ResearchSpace
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Investigating women employees’ experiences of returning to the office after working remotely due to Coronavirus: the case of the College of Humanities, Pietermaritzburg campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
(2024) Peters, Perdita Honorine.; Muthuki, Janet Muthoni.
This research investigated women employees’ experiences of returning to the office after working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic within the College of Humanities, Pietermaritzburg Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). The pandemic has profoundly influenced women’s employment, particularly as they confront the intricacies of reintegrating into office environments. Organisations adapted to the challenges engendered by the pandemic, leading to a scenario where numerous women transitioned from conventional office settings to remote work arrangements. This transformation not only modified their work dynamics but also illuminated persistent issues of gender inequality, work-life balance, and the
necessity for adaptable work configurations. COVID-19 acted as a catalyst for transformation, underscoring the disparities in employment experiences contingent upon gender and socioeconomic status, thereby necessitating a comprehensive reassessment of workplace policies and practices.
This study is significant as it highlights the exacerbation of gender inequalities in the workplace during and after the pandemic. The study examined how the pandemic has exacerbated the difficulties related to work-life balance for women, especially those with caregiving responsibilities. By comprehending the elements that underpin the gender gap and executing measures to mitigate them, organisations can strive toward establishing more equitable and inclusive workplace settings. As organisations progress, it is essential to confront these obstacles and utilise the insights gained during the pandemic to develop a more just and supportive work environment for women.
This study used a qualitative research design since it aimed to investigate the experiences of women returning to the office after working remotely. Purposive sampling and snowball sampling techniques were used for the research. Data were collected from both secondary and primary sources. A case study approach was also employed, focusing on the College of Humanities as a case study. Thematic analysis was used in the study.
The findings show that most women perform the majority of child care and domestic responsibilities. They suggest that having children, poor social support systems, and increased workloads affect women’s ability to take promotional steps at work. The findings also indicate that males had more time to excel at career advancement during COVID-19, whereas women had so many more responsibilities that “climbing the ladder” was difficult. Women with younger children faced more challenges since their children depended more on them. The study highlights the pressing need for institutional reforms and specialised support to confront these disparities and cultivate a more equitable academic space at the UKZN post-pandemic. The ramifications of the findings imply that women in academia may encounter heightened obstacles in attaining equity in employment and advancement prospects in the aftermath of the pandemic.
This study contributes to existing literature on women employees’ experiences during COVID-19 and upon returning to the office after working remotely. It provides insight into the experiences faced by UKZN women employees, particularly in the College of Humanities, Pietermaritzburg Campus, and advises on the development of flexible work policies. The study also provides insight into the implementation of inclusive policies and the cultivation of a societal transformation aimed at achieving gender equity. By addressing these issues, it is possible to progress toward a future characterised by greater equity that acknowledges and appreciates the contributions of women employees.
Understanding doctors and nurses resistance to implementing the Universal Test and Treat Policy Pronouncement in South Africa.
(2024) Mabusela, Maphotla Emma.; Khan, Sultan.
South Africa is one of the African countries affected by the HIV pandemic. It is a signatory to the UNAIDS initiative to eradicate AIDS by 2030. Consequently, the Universal Test and Treat (UTT) Policy Pronouncement was established to help the country achieve the UNAIDS 2020 targets. However, despite this supportive policy environment, South Africa has not met the UNAIDS 2020 targets.
To achieve the UNAIDS 2030 targets, reasons behind the lack of performance must be understood and mitigated. Studies previously conducted cite health system deficiencies, central policy making and low staff morale as barriers to policy implementation. This study focuses on policies, with the understanding that policy formulation processes should have pre-empted contextual limitations, such as health system failures and low staff morale. This study investigates how the selected policy pathways serve as a barrier to policy implementation. The study’s scope is limited to the interface between policy implementers and policy formulation process.
The purpose of the study is to determine whether there was any ambiguity in motivation among HIV clinicians when implementing the UTT Policy.
To achieve the study’s objective, mixed research methods were employed in a phased approach. In the first phase, 100 HIV clinicians working in public health facilities across the country were randomly selected to participate in a survey, and 21 clinicians responded. Findings in the quantitative first phase informed the second phase, where qualitative methods were employed to gain a deeper understanding of meanings associated with ambiguity of motivation to implement the UTT policy and how this affected the efficacy of implementing the UTT policy. Six of the survey respondents were selected to participate in the semi-structured, in-depth interviews.
The study revealed that most clinicians understood and agreed with the ideals of the policy. However, they felt that the policy did not take their skills, experiences, and concerns into account for its effective implementation. This was attributed to how the policy was introduced, which provided little room for alignment with other policies and institutional practices. The discontent was mostly highlighted by staff members with longer service history. The policy development process created ambiguity in the motivation to implement the policy, as it was driven by top-level policymakers with inadequate input from the lower levels of the health care system. A bottom-up consultation process would have prevented the delays and challenges experienced, thereby supporting effective policy implementation.
