Masters Degrees (Social Policy)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10413/9028

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Exploring the role of sport in the prevention of crime and drug use among youth in KwaNdengezi Township, eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal.
(2023) Mkhize, Edwin Bheki.; Narsiah, Inbersagran.
This research explored the role of sport-based activities in the prevention of crime and drug use among youth between the ages of 14 and 24 years in KwaNdengezi Township, eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal. With crime and drug use increasingly seen as a social problem leaving victims in hospital or dead, and the suffering of residents in the area going relatively unnoticed, this research used a qualitative approach to interrogate the causes of crime and drug use and analyse their consequences on both the youth and community. Forty-two participants were interviewed, comprising 23 young females and 19 young males. The findings emanating from this research showed that unemployment, poverty, inequality, limited access to sport activities and facilities, peer pressure, depression and loneliness were all notable causes of crime and drug use in KwaNdengezi. Sport was found to be a transformative tool that can be used to create Positive Youth Development (PYD) and thus divert the youth from a predisposed life of crime and drug use. This is what happened in the Brazil Youth Football Development Academy which provided a safe space for youth to engage in harm reducing strategies in overcoming crime and drug use. At the broader level, the community in KwaNdengezi displayed a growing commitment to initiate sport-based tournaments which had positive effects on the young and old residents of KwaNdengezi. Hence, this study revealed that through the provisions of the South African constitution, the White Paper on Sports and Recreation, the Transformation Charter for South African Sport and the National Youth Policy (NYP) that the KwaNdengezi community can be empowered to participate in their development based on their commitment and capacities.
Extending corporate social responsibility programmes in the food retail industry to social grant recipients.
(2018) Pather, Chanchal.; Narsiah, Inbersagran.
The study proposes a corporate social responsibility (CSR) model for willing, major local food retailers, in an attempt to supplement existing poverty alleviation initiatives in South Africa. The study is motivated by the fact that nearly a third of the population receives state social grants and that these grants are used to support family members in the context of multiple socio-economic challenges. The study focuses on a particular crisis — the lack of access to basic food commodities. A lack of food has far reaching consequences as it impacts overall health, psycho-social wellbeing, productivity levels and most of all, a person’s sense of dignity. The proposed CSR model serves to produce consumer pricing for some basic food commodities, set far below the national average for inflation, exclusively for social grant recipients. Reduced consumer pricing is envisaged through a subsidisation scheme that involves a partnership between participating retail chains and their customers. The CSR model also requires collaborations between participating retailers, their supporting industries, the State and well-established NGOs with an intimate knowledge of the needs of poor communities. The proposed CSR model is a culmination of research into four areas. Firstly, the study delineates the extent to which social grants address poverty and socio-economic inequality in South Africa. Secondly, to explore the relationship between poverty and the access to affordable basic foods, the study examines India’s Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) — a nationwide basic food distribution programme designed to respond mass poverty. Thirdly, the study attempts to determine the potential of CSR programmes in attenuating poverty levels. Finally, the study evaluates two specific CSR programmes, KFC’s Add Hope and the Woolworths Group’s MySchoolMyVillageMyPlanet, in order to establish the possibility of adapting aspects of these CSR programmes to suggest a new CSR model for major, local food retail chains. The study employs John Rawls’ theory of distributive justice which explores the idea of justice as fairness (Rawls, 1999). The theoretical choice is apt because Rawls uses basic theoretical elements to suggest that a just society can permit social and economic inequalities amongst primary social goods — such as wealth and income — provided that such inequalities produce maximum expected social benefits for the least advantaged. Upon researching the four areas of interest, the study finds firstly, that despite the efficacy of social grants in preventing people from falling into destitution, grant amounts alone are insufficient in producing the desired redistributive effects. Secondly, through the exploration of the TPDS, the study finds a positive correlation between access to subsidised basic foods and poverty reduction. However, the study also establishes that a system such as the TPDS cannot be transplanted in South Africa because of the severe constraints on the South African economy. Thirdly, the study finds theoretical evidence that supports the efficacy of strategic CSR in producing ‘shared value’/mutual benefit for corporates and society. Finally, evaluations of the Add Hope and the MySchoolMyVillageMyPlanet campaigns, highlight the possibility of adapting aspects of these programmes in order to suggest the study’s proposed CSR model which is aimed at creating ‘shared value’ for greater redistributive effects.
Indigenous knowledge and participatory rural development in Mabheleni, Umzumbe Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2023) Mseleku, Zethembe.; Narsiah, Inbersagran.
