College of Humanities

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A critical discernment of the image of God amongst the Black, urban, isiXhosa speaking Catholics within the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Town, in relation to other sources of sacred power, in a context of on-going change = Ukwahlulelwa okunzulu ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu kubantu abansundu , emadolobheni , abangamaXhosa bengamaKhatholika ase-Archdiocese eKapa , kuqhathaniswa namandla angcwele , ezimeni eziguqukayo.
(2024) Goldie, Pierre.; Decock, Paul Bernard.
With view to a deeper appreciation of how the Xhosa Catholics within the Archdiocese of Cape Town have assimilated Catholicism, the thesis delimits this compound objective to the way in which the image of God has been appropriated by the urban amaXhosa, in relation to other sources of sacred power, a manageable scope for this paper. Pauw (1975) presents research on how the Xhosa have adopted Christianity, assisted by a substantial team of research assistants. Some Catholic researchers have contributed to religious-cultural analyses of indigenous Catholics in South Africa, but there is a research deficiency within the Cape Town environs due in part to the relatively smaller proportion of Black Catholics within this Archdiocese. These numbers have grown substantially with on-going migration from country to city. A qualitative questionnaire has been utilised as part of an interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore the image of God held by the Xhosa Catholics supplemented with a comprehensive literature review. The research discovers that there are a range of contenders for sacred power with which to cope with existential issues, not only ‘God’. Also, God exists no longer as a distant, awesome deity, represented as such in African Tradition. He now dominates the religious consciousness of the people. The ancestors have been displaced from their formerly dominant role but are still perceived as significant dispensers of sacred power. Christ’s image as God is overshadowed and he does not appear to command a pre-eminent, authoritative relationship with the congregants. The ancestors generally invite more deliberation than Christ. This depreciation of the Christ image critically undermines the Easter mystery, for the Catholic Church the pivotal episode of revelation. Catholic parishioners also patronise other sources of sacred power. The research results generally concur with literature, concluding that the qualitative impact of Christianity is found wanting. Lack of cultural awareness, and imperfect evangelization account for the partial realization of Christian mission. The Holy Spirit too has only been partially appropriated. Results highlight a significant Christological shortcoming, even crisis. Tlhagale (2018) adjudicates indigenous Christians to be closer to ATR than to Christianity. Strategies are proposed to address the challenges. Iqoqa. Lolu cwaningo luhlola izindlela okubukwa ngayo umfanekiso kaNkulunkulu ngamaKresto angamaKhatholika angamaXhosa asemadolobheni eKapa, eDayosini enkulu yamaKhatholoka eKapa, kuqhathaniswa namandla angcwele. UPauw (1975), ethula ucwaningo ngamaXhosa aguqukele kubuKrestu, elekelelwa yiqembu thizeni, waveza ukuthi kunenkolo embaxambili yamaXhosa angamaKrestu, lenkolo bayibiza ngobuKresto kanye neNkolo Yendabuko Yama-Afrikha (ATR). Abanye abacwaningi BobuKhatholika balwenzile ucwaningo olufuze lolu nokuhlaziywa kwalo eNingizimu Afrikha, kepha kuncane okwenziwe eKapa okuveza ukadebona oqhubekayo kumaXhosa. Kulolu cwaningo kusebenze inhlololwazi yekhwalithethivu njengengxenye yokuhlaziya umfanekiso kaNkulunkulu oyinkolelo yamaKhatholika angamaXhosa. Lokhu kube sekusetshenziswa kanye nokubuyekezwa kwemibhalo okunzulu. Ucwaningo luthole ukuthi kunokuphikisana okusabalele ngenkolelo yamandla angcwele, ngaphandle kukaNkulunkulu, okuphikisanayo nezinto ezikhona. Kuphinde-futhi, kuvele nokuthi uNkulunkulu akekho kude, nezimangaliso zobungcwele, njengalokhu kuvezwa kwi-ATR. Lobungcwele buyabusa enkolweni nakunembeza wabantu. Amadlozi akusakholelwa kuwona njengabangcwele kubantu, kepha asenayo indawo enkolweni. Umfanekiso kaKhritu njengoNkulnkulu uyacindezeleka futhi awubukeki unamandla, awuseyikho konke. Amadlozi sekukholelwa kuwo kakhulu kunoKhristu. Umoya Oyingcwele wamukelwa ngokuyingxenye, kanti eminye imimoya engcwele ivuselelekile. Imiphumela yocwaningo ihambisene nemibhalo. Ngenkoleloze yobuKhatholika, ukwehla kwenkolelo kwumfanekiso kaKhristu kudambisa inkolelo yokufa nokuvuka (Cross and Resurrection of Christ), ngokwenkolo yobuKhatholika enesiqephu somlando wensindiso, kanye nobudlelwano noKhristu. Ukungaqini kahle kwesu lamamishini amaKhatholika kungaba imbangela yokushaya kwayo indiva amasiko esintu. Lokhu-ke kube sekubizwa ngenhlekelele ngu-Archbishop Tlhagale (2018). Ukholwa ukuthi amaKhristu angabobomdabu base-Afrikha basondelene ne-ATR kunenobuKhristu. Lolu cwaningo luphetha ngokuphakamisa amasu okubhekana nalezi zinselelo zama mishinari.
