School of Built Environment and Development Studies

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Architecture as a response to informal trade in urban environments. Towards a new SMME business hub in the Point precinct, Durban, CBD.
(2023) Biggar, Aaron Michael.; Govender, Viloshin.
This study is meant to empower and create a sustainable life for Small, Micro, and Medium Enterprises (SMME’s), as at present there is a cultural discrepancy in the globalisation movement in the development of all cities. Corporations need to play an enabling role to create a new model of black enterprises. However, one of the biggest problems in South African cities is globalisation and apartheid city planning. This did not only structure but also relocated people to the outer parts of the cities, which made cities non-diverse, semi-functional zones and lacked major support for SMME”s. (Eatough, 2015; Rogerson, 2000 p, 673-695 ) “The reconstruction initiatives of the post-apartheid South Africa, promoting and supporting the development of small, medium and micro-enterprises sector, including the informal economy, have been of major policy significance.” (Rogerson, 2000, p, 673-695) Architecture could assist SMME’s by making a more responsive space servicing the needs of the users. The argument is for a more sustained reform of the city to examine its cultural expression as an engine for empowering multi-diverse and small businesses. The Point Development is one of the key catalysts to redeveloping the entire inner city. The point development however has resulted in gentrification and the loss of small informal businesses within the point developments. (Lumby, 1991, p.121-133) Durban is a multiplicity of cultures and architectural styles, but the city can be challenged to create more spaces for opportunity, inclusivity, and diversity. The goal is to promote and empower SMME’s in communities to use lost space, which will integrate, connect and diversify technology and culture by creating an economically empowered city with the use of Architecture and at the same time stitching the Point to the rest of the city.
Complexities surrounding unpaid internships for historically disadvantaged students on Westville Campus, University of KwaZulu Natal.
(2020) Dlamini, Abahle Samkelisiwe.; Vawda, Mohammed Yacoob.
The primary aim of this study is to investigate the complexities surrounding internships among UKZN Westville students. This includes knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and behaviors towards internships (especially unpaid internships). To limit the scope of the relevant data and strengthen the study, this study draws from the employment relationship framework – under the larger umbrella of labour relations. This theoretical framework was instrumental in the entire study in terms of using the right research methods to better answer the research’s questions. The theoretical framework also limits generalisations by identifying the key elements and connections that inform the study’s direction. The framework is structured around four (4) elements or sub-theories: the unitarist, pluralist, Marxist and radical. This study adopted an explorative qualitative research approach for collecting the required data and the analysis thereof. In this qualitative research both semi-structured and in-depth interviews were used to evaluate the complexities surrounding internships among UKZN Westville students. A non-probability sampling method was used to recruit a total sample size of 15 participants. The findings from this study revealed that there are various factors influencing the complex relationship between unpaid internships and graduate employment within the studied population. Here, the results found that lack of compensation, social class, discrimination, favouritism, nepotisms, and lack of paid internships are some of the factors that impact on the complexities surrounding internships among UKZN Westville students. The results from this study further highlight that difficulties to get paid internships or work experience programmes is a challenge which restrict the potential for under-privileged groups to secure their first employment. In other words, the difficulties to find paid internships or work experience programme for under-privileged groups is related to the lack of work experience itself since they do not have the luxury of working for free while still taking care of their financial needs. In conclusion, the results from this study present a direct evaluation of the association between social class and graduates’ internships, and ultimately employability. The role of legal frameworks and stakeholders (such as government, higher institutions and employers) ultimately has the potentials to improving youths and/or graduates’ employability through the promotion of paid internships.
Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on collective bargaining and workers' livelihoods: the case of NEHAWU in Durban.
(2022) Mathonsi, Mbuyiseni Simon.; Tshishonga, Ndwakhulu Stephen.
