Browsing by Author "Mthuli, Syanda Alpheous."

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Access to information for community participation to enhance service delivery in uMshwathi Local Municipality.
(2021) Khanyile, Ralph Mafezwe.; Nzimakwe, Thokozani Ian.; Mthuli, Syanda Alpheous.
In South Africa, access to information, and community participation in local government matters during the Apartheid era, was reserved for the White minority, with all other races excluded. This was owing to the Apartheid laws that only catered for the White minority, while denying most inhabitants of the country, including Indians, Coloureds, and Blacks, their political rights and participation in their own governance. At the end of Apartheid in the 90s, the newly elected democratic government implemented policies whose purpose was to redress the imbalances of the past, with community access to public information amongst the new policies. Even with the new policies which are meant to ensure that communities have access to information, there are still wide gaps that have resulted in endless service-delivery complaints. Such complaints sometimes lead to service-delivery protests, especially at local government level. On closer inspection, these protests and complaints are seen to be a result of lack of information, caused either by insufficient information being provided to members of the public regarding public services, or not being provided at all, and or lack of community participation in decision-making by the municipality regarding public services. This study explores the complexities of access to information that ensure communities within uMshwathi Local Municipality can express their views on the municipal services they receive. The study adopted a qualitative research design. Through this research design, data was collected per interviews and focus group discussions, evaluating the data to achieve a thematic analysis. This study found that technology is key to providing information, while community structures for providing information are weak. There are politics in providing/sharing information about public services; and attention to community concerns is lacking. The cascading of information to the public is politicised, while it is also delayed and outdated. The interaction between ward committees, community members, the elected councillors, and municipal officials is complex, while being challenged by finger-pointing and playing the ‘blame game’. The blame game is mostly about who is responsible for ensuring that members of the community have access to municipal information apropos of public services. Finally, the complaints-management system is egregious, and there is a need for training of ward committees, such being lacking.
Analysing the intricacies of performance management systems in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport and Recreation.
(2020) Mkhize, Langelihle Nkululeko.; Nzimakwe, Thokozani Ian.; Mthuli, Syanda Alpheous.
Since the dawn of democracy in 1994, the first democratic government has been transforming public service delivery. To this end, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, and other legislative frameworks, pronounced the significance of performance management systems. The uneven performance of the public service in South Africa has led to the promulgation of set legislations which seek to respond to public needs. There are distinct driving forces that may cause barriers to the PMS execution (Ammons, 2001). Despite such drastic measures made to mitigate poor service delivery, public institutions are still faced with challenges in the implementation of PMS. The study seeks to provide a perspective on the intricacies of PMSs, using the case of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport and Recreation (KZNDSR). The study used a qualitative research design with the intention of obtaining a comprehensive insight into, and opinions on the experience of the study’s participants. The study adopted a phenomenological research strategy. Data was collected using in-depth, one on one, recorded interviews, which include 15 interviewees, with the assistance of an interview guide. The study employed a non-probability strategy and also adopted a purposive sampling technique. Data quality control was ensured through trustworthiness of the data, while data was analysed using thematic analysis. In the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport and Recreation the following challenges were identified by the study: inconsistent and erratic filling of PMS documents, PMS being human-resource driven, lack of strong performance culture (money driven), and lack of perceived fairness in the implementation of the performance management system. This study’s contribution will add value to the existing body of knowledge, thereby providing insight into what needs to be done, in an attempt to improve PMS implementation. Little is known on how PMSs can improve performance (Sanger, 2013). The study seeks to fill this void. In an effort to mitigate the identified challenges, the following recommendations are proposed: continuous training and development, appointment of a PMS specialist, recognition and rewarding of good performers, alignment of the performance management system with other strategic documents supporting service delivery, monitoring and evaluation, and dissemination of feedback.
The impact of land reform on rural women in South Africa: the case of Mkhwanazi Land Restitution Programme.
(2021) Dlamini, Mnyamezeli Derrick.; Zondi, Sakhile Isaac.; Mthuli, Syanda Alpheous.