An analysis of experiences and meanings that community members have attached to the South African government’s neoliberal and privatisation policies in historically disadvantaged suburbs.
(2022) Mashalane, Nkgere Sharon.; Isaacs, Dean Lee.; Bobat, Shaida.; Reuben, Shanya.
This research aimed to explore the experiences and meanings that community members have attached to the South African government’s neoliberal and privatisation policies in historically disadvantaged suburbs. This study sought to understand how community members of Wentworth make sense of neoliberal and privatisation tactics. Using a qualitative research design, the study further sought to understand how the privatisation of basic services makes community members feel. Participants were community members of Wentworth, a suburb of the city of Durban, who have been residents in the community for more than ten years. Participants were selected using snowball sampling, and the researcher used semi-structured interviews to solicit points of view from the participants on their experiences of the privatisation of basic services in their area. Data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The analysis produced the following themes: unemployment, unsafe communities, poverty-stricken homes, government shortcomings, not having a place to call home, and dissatisfaction with life. The research revealed that the residents’ understanding of these changes were strongly influenced by the injustices of the past, which now manifest as class instead of race. Recommendations for practical implications and future research were made.
An auto-ethnographic study of my learning of english as a second language.
(2023) Andile, Jideani.; Bridget, Campbell.
This narrative and reflexive auto-ethnographic study was conducted to explore my learning experiences of English as a second language. The aim was to gain insight into my experiences and extract lessons from them, to understand my experiences and enhance my performance as an English teacher in the future. A reflective autobiographical story, conversations, images to trigger memory, and letter-writing were used to collect data for the study. Myself, two of my peers, my sister, and three critical friends participated in the study. Data was analysed through Critical Discourse and Thematic analysis. The study was underpinned by socio-cultural and motivation theories. Interrogating my learning experiences of English as a second language revealed that acquiring a second language is a social endeavour and requires motivation on the part of the learner. This important insight will help me to be more empathetic to English second language learners who face challenges and to explore ways of supporting them. Additionally, I will be in a better position to motivate them to learn a second language, as it can contribute to their success in the future. My findings also highlight the need for teachers to continuously develop as this will enhance their ability to embrace contemporary teaching methods as well as to integrate technology in language instruction. Armed with the outcomes of this research, I understand my journey and the role that others played in it. This insight should enable me to be an effective English teacher to my learners in the future. My findings indicate that examining and understanding my experiences has provided me the opportunity to gain insight from my experiences which I can use to be a better practitioner in the future. Findings from this study also show that auto-ethnography is one of the best methods teachers can use to reflect on their experiences in their different spaces as it places culture at the centre of learning. The socio-cultural theory helped me to broaden the scope of my study as I looked at my journey of learning English as a second language through all aspects of life such as my religious beliefs, play, and within the family. I also discovered that motivation plays a very important role in achieving success when learning a second language.
Deconstructing African identities: notions of fatherhood amongst Zulu men in Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal.
(2023) Mdletshe, Prudence Thandeka.; Zibane, Sibonsile Zerurcia.; Hlengwa, Wellington Mthokozisi.
This study is a decolonial study of fatherhood in South Africa. It is located within the broader ambit of decolonial liberatory psychology and Afrocentrism. It is informed by the hypothetical claim about the erosion of African cultures, being, and subjectivities. It posits that while fatherhood is obviously socially, culturally, and historically contingent, the Anglo-American notions of fatherhood are the most dominant in South Africa. This is because of the matrix of power of the modern colonial world system that undermines African identities. Data was collected using Indigenous research methods which share some similarities with qualitative research methods. These included the sharing circles and conversational interviews that were used to collect data. A total of two sharing circle interviews and 20 one-on-one in-depth conversational interviews were conducted in Eshowe which is a rural community of KwaZulu-Natal. Study participants consisted of Zulu people from 35 to 75 + years of age. The interviews were conducted in IsiZulu; and recorded using a digital audio-recorder, and then transcribed later. The transcription first took place in the language of the respondents and then were translated into English. Zulu Folklores and proverbs were also used in the data collection process. They also served as conversation starters, reflection points, and for stimulating the conversation exchanges in sharing circles. Data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). IPA was chosen because it is a method that allows for the data to be collected using Indigenous research methods. It is a qualitative analysis method that is primarily used in the disciplines of the human sciences. This method is mainly concerned with giving voice to the voiceless people who are either marginalized or excluded in society such as peasants, women, and indeed racialized populations. Most significantly, IPA also seeks to explore such participants’ experiences and the meaning they attribute to their experiences. The findings of the research are presented in the form of thick descriptions of the participant’s notions of fatherhood. The participants’ experiences, memories, and stories symbolized the resilience of indigenous knowledge systems in Eshowe. As one of the participants opined, as long as the Zulu people still live, their culture cannot be entirely obliterated by the old and new forms of colonialism.