This study aimed to explore the contribution of indigenous knowledge to participatory rural development in Mabheleni, a rural community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Drawing from the lenses of deliberative democracy, the study explored the role of indigenous knowledge in participatory rural development in Mabheleni; identified the challenges impeding the use of indigenous knowledge to stimulate rural development in Mabheleni; identified the opportunities for effective use of indigenous knowledge to promote rural development in Mabheleni and, explored the strategies used by people living in Mabheleni to preserve their indigenous knowledge. Semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion were conducted with 20 participants in Mabheleni. All participants were selected through a purposive sampling technique and data was analyzed through thematic analysis. The results indicate that although indigenous knowledge is deemed crucial for the development in Mabheleni, it is not effectively used in rural development initiatives. While local people in Mabheleni use their indigenous knowledge to sustain their livelihoods at a household level, their indigenous knowledge is overlooked in rural development initiatives. This problem is attributed to two main reasons: first, Western scientific knowledge is given priority in informing rural development in Mabheleni. Second, government officials often use a top-down approach in decision making about rural development initiatives in Mabheleni, a practice which excludes indigenous people in their development. Thus, the role of indigenous knowledge in rural development in Mabheleni remains unclear and minimal.
Participation of women in municipal decision-making positions: a case study of the Mtubatuba Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province.
(2018) Manqele, Sipho Eric.; Narsiah, Inbersagran.
Gender equality is intrinsically linked to sustainable development and is globally accepted as a necessary aspect of human rights. In the context of local government, gender equality is vital because women and men face different challenges (The Hague Academy for Local Governance, 2015). Women’s experiences in relation to full participation, representation and decent work opportunities are not the same as that of men in similar positions and, therefore,“equitable access to resources and basic services are necessary to obtain inclusive and gender-responsive governance” (ibid). Since 1994, South Africa has been a constitutional democracy based on progressive values that include freedom, human dignity, equality, non-racialism and non-sexism. However, this research indicates that patriarchy still remains deeply entrenched in local government decision-making processes. This research further revealed that at the Mtubatuba Local Municipality, although aspects of the leadership roles and functions of female and male councillors are the same, there is still an under-representation of women (27 males and 13 females). Additionally, there is a gender gap that exists in terms of council leadership and the portfolios that men and women hold on the council executive. A consideration of the qualitative evidence collected show notable differences in how female and male councillors perceive their leadership roles and styles, and the implications thereof for the substantive representation of women in local government. Furthermore, this study shows how more women in senior administrative leadership positions at the Mtubatuba Local Municipality translates into positive returns for the bottom line, increased financial viability, improved performance, better delivery of services, and better outcomes in general. Considerable evidence exists showing that having more women in municipalities and in the public administration improves service delivery for all (including men), and promotes better governance and inclusive development (Lateef, 2014). Recent research reveals that gender diversity in leadership has advantages for local government’s quality in delivery as well as integrity. The findings are in line with this. As Lateef (2014) explains, “Leveraging women’s talents and leadership, while harnessing the diversity of perspectives, will generate better and more inclusive outcomes and more equitable access to economic and social opportunities.” This research also shows that striving for gender equity in local government will support increased attention to gender equality and women’s empowerment issues in general.
Public participation in local government: a case study of ward committees in uMhlathuze Municipality.
(2020) Zulu, Kwandakwethu Kwanele.; Narsiah, Inbersagran.
Apartheid prevented the participation of the majority of the population in South Africa in governance. In 1994, with the apartheid regime’s demise, South Africa entered into a democratic era. Ward committees were one of the structures that were introduced to enhance public participation at the local level of government. This study aimed to explore and understand the effectiveness of public participation through ward committees in local government in uMhlathuze Municipality. This study explored the challenges that ward committees experienced in effectively fulfilling their public participation duties, especially in policy-making and in the implementation of service delivery demands for their communities. This study aimed to unveil the views and insights of ward committees, community leaders and ward members on uMhlathuze municipality on the limitations that exist in the public participation procedures within their community. Using qualitative methods, the researcher gathered data through in-depth interviews with 22 participants drawn from ward committees, community members and municipal officials. This study used content and thematic analysis to analyse the data. The study in uMhlathuze Municipality indicated that ward committees are an essential structure which can improve public participation in local government. However, the study revealed that there are multiple disablements which contribute to the dysfunction of ward committees and a communication breakdown between the municipality and the community.

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Social Policy) by Author "Narsiah, Inbersagran."