A criminological exploration of queerphobic violence and victimisation of self-identifying queer sexual minority in KwaMashu Township.
(2024) Buthelezi, Ayanda Nomfundo.; Sibisi, Nomakhosi Nomathemba.
South Africa is internationally celebrated for its progressive Constitution, which guarantees fundamental human rights, freedom, and equality. However, the country grapples with pervasive crime, violence, and ongoing discrimination, including hate speech and hate crimes, particularly against queer individuals. While the Bill of Rights prohibits discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation and mandates national legislation to prevent such discrimination, a gap exists between these legal protections and the lived realities of queer communities, especially in township settings. This study focused on queerphobic violence and victimization experienced by self-identifying sexual minorities in KwaMashu Township, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. It explored the nature and consequences of victimisation, perceptions of queerphobic violence, the adequacy of available support and interventions, and the strategies employed by queer individuals to navigate their safety in this context. Using a qualitative approach, the study purposively sampled 15 queer participants from the Imvelo Yesizwe Organisation in KwaMashu. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analysed thematically. Findings revealed that significant victimisation of queer individuals is rooted in societal prejudice, lack of knowledge about diverse sexual orientations, and inadequate education about homosexuality. The study highlights the urgent need for educational initiatives to address misconceptions and reduce violence against queer communities in township settings.
The role played by religion and spirituality in the rehabilitation of former gang members in the Durban Metropolitan.
(2025) Soofie, Zaheer Ahmed.; Gopal, Nirmala Devi.
Gangsterism is not a new problem and is not inherent to South Africa alone. However, the problem is widespread in South Africa and within the city of Durban and it is surrounding areas. Durban has been plagued by the overwhelming and increasing number of gang-based crimes. Minimal studies addressing this problem in Durban have been published. Most studies have been on the gangs of the Western-cape and the prison number gang system. It is not uncommon that active and former gang members try to desist from gang life and pursue a path of rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Nor is it uncommon for them try to re-invent themselves to achieve pro-social identities. Religiosity has always been a powerful desister in combatting criminality. It has served as a platform for gang rehabilitation and disassociation amongst gang members globally. This study intricately studies the role of religion/spirituality in the lives of former gang-members by reflecting on the lives of people who had once adopted this aspect of criminality. This study adopted a qualitative approach embedded within the interpretivist paradigm. This study is founded on the Desistance theory of criminology. Data was collected using in-dept interviews with 10 purposively selected participants. The approach and techniques utilized in this study are described concisely to provide a clear picture of how data is collated, and the researcher has used what academics refer to as the “journey motif” to accurately and rationally describe the research setting as well as provide grounds for the research design considered ideal for this study. The findings have shown that each participant had life changing experiences that served as a precursor for desistance and that religion was at the core, filling in the gaps of the lives they once pursued. Findings revealed that life-changing experiences, alongside spirituality and religious practices, played a key role in gang disengagement. Psycho-social factors contributed to initial gang involvement, while desistance was met with challenges such as fear for safety, estrangement from family, and financial loss. Some participants maintained ties with former gang associates despite leaving the lifestyle. Spirituality facilitated identity reconstruction and personal growth. The study highlighted the significance of faith-based interventions in promoting long-term desistance and reintegration.
Perceptions and experiences of repeat offenders with rehabilitation services: a case study of Glencoe Correctional Centre, KwaZulu-Natal.
(2024) Khanyile, Zama Cyril.; Zibane, Sibonsile Zerurcia.
Recidivism is a common problem for many countries and rehabilitation services seem to be failing to address the issue of recidivism since there are still high rates of recidivism globally. Both developing and developed countries suffer from the issue of recidivism as it is still increasing. This study aimed to describe the perceptions and experiences of repeat offenders with rehabilitation services. A qualitative research paradigm, specifically using the tradition of interpretivism, was adopted in this study. To collect data from participants, focus group discussions were conducted, consisting of broad questions followed by probes to gain an indepth description of participants and their perceptions of rehabilitation services they previously participated in. Sixteen offenders who were classified as repeat offenders were sampled for and participated in this research study. The thematic analysis method was used to analyse data that were collected from the participants. The main findings of this study revealed that rehabilitation programmes are not yet effective in changing the offenders’ behaviour. They faced many challenges in their first incarceration such as ill-treatment by correctional officials and not receiving the needs to which they were entitled. Factors that were found more contributing to recidivism were: failure of rehabilitation programmes, a low level of education by offenders, substance abuse and mental illness, peer influence, a lack of support and poverty and unemployment after their incarceration. The factors that hinder rehabilitation services within the correctional centres include overcrowding, gangsterism, an unconducive correctional centre environment and corruption and improper conduct by correctional officials. This study recommends that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) should improve the quality of the programmes; they should come up with new strategies for recruiting offenders for rehabilitation programmes, and training for their correctional officials with the new DCS paradigm. This research study further recommends that DCS workers should apply a multidisciplinary approach when rehabilitating offenders.