Discontinuity without change? the place and discourse of colonial memory in Zimbabwe’s post- Mugabe Zanu-PF politics.
(2024) Kupeta, Noah.; Lubombo, Musara.; Dyll, Lauren Eva.
Zimbabwean politics are notably complex and difficult to understand, even by scholars with a strong interest in African affairs with a long institutional memory of the historical determinants of the independence and post-independence struggles within Zimbabwe. Through the lens of political culture and functional theory campaign communication, this qualitative inquiry titled “Discontinuity without change? The place and discourse of colonial memory in Zimbabwe’s post-Mugabe ZANU-PF politics” scrutinizes the colonial narratives in the political discourses in Zimbabwe’s ruling party ZANU (PF) following the Robert Mugabe era intending to understand how colonial memory shapes the party’s the ideological foundations and policy directions. The study draws on eight speeches delivered by former president Robert Mugabe during the 2002 elections, as well as speeches by his successor and current president Emmerson Munangagwa during the 2018 election campaign. It also incorporates insights from key informants within ZANU (PF), Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), Zimpapers, and Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) to explore the role of media in influencing the nuanced interplay between historical legacies, political discourse, and contemporary governance. By examining the ebbs and tides of electoral politics in Zimbabwe spanning nearly decades through the prism of post-colonial memory, the study concludes that while Mnangagwa’s ascendance as President hinted at a departure from his predecessor’s politics, there is a notable continuity in the streams of colonial memory that informed ZANU-PF electoral strategies. This underscores how political discourses and power dynamics during elections are deeply entrenched within the broader context of Zimbabwean politics and pan-African pursuit of of self-determination (Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo), identity and independence. Despite certain shifts in Mnangagwa’s ‘New Dispensation’ that deviate from Mugabeism, the persistence of colonial memory underscores its pivotal role in shaping the principles and practices of representative democracy within Zimbabwe. The media’s influence in (re)shaping post-Mugabe discourse sheds light on the implications of memory appropriation in contemporary Zimbabwean political communication.
Exploring mental health literacy and awareness of help-seeking behaviour including barriers thereof, among Hindu students' at UKZN.
(2023) Moodley, Melissa.; Mtwentula-Ndlovu, Ntombekhaya Antoinette.
Background: There exists, in the developing world, a lack of research concerning mental health awareness and help-seeking behaviour, and South Africa is no different. Within the South African context, there is a diverse range of people from different religions. Culture and religion can influence the way people view mental health and help-seeking therefore, further research regarding religious influences in the understanding of mental disorders is urgently required to better accommodate cultural uniqueness. This study investigated mental health literacy and awareness of help-seeking behaviour among Hindu students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Method: A qualitative research approach was used to frame this research. Thirteen (n=13) Hindu participants aged 18 to 25 years old were sampled, consisting of both male and female students. To select the participants, the researcher used both purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data was collected through a predetermined interview schedule, administered during semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: The researcher established that there exists a lack of mental health awareness among Hindu students at UKZN which may result in barriers to help-seeking. Stigma linked to mental health awareness was identified as the main barrier to help-seeking. A link between religion (Hinduism) and the way mental health is perceived has been highlighted. Additionally, findings highlighted that prior history/exposure to others with mental health conditions positively influenced mental health awareness and help-seeking behaviour. Conclusion: It can be concluded that more needs to be done to promote mental health and educate students on campus, however it also highlights, the key to increasing help-seeking and mental health awareness among students may be targeting their communities first. This may lead to decreased stigma and misconceptions and encourage help-seeking behaviour.
Exploring the experiences and coping strategies of unemployed registered counsellors in the South African context.
(2023) Jili, Ncebakazi.; Mtwentula-Ndlovu, Ntombekhaya Antoinette.