Land is considered a vital instrument that is used in the empowerment and disempowerment of people for a wide assortment of reasons as justification. For example, during apartheid in South Africa, land was used to disempower Black people. The country’s first majority rule election, which took place in 1994, carried with it an obligation to address the shameful acts perpetrated by colonialism and apartheid. One of those was the introduction of the land reform programme which focusses more on the country’s majority population disowned land and disadvantaged women who are mostly found in rural areas. The community of Mkhwanazi, like many other communities across South Africa was disowned land in the past. Studies have shown the benefits associated with land reform in empowering women in rural areas. Land is a valuable asset in rural areas because it holds the key to women empowerment and security, gives them more influence over finances and household decisions. Indeed, empirical evidence shows that where land reforms are implemented, rural women have indeed been empowered. It is for this reason that the policy document on land reform which was adopted as the White Paper in 1997 placed considerable emphasis on gender equity regarding women’s access to land and meaningful participation in decision-making procedures. Land restitution is being implemented in South Africa post-apartheid. This study’s focus is on the Mkhwanazi land restitution claim settlement. It explores the extent to which the settlement of the land restitution claim benefitted women empowerment at Mkhwanazi Land Restitution project in Umhlathuze City Municipality of the King Cetshwayo District. Adopting a qualitative research design and a case study strategy, data was collected through interviews with trustees of the community trust, administrating the restituted land and focus groups interviews with women beneficiaries of the Mkhwanazi community. The findings show that despite evidence showing how land reform benefits and empowers rural women elsewhere, women beneficiaries of Mkhwanazi have not benefitted directly and not empowered. Barriers and challenges that prohibit women empowerment were identified which limit the benefits of the reformed land.
The influence of rating agencies on South Africa’s governance and fiscal policies.
(2018) Zikalala, Sihle.; Mutambara, Emmanuel.; Mthuli, Syanda Alpheous.
Since 2010, South Africa (S.A) has received and endured heighted attention in the form of downgrades from Rating Agencies (RAs) who have shown serious concerns about the country’s governance and fiscal policies. This was linked to the political decisions made by the governing political party, the African National Congress (ANC), and the then government, popularly referred to as the ‘Zuma administration’. As a result, post 2010, RAs in S.A have become one of the key oversight institutions in determining the country’s financial borrowing status and also play a key role in the country’s development agenda which is informed by its fiscal policies. A country with a negative rating from RAs often finds it difficult to access capital (loans) as well as in attracting investors. When financial institutions accede to giving loans, such loans are always expensive and bear high interest rates due to fear of high-risk exposure. Within this context, this study explored the influence of RAs on South Africa’s governance and fiscal policies. Underpinned by an interpretivist worldview/philosophy, the study adopted a qualitative design using a phenomenological strategy. The data was collected using in-depth, face-to face, one-on-one interviews which were recorded and guided by an interview schedule. In doing so, non-probability sampling strategy and purposive sampling technique were used. To ensure data quality control, the research ensured data trustworthiness, applying a credibility technique; and the data was analysed using thematic analysis. With the application of this methodology the study found that RAs play a critical role in ensuring that government preserves sound fiscal and governance policies. The study also established that in South Africa, RAs post 2010 played a major role in creating awareness about their existence, role and benefits within the different social spheres in the country. The study further found that methods of rating applied by RAs does not take into cognisance the socio-economic circumstances and conditions that affect the country being rated, hence it becomes difficult for countries such as in the case of South Africa to implement the recommendations provided by RAs.
A systematic thinking exploration of the challenges facing maritne education & training : the case of public higher education institutions in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2018) Mthuli, Syanda Alpheous.; Nzimakwe, Thokozani Ian.
The maritime environment from the beginning of this century has had a great socio-economic impact on countries as well as the broader global economy. This has resulted in the need for various stakeholders such as the government and business to play an active role in addressing challenges such as safety and security for example. In the aspect of education and training, the challenges have included the decreasing numbers of youth taking up Maritime Education and Training (MET), technological advancements, the cost, standards, and quality of MET globally. Some of these issues have been identified in developing countries such as the Republic South Africa (RSA). RSA possesses an education and training system which has transformed immensely post its democratization in 1994 and World University Rankings placing its public higher education institutions at the top in African continent, offering an array of programmes from social sciences and natural sciences to those that border on the two, such as MET. However, these institutions still remain confronted by numerous problems, such as the decline in State funding, slow academic succession and transformation, and the increasing demand for institutional capacity, etc. This study, through a Systems Thinking lens explores the challenges facing MET in public higher education institutions, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in RSA. Informed by an interpretivist worldview, a qualitative design, a phenomenological strategy and purposive sampling with the assistance of an interview guide, data was analysed into themes which suggested that MET faces numerous challenges both internal and external of its environment and some of these included limited stakeholder involvement, as well as scarcity. Key stakeholders continue to play an active but limited role by developing partnerships facilitating the provision of MET in attempting to address the challenges facing MET and also close the skills gaps in KZN’s maritime industry. The study contributes to a holistic understanding which illustrates how the development of MET institutions fit into the picture of the maritime industry in KZN and how one is not divorced from the other; rather, they reinforce each other, influencing each other’s state of being.