Browsing by Author "Zondi, Nompumelelo Bernadette."

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Bahlabelelelani : why do they sing? : gender and power in contemporary women's songs.
(2008) Zondi, Nompumelelo Bernadette.; Magwaza, Thenjiwe S. C.
Certain cultural practices present unspoken questions to women. While women may not be free to state these concerns upfront I argue that they have always had some means of expressing themselves in creative ways about issues that affect them. One issue that is investigated in this dissertation is the question of why women sing. This study, therefore, examines one of the channels, which are songs, that women and rural women in particular employ to deal with their day to day living. To this end I have selected cultural songs as one of the ways of demonstrating how women negotiate their spaces in the culture. The study is based on a community of women from Zwelibomvu near Pinetown, South Africa but goes beyond this as I believe that women in general speak for the majority of other women especially with regard to issues around gender and power inequalities. Songs have been selected as a genre and as a special form of expression that women in particular find easier to use to raise issues that affect them in their daily lives. The three hour DVD rendition that forms part of this study captures a synoptic view of the amount of raw data found in this study. Through the medium of song, and strengthened by the stories that they share, Zwelibomvu rural women are able to get a sense of relief and consolation from the burdens that they have and which they would like to share. Presented as a two part field work process, the first process involves the collection of songs in ceremonies and occasions and observing an d being part of the occasions and ceremonies where the songs that are sung by women are performed. This process culminates in the production of the three hour DVD rendition that forms part of this study and which captures a synoptic view of the amount of r aw data found in this dissertation. The second part mainly involves interviews of categories of respondents in similar settings/districts observed where ceremonies were attended and attempts to provide some insight into why women sing and the question of gender and power in contemporary women’s songs. Finally, the last chapters involve an analysis of songs with regard to themes that emanate from these songs as well as a review on their oral composition.
The challenges that come with the delay in collecting community garbage bags. The case study of Umlazi (Q-section).
(2019) Dlamini, Sanele Niceboy.; Zondi, Nompumelelo Bernadette.
The relevance of this study was embedded in knowing that the South African government through its local councilors exists to safeguard that residents within their demarcated wards live in a clean, healthy and hazard-free environment as supported by the South African Constitution (Act 108 of 1996) and the Municipality Systems Act (32 of 2000). Using theoretical standpoints of the Welfarist theory and the Modernisation theory as well as the qualitative research design as a principal method of data collection, this thesis examined the challenges that come with the delay in waste collection in Umlazi Township (Q-section) and the policy implications therein. The study reveals that the usage of open dumps is the most viable option of solid waste disposal in the study area. Open dumping will continue to be the most widely adopted technique of disposing waste by most towns in Durban due to the inadequate infrastructure which makes it difficult for the municipal truck to collect the solid waste. Secondly, the study reveals that unmaintained dump side encourage communicable diseases which detriments people’s health. The study reports that communicable diseases have conditioned some community members who are also breadwinners to have chronic diseases. This has cost them to lose jobs and deepens them into rife poverty that is confirmed in most people in South Africa. Children of this community are now deprived the right to play outside which benefits their physical growth as parents protect them from contaminated litter. The study concluded that this community is not liberated as it is still oppressed by an unaccountable local sphere of government which does not prioritize adequate sanitation for its people. The study recommends the establishment of a sanitation network or committee which will look at issues of sanitation as a service delivery concern. It contributes in sensitizing people that they must make use of public participation gatherings to discuss or express issues of sanitation in lieu of being passive beneficiaries. The study recommends a sectoral approach which should be steered by the Department of Health and the eThekwini Municipality through which the said population can be empowered in reducing, reusing as well as re-cycling their own litter for health and economic reasons. These findings can be utilised to broaden people’s comprehension of the significance and impact of effective solid waste management or lack thereof.
Perceptions on cremation amongst the Zulu people.
(2011) Zwane, Maria Ntombikayise.; Zondi, Nompumelelo Bernadette.
South Africa is going through a difficult time due to HIV/AIDS pandemic (amongst other things) which has caused countless deaths leading to major concern about municipal burial sites since such land is limited. There is currently a shortage of burial sites enough in to accommodate the vast numbers to deaths. It has been announced that some graveyards in KwaZulu-Natal, Alexandra and Soweto are full. Consequently, municipalities have been seriously considering campaigns to encourage people to opt for cremation as a way of disposing of their deceased loved ones (Daily News, 2010:1). Cremation is an act of disposing of a deceased person by burning their body remains. It has recently featured in the national newspapers in keeping with efforts on the part of the Government to familiarise people within eThekwini and elsewhere in the country with the practice of cremation. Cremation is, however a widely unpopular practice throughout African culture, especially among the Zulu people. Some of them think of cremation as a curse and something that contradicts their culture. In the Zulu culture there is a belief that death is not the end: a person who dies enters into the afterlife and becomes a provider for the family. Such a person is referred to as idlozi (an ancestor). The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of the Zulu people on cremation as an alternative to the traditional practice of burial. In this study the population from which a sample was drawn were the Zulu people living in uMlazi and Zwelibomvu, a semi-urban area and a rural area respectively. As a researcher I believed that this study was necessary and important because it was hoping to help educate people so that they will be able to make an informed judgement around the issue of cremation.
Polygyny and gender : narratives of professional Zulu women in peri-urban areas of contemporary KwaZulu-Natal.
(2011) Mkhize, Zamambo Valentine.; Zondi, Nompumelelo Bernadette.
Polygyny has been defended by some men in terms of ‘tradition and culture’ but a cursory observation suggests that it is currently being embraced even amongst women. It seems that some women are willing to allow a husband to take a second wife and even in arranged marriages some women seem content to enter into a polygynous union because they will be answering the call of duty. This study seeks to explore why even some middle-class educated women enter polygynous marriages. The study is different than the previous studies conducted because it focused on women who were educated and had employment that made them financially independent. Previous studies focused on poor rural women who had no better option but to marry into polygynous marriages for a better life because in the past it was only wealthy men who could afford to support more than one family and unfortunately that is not the case in today’s society, now it is just any man who wants to ‘elevate his manhood’ by having more than one wife but who he cannot support. The findings showed women entered such unions for numerous reasons such as love, family and societal pressures as well as desperation to have a higher social standing in the community than a single woman.
Some gendered African ritual practices : the case of impepho (an indigenous African plant).
(2012) Ntshangase, Mpumelelo C.; Zondi, Nompumelelo Bernadette.
This research work is about rituals practice, with specific reference to burning of impepho (an indigenous African Plant) and how this practice excludes women in general. Impepho is an indigenous African plant that, once dried, is burnt in order to communicate with one’s ancestors. Impepho is well-known to the majority of Sub Saharan Africans as it is used to communicate with their ancestors and it is also used by traditional healers to communicate with the deceased. It is used in various ceremonies, as well as in traditional feasts, when chickens, goats or cows are offered to the ancestors. The aim of this study was to find out why women are not allowed to burn impepho. Times have changed to the point that there are now many Zulu households that are headed by women, and these women do in fact burn impepho in order to communicate with their ancestors. This then is the pertinent question: do these women’s requests or prayers go unheard by the ancestors? The study aims to find out from the female participants if they burn impepho in their home or if they still adhere to this male constructed mentality that women should not burn impepho.