The Registered Counsellor profession is an HPCSA-recognised professional category in psychology, which was lawfully introduced in December 2003 to limit the shortage of mental healthcare services in disadvantaged areas of South Africa, specifically in primary healthcare. Thus, the Registered Counsellor profession exists in South Africa, although it is a country ranking high in unemployment. Registered Counsellors are not immune to unemployment and its effect on psychosocial well-being. A few studies concerning the Registered Counsellor profession in South Africa have statistically highlighted the drastic challenge of unemployment. As a result, there is a dearth of literature that specifically investigates the subjective experiences and effects of unemployment on the psychosocial well-being of Registered Counsellors. Consequently, this study explored the experiences and coping strategies of unemployed Registered Counsellors in the South African context. A qualitative research approach was adopted to gain an in-depth understanding of subjective experiences, and coping strategies utilised during unemployment. A phenomenological research design was used to guide the study. Purposive sampling was the primary technique applied to select eight individually interviewed participants using a semi-structured interview method. Thematic data analysis of the participants' responses indicated that unemployment is perceived as a difficult and stressful experience. The struggle to secure employment presented an interplay of adverse effects on the participants' psychosocial well-being, mainly due to deprived financial security and social participation. Findings indicated exploring alternative opportunities, leisure activity, optimism, resilience, and social support as coping strategies. Registered Counsellors in this study predominantly applied physical, cognitive, and social resources to cope with the detrimental effects of unemployment.
Exploring the factors and differentials driving contemporary internal migration in South Africa.
(2020) Dlamini, Njabulo.; Nzimande, Nompumelelo Barbara.
This study explores the factors and differentials driving contemporary internal migration in South Africa looking at migration for South african citizens and then touch on inter-provincial migration. There is limited research done on internal migration in South Africa and globally. The bulk of studies done on migration focused the most on international migration and there is enough literature on international migration. However, internal migration has limited literature though moves mostly happen nationally rather than internationally. This study uses community survey 2016 (CS2016) data which was conducted by Statistics South Africa. The overall aim of this study is to explore migration factors and differentials driving internal migration between the year 2011 which was the year the last census was done and 2016 the year community survey 2016 was conducted. A quantitative research approach was adopted, and STATA 15 software was used to analyse data. A nested logistic model was used to explore the factors and determine differentials among the exploratory variables. It was evident in the study that all the independent variables chosen for the study does influence migration singularly and when combined with others. Nested models for the general population, females, and males were able to show the effectiveness of each independent variable in contributing to migration. The finding from this study can help the government in implementing policies since it shows how the South African population moves with the country at a municipal level and provincial level.
Exploring visual impairment through the built environment.
(2023) Mancotywa, Mbuso.; Cloete, Magdalena Catharina.
Visual impairment can present itself as a tough challenge in a human's life, and navigating the built environment independently is often one of the biggest obstacles to be approached. Not being able to perceive the environment around one and having an absence of a strong relationship or bond to the spaces one encounters leads to visually impaired people feeling lost in space. These issues get exacerbated by the gross insufficiencies of the built environment in its response to being inclusive for the visually impaired. This is often caused by the modern architectural approach, which did not factor in significant consideration for the other senses within their designs and favoured an ocular-centric approach that gave much preference to the sense of sight in architecture. As a result of the isolation in space, visually impaired people end up being excluded from the built environment and even other activities that may take place within buildings due to the lack of inclusivity within many different architectural typologies. This dissertation will explore how the built environment can respond more to visual impairment. The framework of the research will be formulated through the literature covering the theories of Phenomenology, Place theory, Universal Design and Multi-sensory design. These theories will more profoundly explore the human senses' role in the perception of the built environment. Understanding how architecture can respond will assist in making the built environment more inclusive for the visually impaired and strengthen the relationship of the senses to space to make architectural design more meaningful.
Grounding African political theory on afro-communitarianism: arguments and implications=Ukuqeqeshelwa injulalwazi yezombusazwe yase-Africa i-African Political Theory phezu kwenzululwazi yokuxhumuna komuntu ongumAfrika nomphakathi i-Afro-Communitarianism: Imibonomcabango Nemithelela.
(2023) Adeate, Tosin Blessing.; Clare, Julia.
