of peri-urban and rural East London and Port Elizabeth, South Africa
(University of Fort Hare, 2016) Apraku, Amos
This study examined climate change risk perceptions, vulnerability and the significance of assets‘ in climate change mitigation and adaptation in rural and peri-urban Eastern Cape, South Africa. It assessed the levels of local climate change awareness and how such awareness was articulated in local discourses, analysed actual risks (and awareness thereof) against those predicted by relevant statutory agencies, and examined the extent to which local residents drew on local knowledge, culture‘and traditional practices (amongst other assets‘) to mitigate their vulnerability and adapt to adverse climatic changes. The study was conceptualised against the background that most climate change risk and vulnerability studies adopt a global‘ and continental‘ focus and ignore localised variations and specificities – which makes it impossible to craft local climate change impact mitigation strategies that make sense. From survey, interview, focus group and observational data, the study found low levels of local awareness about climate change and its associated risks. It revealed that local residents blamed climate change-related phenomena on gods, spirits and other mystical forces. Agriculture, water resources, human settlements, health, ecosystems and biodiversity were found to be the most affected by climate change. A crucial finding was that, besides economic and other class-based assets, indigenous/local knowledge (ideational assets‘) played an important role in the ways local residents adapted themselves to – and in some ways curbed - the adverse impacts of climate change. The study concluded from these findings that households and communities have different degrees of vulnerability to climate change, depending on awareness levels and degrees of access to specific assets‘. However, in the main, climate change impacts in the communities were potentially curbed by culture, with indigenous/local knowledge and related ideational assets being the main index of adaptation and weapon against disastrous impacts. The study extends current knowledge on the significance and contribution of indigenous knowledge systems to climate change impact mitigation and adaptation, particularly in Africa, and demonstrates how local knowledge can contribute to global‘understanding of one of today‘s critical environmental challenges.
HIV and AIDS youth peer educators : a study of HIV and AIDS youth peer education in East London and Durban
(University of Fort Hare, 2015) Molose, Simxolele
HIV and AIDS youth peer education (YPE) in South Africa is largely studied from the point of view of organized institutions, such as schools and workplaces. Moreover, peer education research is frequently directed at measuring the effectiveness of the programmes, neglecting the role of HIV and AIDS youth peer educators (PEs) in the processes of YPE. The latter situation is what this study aimed to address, as the study explored work of community based peer educators from ELHTA in Duncan Village and Scenery Park in East London and HOPE to educate in Durban, looking at particularly the difference that the PEs in the above programmes make through their work. The data used for this study was collected by the means of in depth interviews and focus group discussion methods. The reason for using the latter methods is to ensure authenticity of the experiences and testimonials of the PEs since the main aim of the study is to explore the impact of community based peer educators‟ work on the outcomes of the YPE in Duncan Village, in East London with a view to ascertain how PEs contribute the success or even failure of the YPE in the above community, since current research in South Africa on community based youth peer education is scant. This study aimed to contribute to the scientific work that expands research on peer education with young volunteers in South African communities, rather than just the existing research which centres largely on schools and workplaces. From this study it was found that youth peer educators play pivotal role in peer education in that peer educators are peer education and peer education is peer educators. Monetary incentives were found to be the major motivating factor in peer education. Furthermore interest to know more about HIV and AIDS, family history of members infected with HIV and lastly interest to be agents of change were among some of the motivating factors. Peer educators were found to be faced with so many challenges; ranging from stigma, denial, and delay in uniform provision, risky working conditions and insults from community members, however, passion for peer education motivates peer educators to remain in their programmes, irrespective of the challenges, thus making unique contribution and keeping the youth peer education structure functional. Youth Peer educators were found to be important assets to their communities and also as they face challenges, they need the support from different organisations within communities and they need to be recognised and be empowered. Peer educators were found to be faced with so many challenges; ranging from stigma, denial, and delay in uniform provision, risky working conditions and insults from community members, however, passion for peer education motivates peer educators to remain in their programmes, irrespective of the challenges, thus making unique contribution and keeping the youth peer education structure functional. Youth Peer educators were found to be important assets to their communities and also as they face challenges, they need the support from different organisations within communities and they need to be recognised and be empowered.
Tolerance in intergroup relations: cognitive representations reducing ingroup projection
(University of Fort Hare, 2008) O’sullivan, Clodagh M.
The Ingroup Projection Model (IPM) states that groups evaluate each other according to how prototypical they are of the superordinate category, the category that includes subgroups. The Ingroup Projection Model predicts that members of the ingroup tends to project their own characteristics onto the superordinate category, and thus see themselves as more prototypical of the superordinate category than the outgroup, which increases the likelihood for intergroup discrimination. Research has shown that this tendency of projection appears to be greater in high-status groups. The phenomenon of ingroup projection is hypothesized to be reduced by undefined cognitive representations of the superordinate category such as a complex representation of the superordinate category and a small-scope prototype. A complex representation of the superordinate category is one that has many distinctive characteristics that are seen as equally prototypical, whereas a small-scope representation includes a few prescriptive norms. The present study tested the reduction effects of complexity and smallscope prototype on ingroup projection using a 2 (Number of dimensions: few vs. many) x 2 (Relatedness of dimensions: orthogonal/independent vs. correlated/related) x 2 (Group: Psychology students vs. Law students) factorial design. The results support the Ingroup Projection Model and related assumptions. However, the results also indicate the importance of the specific characteristics of the intergroup situation.

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