Browsing by Author "Nyawo, Jabulani Christopher."

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Access to municipal markets by agro-smallholder producers in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality: a public administration perspective.
(2020) Nyawo, Jabulani Christopher.; Mubangizi, Betty Claire.
The government's inability in South Africa to ensure that both local and national markets adequately accommodate smallholder producers is hindering the sector’s ability to grow and develop. Minimal research has focused on how local government interacts with other spheres of government to improve and ensure accessibility to municipal markets for agro-smallholder producers, and limited studies have been conducted that explore the influence of municipal markets on agro-smallholder producers. Therefore, this study aimed to critically examine municipal markets' influence on agro-smallholder growth within a decentralised state. This study employed a qualitative exploratory research methodology using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The researcher utilised a non-probability, purposive sampling method—the sample comprised participants from government departments and agrosmallholder producers falling under the eThekwini Municipality’s jurisdiction. The researcher conducted seven individual face-to-face interviews with government officials and 15 focus group discussions with agro-smallholder producers. The data collected were analysed using the thematic analysis technique. The study results show that the municipal markets and the extension services do not provide substantial support to agro-smallholder producers who are seeking access to markets. Furthermore, the study found that there is no integration or relationship between the eThekwini Municipality and the KZN Agriculture and Rural Development on the issues related to the promotion and development of agro-smallholder producers. Through the application of administrative theory, the study recommends that the government institutions incorporate stakeholders’ insights, lay a policy foundation for a whole-of-government approach to planning, and set the direction for agrosmallholder's planned future. The creation of a coherent planning and coordination system could assist government institutions in ensuring that better outcomes are achieved to deliver support services to agro-smallholder producers. Furthermore, the government institutions will be more effective if they have sufficient human resources who are qualified and able to ensure their departments' effective management and smooth functioning.
Assessing the benefits of empowering rural women through local economic development initiatives in Port St. Johns Municipality.
(2018) Fodo, Sinazo Ayabulela.; Nyawo, Jabulani Christopher.
South Africa is viewed as one of the developing countries in Africa. Regardless of the advancements recorded, the local impact of the broad development is as yet needing. This may be because of the inheritances of the apartheid regime. Amid the apartheid period, development was isolated. The White people profited more from development at the disservice of the Black populace in South Africa. Gender inequality was at its most noteworthy pervasiveness. Women occupied the least societal position when contrasted with men. In any case, post 1994 the democratic government executed expanded desires for the citizens as it guaranteed the public of the delivery of services for the improvement of their lives. Hence, while attempting to decrease racial and exceptional incongruities through advancing the improvement of the already hindered territories, there was a presentation of Local Economic Development (LED). LED has been seen as an initiative that is able to address local socio-economic challenges and to promote local growth and development. Critically in this way, developmental institutions were commanded in addition to other things to develop the strengthening of empowerment of women on the agenda of all their developmental projects and introduce innovative ways to promote gender equality. Women empowerment implies giving women the opportunity or capacity to experience life the way they want. It enables them to identify their skills, knowledge and capacities to settle on their own choices. It is a dynamic and development process for women which incorporates awareness, achievement and completion of skills. This is to state that women empowerment on LED will improve the status of women through literacy, education, training and creating awareness. In this manner, women empowerment on LED will ensure that women are equipped to make choices that will improve their standard of living. However, the issue of development in South Africa is that, it is just specific to urban regions. Put in another path, in spite of incredible strands appreciated in growing South Africa, imbalance and underdevelopment is as yet overflowing. Rural women are as yet looked with challenges that may hinder their development. A number of rural women lack awareness and knowledge, are exposed to inequality, are unemployed and exposed to poverty. The point of this investigation was to basically break down the benefits of empowering rural women through developing LED activities. The objectives of the study were to: (a) assess the benefits of empowering women through LED initiatives in the rural settings of Port St Johns municipality; (b) assess the major LED projects run by the municipality that are beneficial to women; (c) assess the capacity at which the municipality is able to empower women through training and development for effective participation in local economic development initiatives in Port St Johns municipality; and (e) evaluate the challenges associated with the implementation of local economic development initiatives in Port St Johns municipality. The study is qualitative in nature, thus the researcher employed qualitative techniques to gather data. The researcher employed a thematic analysis as a mechanism to analyse data collected from the participants.The researcher also utilized the purposive sampling method and aimed at interviewing twenty participants consisting of one municipal manager, one LED manager, one Ward Councillor, one traditional leader, four small businesses owned by rural women and twelve rural women of Port St Johns municipality in Swazini Administrative Area. However, due to certain circumstances the researcher managed to interview sixteen participants, consisting of one municipal manager, one LED manager, one ward committee, one traditional leader, two small businesses owned by rural women and ten rural women of Port St Johns municipality in Swazini Administrative Area. The researcher assembled that within Swazini administrative area women continue to be exposed to poverty, a number of women are unemployed, no real economic activities exists within the area, LED initiatives are promptly accessible, women lack financial support to run existing projects, lack of information, lack of responsiveness to LED initiatives, lack of proper infrastructure, lack of intergovernmental support, no training and development initiatives exist within the area and women have moved from rural areas to find greener pasture. The researcher suggests that , the Port St Johns municipality must introduce training and development workshops, form partnerships with other stakeholders, introduce mentors for existing projects, initiate projects that target women that will alleviate poverty and unemployment, disseminate information on LED, the municipality must converse with the traditional leader and Ward Councillor and find common grounds on how to boost the economy of the area and the municipality must seek intergovernmental intervention and encourage the participation of women in LED initiatives.
Assessing the impact of privatising the solid waste collection in the KwaDukuza Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province.
(2020) Mokoena, Billy Sihle.; Nyawo, Jabulani Christopher.