This thesis critically analyses Afro-communitarianism as a philosophical foundation for modern African political theories and practices. The thesis links the reception of Afro-communitarian political philosophy in modern African political philosophy with its long-standing tension between community and individual as well as the conflict between rights and duty in modern African political philosophy. The attempt to resolve this tension in literature has mainly focused on the ideas of personhood. The thesis shows how development of the personhood approach to resolving this tension was manifested in three senses, i.e. duty-based, rights-based, and Afro-communitarian rejectionism. These three senses are both interrelated and independent discourses in African political philosophy. The duty-based personhood approach holds that personhood is defined solely by the structure of the community and not the self. It contends a notion of the self whose definition of meaningful life is generated outside the reference to community dependency. According to this approach, an ideal individual is a communal conformist, one that prioritises the duty to the community over the self. As a result, this approach defends a political society where concerns of rights, especially individual rights, do not matter. Following this approach is the rights-based personhood response. The rights-based approach responds to the lacunae in the duty-based personhood approach. Rights-based personhood approach is also an independent position at resolving the tension in Afro-communitarian political thought. This approach seeks to defend the compatibility of rights with Afro-communitarianism and its equal status with communal obligation. It argues for certain features of humans that suggest the partial dependency of the self on the community in the definition of human personhood. Grounding on these features, the approach established the place of rights, autonomy, and freedom in the Afro-communitarian discourse. However, what stands clear in this account of personhood is the persistence of the community and its overwhelming nature in framing the functions of the political virtues of rights, autonomy, and freedom believed to be individual properties. Rights only matter to the extent of their coherence with communal values. It becomes apparent that the idea of individual rights remains vague, especially in the face of specific human expression in communitarian African societies. The conflicts between individual and community and rights and duty in the idea of personhood in Afro-communitarian thought stirred up the third response and the third sense of the personhood approach, which I refer to as Afro-communitarian rejectionism. Scholars in this camp suggest the need to have a conversation on modern African politics without Afro-communitarian ideas. This position rests on the claim that modern African philosophy will be influenced by diverse orientations, which are sometimes incompatible with the ideas of Afro-communitarianism. However, the challenge with this conception of personhood is that it ruled out the possibility of a developed modern Africa profiting from the merits of Afro-communitarianism. While the tension between the individual and community persists, the thesis argues that attention should be given to the analysis of the community. In analysing the idea of community, the thesis identified the various forms of community that undergird the various ideas of personhood in Afrocommunitarianism, namely cultural community and community as self-interested individuals. The first form of community is the Afro-communitarian notion of community. I show how the idea of humiliation is inherent in the ideal notion of community in Afro-communitarianism and the conception of self it informs. The question of humiliation is omitted in the various conceptions of personhood. For Afro-communitarianism to ground modern African political ideas and practices, its notion of the community must be non-humiliating. Achieving a non-humiliating community involves a review of the norms of the cultural community. I attempt this review with what I call the doctrine of cultural permissibility. This thesis redirects Afro-communitarian debates by arguing for a shift to the community. The thesis concludes that postcolonial African politics can only benefit from Afro-communitarianism preoccupied with the desire for a ‘non-humiliating’ community that accommodates plural conceptions of personhood. This thesis would provide nuanced views on the ongoing conversation among Afro-communitarian theorists. Iqoqa Lolu cwaningo luhlaziya ngokunzulu inzululwazi yokuxhumuna komuntu ongumAfrika i-Afro-communitarianism njengenzululwazi eyisisekelo sezinjulalwazi zezombusazwe nokwenziwayo kobu-Afrika. Ucwaningo luxhumanisa ukwamukeleka kwenzululwazi yezombusazwe i-Afro-communitarian yenzululwazi yobu-Afrika yesimanje nodweshu oseluhambe ibanga elide phakathi komuntu ngamunye nomphakathi kanjalo nodweshu oluphakathi kwamalungelo nokwenziwa komsebenzi enzululwazini yezombusazwe yase-Afrika. Umzamo wokuxazulula lokhu kungqubuzana emibhalweni sekugxile kakhulu kokomuntu. Ucwaningo lukhombisa ukuthi kwenziwe kanjani ukuthuthukiswa kwendlela yokomuntu ukuxazulula ukungqubuzana ngezindlela ezintathu okuyilezi; okugxile emsebenzini, okugxile emalungelweni, nomcabango wokwenqaba ngokwe-Afro-communitarian. Indlela yokomuntu okugxile emsebenzini yencike ekuthini okomuntu kungachazwa kuphela ngesakhiwo somphakathi kodwa hhayi ngokomuntu nje. Ngokwale ndlela, umuntu okahle yilowo ohambisana nokomphakathi, lowo oqhuba phambili imisebenzi yomphakathi kunalokho okungokwakhe. Ukulandela le ndlela yindlela ephendula okomuntu, okuyindlela evikela ukuhambisana nezinga elilinganayo ngokwamalungelo nemisebenzi. Nokho-ke, okuzimele obala kulo mbiko ngokomuntu yimbelesi yomphakathi nemvelaphi yawo ngokubanzi ezungeze imisebenzi yamalungelo, ukuzimela nenkululeko. Umqondo wesithathu wendlela yokomuntu yileyo engiyibiza ngokwala kwe- Afro-communitarian. Ongoti baleli qoqo baphakamisa isidingo sokuba nengxoxo ngezombusazwe zobu-Afrika zesimanje ngaphandle kwemibono ye-Afro-communitarian. Isimo sencike ekuqakuleni ukuthi inzululwazi yobu-Afrika yesimanje itheleleka yizimfundiso ezahlukene, kwenye inkathi ezingahambisani nemibono ye-Afro-communitarianism. Ngenkathi kuqhubeka ukungqubuzana phakathi komuntu nomphakathi, ucwaningo luqakula ukuthi kufanele kuqashelwe ukuhlaziywa komphakathi ngokukhomba izinhlobo ezahlukene zomphakhathi eziqukethe imibono eyahlukene yokobuntu kwe-Afro-communitarian. Ngikhombisa ukuthi umbono wokujivazeka ungena kanjani embonweni womphakathi, wesiko nasekwakhekeni ukwazisa okokomuntu. Umbuzo ongokujivazeka uyeqiwa ekwakheni okwahlukahlukene kokomuntu. Ukwenzela ukuthi i- Afro-communitarianism yeseke imibono yezombusazwe yase-Afrika yesimanje, umongo wayo womphakathi kufanele ungajivazi. Ukuzuza umphakathi ongajivazi kufaka ukubuyekezwa kwezinjwayezi zomphakathi nangokwesiko. Ngizama lokhu kubuyekeza ngalokho engikubiza ngokuthi yimfundiso yokuvumeleka ngokwesiko. Ucwaningo luphetha ngokuthi ezombusazwe zasemva kobukoloni zingazuza ngokwe-Afro-communitarianism egxile ekulangazeleleni emphakathini ongajivazi futhi owamukela imibono eyahlukene yokomuntu.