Collective bargaining is often associated with higher earnings, greater security for employees, and greater earnings equality. During the collective bargaining financial circles of 2019/2020, 2020/2021, 2021/2022 South African collective bargaining could not meet this protective function. Protective function means ensuring adequate pay, deciding on limits on daily or weekly working hours, and regulating other working conditions. The failure of wage negotiations during the above collective bargaining circles had hampered the South African government’s plan to reduce the levels of race and gender inequality, and it has also had a negative impact on the country’s economic growth. This study investigates the impact of COVID 19 on collective bargaining and workers’ livelihoods, using the case of NEHAWU in Durban. The National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) is one of the largest trade unions in South Africa, which organizes both in the public and private sectors (especially with regard to state-owned entities). A qualitative research approach was adopted together with an exploratory research design to conduct an in-depth exploration of the phenomenon under study. Semi-structured interviews (both face-to-face and online) were employed for data collection among the leaders and members of NEHAWU in Durban. Thematic analysis was used to code the qualitative data and identify the emerging themes and subthemes. Meanwhile a non-probability sampling method was employed, and a purposive sampling technique was used to identify a sample of 10 (ten) participants for the study. “Collective bargaining: a veritable tool for resolving conflict”, the theory of collective bargaining by Kolatikan (2014) as well as three theoretical perspectives in industrial relations (the Unitary, the Radical and Pluralistic perspectives) combined to form the framework that underpin this study. The research study revealed that the failure of collective bargaining during 2019/2020, 2020/2021, and 2021/2022 collective bargaining circles as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic did not only disrupted workers’ livelihoods but it also reversed workers’ level of life and deepened gender, race, and class inequalities. The study also revealed that the salary freeze experienced during the above collective bargaining circles, coupled with the rise in food and petrol prizes, drove some workers into hard-core poverty, a level of the working poor, with workers occupying the lowest rungs of the payment system bearing the most brunt. The study recommends that collective bargaining needs to be strengthened and protected, especially during disasters such as COVID-19. It also recommends the up skilling of the low-paid workers so that they can move up the salary rungs. It further recommends that collective bargaining should prioritize workers who are in the lowest rungs of the salary payment system.
Social media entrepreneurship as an employment creation strategy: a case study of students in Durban, South Africa.
(2022) Mdluli, Thobelani Ntokozo.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
The study was motivated primarily by the realisation that the issue of youth unemployment, which has long perplexed both developed and developing countries, has reached new heights, particularly in South Africa. Nevertheless, it was acknowledged that there appears to be a much-needed shift in how young people use social media to combat this issue. The overall aim of the study is to shed insight into the youth’s social media usage as an employment creation strategy in Durban, South Africa. The study aimed to explore social media usage as an employment creation strategy among students in Durban, while ascertaining student’s perspectives and experiences of social media as an employment creation strategy. It also wanted to explore the opportunities and barriers of using social networking as an employment creation strategy. The study asked how social media is used as an employment strategy among students. This study collected data using telephonic interviews with 20 participants, who were students in various higher education institutions in Durban. The study found that the social media entrepreneurs interviewed, did not make money through being online like how bloggers, social media personalities do but they used social media for advertising their businesses. The study also found that the ‘studentrepreneurs’ utilised social media because it is cheaper than the traditional way of advertising. Despite the numerous advantages found, such as helping entrepreneurs to collaborate with other small business owners, time efficiency and target market availability, social media was also found to possess its own disadvantages. A few of those disadvantages included finance, COVID-19, the fast paced and forever changing customer interest and many others mentioned. It was reported in the study that each time the participants conducted business online, they stood a chance of being victims to hackers, fraudsters, perverts and bullies. The study recommended that youth entrepreneurs should employ various social media sites to cater to various consumers. This was recommended to be done after noting the different participants' complaints of being victims of cyber-crimes. The study also suggested that whenever a corporation has implemented social media entrepreneurship, those who are in charge must devote enough time to it and should be willing to participate in social media to improve interaction between the company and its customers as this would help with relationship building. The study also recommended a collaboration between the government and the private sector or the private sector and NGOs, which would connect the youth to the preconceptions of the private sector.

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