According to Schedule 5b, of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996, waste management is an essential service to be provided by local government. Failure to deliver proper services could lead to an unhealthy and polluted environment. This study examines the effects of privatising solid waste collection in local government, focusing on the KwaDukuza municipality. The municipal waste departments are currently facing inadequate operational budgets, increases in operating costs, the rising cost of replacement capital expenses and skyrocketing exposure to environmental liability. These challenges make privatisation appear attractive. In short, the privatisation of solid waste collection is been used as an intervention for the challenges of solid waste collection management faced by local governments. The outsourcing of solid waste collection is driven by the theory privatisation is more effective and efficient at delivering services. This study employed a quantitative approach. The primary data was obtained from ward committee members and waste company employees through questionnaires. Primary data was received from 80 participants (70 ward committee members and ten from waste collection company employees). Probability random sampling was used in this study. The results of the study indicate private collection is more efficient, even though the municipality has resources to deliver; but mismanagement of these resources, as well as low morale in staff make it difficult for the municipality to perform. This study recommendes, while the municipality has the muscle to handle the collection of solid waste, privative collection is more efficient. The municipality needs to allow the private collection of waste and local government should act as the watchdog and protect the citizens who carry out waste collection, whoare almost exclusively from a disadvantaged group, from being exploited.
Assessment of CRDP in empowering women at uMhlontlo Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province.
(2017) Msutwana, Nomakatini.; Nyawo, Jabulani Christopher.
Most rural areas of South Africa are characterised by abject poverty, low levels of literacy amongst adult women, under-utilisation of natural resources, compromised access to socio-economic infrastructure, non-availability of clean water for agricultural development and services, and a high dependency on social grants and unresolved land restitution and tenure issues as in the view by (Hart & Jacobs, 2012). A closer look at the Eastern Cape Province shows that the rural areas are characterised by gross under-development in specific areas in all respects. These areas include the former homeland areas, which are being characterised by huge infrastructure backlog, high poverty levels, food insecurity, economic and skills shortages. In 2009, the South African government undertook an initiative to resolve the challenges facing rural areas, thereby establishing a programme called the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP). Obadire, et al. (2014) postulates that the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) have introduced this programme in an attempt to fight poverty, hunger, unemployment and lack of development in rural areas. In the view of DRDAR (2013), the programme has a vision of creating vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural livelihoods. This study is premised on the pathetic status of women, which has its origins from the apartheid past. Black African women have been discriminated and disadvantaged on cultural, business and political perspectives, and the poverty levels amongst women are higher than that of male-headed households. However, even though rural women have evolved to contribute in socio-economic roles to support their families; the development processes have been seen as inadequate (Osita-Njoku and Princewill, 2015:258). StatsSA (2014) stipulates that there is an increase in female-headed households in South Africa. This brings out a compelling reason for coming up with a study of this nature. The main aim of this study was to assess the influence of the CRDP in empowering women in the development site of the Umhlontlo local municipality. To achieve this aim, the research objectives have been created: firstly, to assess how the women of the rural municipality area have been developed through literacy and empowerment programmes, and how well the transformation has impacted their lives. Secondly, to assess the influence of the remedial programmes of the government in addressing the issues of discrimination and subordination against women. Lastly, to investigate the effects of development programmes in the fight against poverty and towards the development of the local economy. This study utilised a qualitative research approach. This is because the nature of the study required deeper understanding, illuminating and examining the participant’s experiences, ideas and attitudes in an etymological form. A non-probability technique, purposive sampling, and face-to-face interview as well as the focus groups were used in this study. The findings of the study revealed that rural women within the jurisdiction of the Umhlontlo Local Municipality benefited from the CRDP, and the government should continue implementing programmes of such a nature within the rural areas. The empowerment of women has resulted in improved living standards for their dependants and the community in general. It is clear from the findings that through the CRDP, the residents of the uMhlontlo local municipality, have obtained many benefits. In order to ensure that programmes such as the CRDP succeed and supported, it is recommended that the government create a good relationship with key, local, economic development stakeholders.
Evaluating project management systems and its influence on service delivery in eThekwini Municipality.
(2021) Mabika, Nhlanhla Vumani.; Nyawo, Jabulani Christopher.
Abstract available in PDF.
The role of computer software and applications toward enabling productivity of administrative personnel at Corobrik KwaZulu-Natal.
(2022) De Lange, Christa Myrtle.; Nyawo, Jabulani Christopher.; Mashau, Pfano.
As we witness the constant change and evolution of improved and updated software applications for users, we recognise the need for organisations to align themselves to the new technologies to ensure enabled and improved productivity. The objective of the study is to examine the use of software applications by administrative personnel at Corobrik KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) for the enabling and improvement of productivity. The research reviewed the use of software applications and how it effectively provides support required by the administrative personnel and the organisation, improving performance towards growth, knowledge and productivity while being able to adapt to change in the internal and external environments. The need for self-motivation and growth was explored with the recognition that the knowledge is to be shared to support the efficiencies for enablement and improvements. To achieve the results of the study a qualitative research approach was used to probe into the use of the software applications and to understand how these applications effectively and efficiently enable the job functions for productivity. It was established that an interpretative approach will be best suited for the study as it allows for constructive experiences of the participants. The sample method that was used was purposeful sampling, as sixteen participants were selected from different departments and levels of the organisation. The questions were semi-structured, as there was an opportunity for the participants to respond freely, to provide a deep insight of their views, perceptions and experiences of the use of software applications that are made available. The interviews were transcribed on analysis of the data and distinct themes were extracted allowing for a credible thematic analysis. The most pertinent findings that emerged, is the lack of training and sharing of knowledge and that the use of software applications was tacit rather that explicit within the organisation.