Growing up in child-headed households in Ga-maja village in Limpopo province: narratives of youths and caregivers.
(2023) Lephondo, Memmeru Jacobeth.; Mkhize, Nhlanhla Jerome.
This study explored the narratives of youths heading youth-headed households, the caregivers (who support the community) and the elders living in Ga-Maja, a village in the Limpopo Province. This study is based on a qualitative research approach that is narrative in nature. The Afrocentric Theoretical Framework also guided this study. Purposive sampling was utilised to select the sample of this study which consisted of ten youths aged between 18 and 35 years, ten elders and ten caregivers from Ga-Maja Village in the Limpopo Province. Individual interviews were used to collect data from the heads of households, elders and caregivers. Thirty participants of both genders were interviewed from a sample drawn from people living in Ga-Maja, a rural area in Limpopo. Most of the participants from youth-headed households and their caregivers were female because of the gendered nature of caregiving that was seen to be culturally inclined. All the participants narrated their lived experiences, challenges and dilemmas about growing up in childheaded households in the Ga-Maja Village in the Limpopo Province. This study used narrative data analysis based on a Thematic Data Analysis Method to analyse the data collected through interviews. The results were analysed from an Afrocentric point of view and shed light on the authentic narrations of the participants. The findings of this study revealed many challenges experienced by the heads of youth-headed households and caregivers. According to the findings, the Ga- Maja community is still traditional, led by the chief, indunas and elders who support the community. Spirituality and the Ubuntu orientation of the community are among the key attributes that sustain the lives of the youths heading youth-headed households. Despite their economic hardships, narratives of hope were evident, as well as a longing for a shared or common sense of identity. A complex gendered dimension of caring emerged in the form of bathing and personal care, transactional relationships and the disproportionate burden of caring assumed by females. The study recommends that youth-headed households be improved by creating jobs for youth-headed households, training caregivers, establishing a mentorship programme, and providing financial support to them. Hopefully, this study will enhance the quality of support provided to youth-headed households, contribute to the advancement of new knowledge, motivate community leaders to improve their traditional methods of supporting youth-headed households and assist policymakers in the design of YHH programmes and policy revision.
Homophobic hatred and violence in Pietermaritzburg: drawing on faith to establish counter communities of care for black Izitabane women.
(2024) Makhaye, Nandi Michelle.; Van Der Walt, Charlene.
The challenges faced by black Izitabane women, especially in relation to their sexual orientation and their religious beliefs, are significant. The compatibility of Ubutabane and Christianity has been a topic of debate, with some Christians advocating for coexistence while others view it as contradictory to core Christian principles. Black Izitabane women often experience marginalization and discrimination in various aspects of society. This autoethnographic research, which drew on queer theology and used a qualitative approach, aimed to explore the individual experiences, perspectives, and beliefs of nine black Izitabane women regarding their sexuality and faith. All participants identified as Isitabane and considered themselves devout Christians. The study used purposive sampling to select and invite participants and gathered data through a focus group discussion and individual interviews focusing mainly on the faith, violence, culture, and sexual experiences of black Izitabane women in Pietermaritzburg. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that the women who were part of this exploration perceived the church as unwelcoming and fellow Christians as judgmental. They faced rejection and isolation in the very place where they expected to be supported. The study suggests that, in post-apartheid South Africa, the church should take a proactive role in advocating for social justice and combatting homophobic hatred and violence, which continues to marginalize black Izitabane women.
Identity reconstruction of black african learners in a muslim primary school.
(2022) Makhanya, Euphemia Nonhlanhla.; Mkhize-Mthiyane, Ncamisile Parscaline.
