Community perceptions of an early warning system: a case study of Swayimane, UMshwathi Local Municipality’s lightning warning system.
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Date
2021
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Abstract
This study attempts to understand community perceptions of a lightning warning system in the community
of KwaSwayimane. The study therefore takes a detailed look at the local community’s views on and
insights into the warning system, and how these are shaped by the cultural practices and beliefs embedded
in indigenous/local knowledge. The study was carried out at KwaSwayimane, and adopted a mixed
methodology, making it both qualitative and quantitative. It involved 100 participants who engaged in
questionnaires, focus group discussions and face-to-face interviews. Social constructionism and symbolic
interactionism theories were used to analyze the insights gathered during data collection. Findings
revealed that the community has recommendations on how to improve their experience of the lightning
warning system installed in the area (especially in the context of the dissemination of the warning
messages) and these recommendations involve integrating their local/indigenous understandings for
protection against lightning strikes with the existing system.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.