The overarching objective of this study is to explore and understand how Black African Learners (BAL) reconstruct their identity and how this influences their lives. Learner identity ‘reconstruction’ is still under-researched, especially in Muslim schools. This is supported in literature, where it is highlighted that regarding learner identity studies, the becoming and changing process is either neglected or not ascribed much significance (Lundgren & Scheckle, 2019, Kerr, Dean & Crowe, 2019). The rationale for conducting this study is mainly rooted in my personal experiences and observations as a teaching practice assessor, an employee in one of the higher education institutions in KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. The framework that underpinned this study was Social Identity Theory (SIT) by Henri Tajfel (1974). This theory assisted me in exposing what learners think and how they interpret their educational experiences, which include what they see and how they feel about multiple realities in their school, across, within, and between cross-cultural and post-disciplinary boundaries, as proposed by Wilber (2005) and Marquis (2007). An interpretivist paradigm and qualitative case study was adopted. One Muslim Primary School (MPS) and five learner participants were purposely selected. Data was generated utilising written narratives, semi-structured one-on-one interviews, and focus groups discussions where these were transcribed and thematically analysed. The findings of the study revealed that identity reconstruction of BAL in MPS represent a lever that can perpetuate or decrease inequality; depending on how it is philosophically interpreted. Immigration was viewed as one of the precursors for identity reconstruction sparked by immigration of BAL families from other parts of the continent into South Africa. Furthermore, BAL encounter a wide range of experiences that incorporate more painful, positive, and even contradictory, perceptions about self. The study concludes that identity reconstruction in an MPS ought not to be framed by foreign conceptions, but should rather be anchored in local, indigenous knowledge systems and practices. Instead, BAL should build up their Black African dignity and reclaim African-Muslimcentric identity; something to look forward to as democracy matures in South Africa, as BAL individually and uniquely reconstruct their identity.
Low socioeconomic status (SES) as a predictor of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents: a scoping review.
(2023) Slabbert, Angelique.; Valjee, Sachet Rabindranath.
Childhood trauma presents potential lifelong consequences for health and well-being. Research indicates that those with low socioeconomic status (SES) are disproportionately exposed to trauma and that childhood victimisation is associated with a higher risk for mental health problems. Existing literature in this field has predominantly focused on quantitative analysis and the adult population. There is a scarcity of research analysing the role low SES plays in the outcome of PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) amongst children and adolescents within a low socioeconomic context. This study aimed to map and comprehensively analyse studies investigating low socioeconomic status as a predicting variable of PTSD among children and adolescents to generate insight and establish areas for future research. The present study was qualitative and utilised Kira’s taxonomy of trauma and assessment theory to support the objectives (Kira, 2001). A scoping review method was used guided by Arksey and O’Malley (2005). The search period was from 2012 to 2022. The search strategy for this scoping review used two electronic platforms, Ebscohost and Wiley, which provided access to the following databases: Academic search complete, APA Psychinfo, APA Psycharticles, Medline, and ERIC. The researcher screened all studies independently, and an external reviewer evaluated eligible articles. Charting the data involved synthesising and interpreting data according to key issues using a table format. Further analysis included descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis. Five prominent themes were developed: 1) structural risk/protective factors, 2) stages of development, 3) gender differences, 4) study design, and 5) study outcomes. The findings of this study illustrated a positive relationship between low SES and PTSD by identifying that low SES increased the chance of developing PTSD due to situational factors (early life exposure), negatively impacting he cognitive appraisals of a child. Contextual factors (types of SES indicators), such as parental instability, increased interpersonal violence, and scarce resources, further perpetuate the cycle of poverty and traumatic exposure. The study also identified crucial gaps in the literature, such as the need for qualitative/mixed methods and longitudinal research studies and the need for standardised low SES measures, among others, which could inform future research about the incremental validity of SES measures when determining a complete child or adolescent victimisation profile.
Rural school learners’ experiences of social media bullying: a narrative inquiry.
(2024) Myeni, Sphelele Ncebo.; Hlalele, Dipane Joseph.
The purpose of this study was to explore rural school learners’ experiences of social media bullying which is a worldwide problem presenting a variety of negative experiences to learners, including those in rural areas. Therefore, this requires rural school learners to be proactive, cautious, and vigilant to combat bullying on social media platforms may affect their physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing. Since the experiences of rural school learners concerning bullying on social media platforms remains under-researched, this narrative inquiry contributes to bridging this gap by dissecting the narratives of rural learners to emerge with incisive insight and strategies to mitigate social media bullying. Bronfenbrenner ecological theoretical framework underpinned this study which adopted a qualitative interpretivist paradigm which was found suitable for exploring rural school learners’ experiences of social media bullying and its effects. This qualitative narrative inquiry research design elicited data by conducting narrative interviews involving five rural school learners from the same school who were purposefully sampled. Thematic analysis was then applied to dissect the collected data. Six themes emerged from this analysis. The findings suggested that Facebook and WhatsApp platforms were mainly utilised by rural school learners to bully each other because of jealousy, boredom, and lack of knowledge which impaired victims physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Recommendations emanating from the findings were aligned to the training of learners on how to deal social media bullying, how to prevent being vulnerable to social media bullying, and learners can educate and assist one another to annihilate this scourge. Also, school officials should invite and collaborate with parents and teachers, the Department of Education that can appoint psychologists, psychiatrists, or counsellors, and the school community in the vicinity of the rural school, in addition to structuring school and national education policies that address social media bullying.
School managers’ perceptions on the use of technological resources in curriculum supervision in the context of COVID-19.
(2023) Biyela, Thokozani Andreas.; Mpungose, Cedric Bheki.
This dissertation presents a qualitative case study of sixteen school managers specifically school principals. This study was conducted with the main purpose of exploring the school managers’ perceptions on the use of technological resources in curriculum supervision in the context of COVID-19 in the Zululand District. Furthermore, the study employed an interpretive paradigm. In addition, this paradigm has been utilised because the study aims at exploring the three missing levels of perception (knowledge, skill, and attitude) during curriculum supervision. The study sought to understand why school managers resist to use EdTech (educational technological) resources to supervise curriculum. In addition, an interpretive paradigm and case study were used on sixteen participants to gain the meaning in real situation. Subsequently, reflective activity, one-on-one semi-structured interviews, and focus groups were used to generate data. Moreover, the study used non-probability sampling methods, comprising purposive and convenient sampling. This study was framed by the by the curricular spider web (Van den Akker et al., 2010). Further to this, the theory that shapes this study is technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK). Data were analysed using guided analysis, which employed both deductive and inductive methods. Finally, ethical considerations related to qualitative research were explored such as trustworthiness, confirmability, dependability, transferability, and credibility. The findings of the study reveal that school managers were driven by knowledge perception to supervise curriculum when using EdTech supervision aids. The school managers could indicate the lack of technological resources and knowledge in schools. Even though there is a policy in place, some school managers are non-compliant with that policy. The study recommends the Department of Basic Education to install Wi-Fi in all schools to enforce the policy implementation. Moreover, the study further recommends that curriculum developers work alongside information and communication technologies (ICT) team specialists to advocate paperless curriculum supervision, train, and enhance school managers on software and ideological-ware EdTech supervision aids.
Souls, spirituality, and scholars: a scoping review of Islamic models of the self.
(2023) Essop, Fatima Zahrah.; Valjee, Sachet Rabindranath.
The increased globalisation of our world has created a heightened awareness of the multiplicity of human experience. Consequently, there is a need for the field of psychology to adapt and cater to this diversity. Moreover, the provision of culturally sensitive forms of psychology increases its relevance and utility to those who may not always benefit from a conventional Western approach. As a rapidly emerging discipline, the field of Islamic Psychology (IP) aims to understand and assist clients from an Islamic point of view. Despite its growing influence, a variety of obstacles hinder its trajectory, including a lack of uniformity in the field. This study therefore aimed to analyse studies focused on Islamic models of self, viewing explanations of human nature as the essential starting point in any field, to discern the defining characteristics of studies in this field, map similarities and potential differences between the studies, and gain a comprehensive view of the Islamic model of self, with the aim of providing a comprehensive starting point or reference for further studies in this field. This study employed Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) scoping review protocol and incorporated a mixed methods approach to analyse the data. Eleven electronic databases were utilised in the search strategy. These included studies conducted between 1970 to 2022. All studies were screened by the researcher. The 18 studies that met the inclusion criteria were charted in a table according to their defining characteristics. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics thematic analysis. Five main themes were identified: (1) Relationship with Allah; (2) Organisation, meaning, and nature of the self and its components in the Quran: metaphysical vs material; (3) Roles, relationships, and results: contribution of each component to the struggle between good and bad; (4) Winning the battle is not winning the war: stages of self and spiritual goodness; and (5) Tying it together: the theory as a whole. When considering the general nature of human beings, the purpose of human existence, and conceptualisations of behaviour, the content of the studies analysed was largely found to be consistent. However, differences existed when considering details such as definitions, understanding of the exact roles and processes undertaken by each component in the model of self, and depth of knowledge covered by each study. It was also discovered that the studies on their own did not always provide a comprehensive view of human nature but required supplementation by other studies to provide necessary detail. A synthesis of this information would thus be beneficial to the field, as was undertaken by this review, in providing a more comprehensive understanding of models of self. This study, however, was limited by language restrictions, article access due to funds or publication permissions, and the author’s own knowledge and level of understanding of Islamic terms and concepts. It is thus recommended that future studies include researchers from different language backgrounds and levels of expertise, so that a more comprehensive synthesis may be obtained.

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