Showing items 1 - 20 of 10423

A systematic review of mental health care access in disadvantaged communities in South Africa

  • Authors: Dube, Nkosingiphile Zama
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Mental health services South Africa , Rural mental health services South Africa , Social psychiatry South Africa , Healers South Africa , Help-seeking , Systematic reviews (Medical research)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478295 , vital:78174
  • Description: Background: Access to mental healthcare in disadvantaged rural communities in South Africa faces numerous challenges, particularly due to cultural beliefs that impact help-seeking behaviours. Systematic reviews provide critical insights into the barriers and facilitators of healthcare access in such contexts. This review aims to evaluate the available literature on mental healthcare access in rural South African communities, with a specific focus on the influence of cultural beliefs on help-seeking behaviours. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify studies published between 2010 and 2023. Studies were included if they examined barriers to mental healthcare access in rural South African settings and involved culturally relevant factors. Screening, selection, and appraisal of studies were carried out using PRISMA guidelines, with data extracted and synthesized through qualitative thematic analysis. Results: A total of 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. Key findings identified barriers such as financial constraints, scarcity of mental health facilities, stigma, long distances to services, language barriers, and cultural beliefs. Cultural practices, such as attributing mental distress to witchcraft or ancestral displeasure, were found to influence perceptions of mental health and discourage professional intervention, with traditional healers and community elders frequently being the preferred resource. Some community members, despite limited knowledge, utilized smartphones for mental health applications, while others relied on traditional practices and community support networks. Conclusion: This review underscores the need for a culturally sensitive, integrated approach to mental healthcare in rural South Africa, blending traditional and modern practices. Recommendations include conducting rural needs assessments, fostering collaboration between mental health practitioners and traditional healers, and enhancing teacher training. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2025
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Interpretations of a contemporary transgender representation as encountered in the South African soap opera, Generations: The Legacy by Ndakane’s rural audience

  • Authors: Thuku, Sinalo Vincent
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478405 , vital:78184
  • Description: The study investigates how people from Ndakane, a rural community in the Eastern Cape, interpret a transgender narrative in the soap opera Generations: The Legacy. Located within the theoretical framework of cultural studies and drawing on audience reception theories, the study focuses on how Ndakane residents bring their understanding of gender and sexuality, derived from their lived sociocultural experiences, to their decoding of the transgender narrative. The study is contextualised against the backdrop of prevalent hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals in South Africa, particularly in rural and township areas, where such violence is reported to be more severe. This study contributes to the broader discourse on media representation, audience reception, and the role of cultural narratives in shaping societal attitudes toward marginalised identities. The research highlights the significance of media representations of LGBTQ+ individuals, especially in soap operas like Generations: The Legacy, in fostering visibility and potentially enhancing acceptance and support for LGBTQ+ communities. By examining the sociocultural factors that influence audience interpretations, the study investigates how the portrayal of a transgender character offers viewers an opportunity to challenge and rethink their preconceived notions of gender and sexuality. Using Stuart Hall's (1980) Encoding/Decoding model, the study analyses the audience's dominant, negotiated, and oppositional reading positions when engaging with the transgender narrative. A qualitative research approach was employed to gather and analyse data. The findings reveal that the interpretation of the transgender storyline among Ndakane residents aligns with Hall’s (1980) concept of polysemy, indicating that viewers derived varied meanings from the narrative. While some viewers embraced the storyline as an opportunity to explore new perspectives on gender and sexuality, others adopted negotiated readings. Although these viewers did not entirely align with the ideological stance of the producers, they nonetheless accepted the narrative and its implications to some extent, acknowledging it as an acceptable representation. These findings underline the critical role of media in shaping public discourse on LGBTQ+ issues, especially in culturally conservative spaces. By offering a nuanced exploration of audience interpretations, the study underscores the transformative potential of media to challenge deeply rooted social biases and foster inclusivity in communities that may otherwise remain resistant to change. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Journalism and Media Studies, 2025
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Massed prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD and alcohol use: a single case experimental study of a university student

  • Authors: Abrahams, Sherwin Owen
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Prolonged exposure therapy , Post-traumatic stress disorder , Alcoholism , Flooding , College students Alcohol use South Africa , College students Psychology
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478284 , vital:78173
  • Description: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are common among university students in South Africa. Bantjies et al. (2023) found a PTSD prevalence of 21.0% (n=28,268), and McGowan and Kagee (2013) reported that 90% (n=1337) had experienced at least one traumatic event. There is a high comorbidity between PTSD and AUD, especially in hazardous drinkers (Peltzer & Pengpid, 2015). Despite the prevalence, research on effective trauma-focused therapies (TFTs) in low-resource settings is limited (Booysen & Kagee, 2021). This study evaluates the effectiveness of massed-prolonged exposure (MPE) therapy for comorbid PTSD and AUD among South African university students, using a Single-Case Experimental Design (SCED). The participant (n=1) underwent comprehensive assessments using CAPS-5, AUDIT, PDS-5, and PCL-5, confirming PTSD and AUD diagnoses. Regular PCL-5 assessments during the intervention showed significant symptom improvement, and post-intervention assessments indicated the participant no longer met PTSD criteria. AUDIT scores also improved from 11 (harmful/hazardous drinking) to 6. The participant found MPE therapy to be feasible, acceptable, and appropriate. This study supports the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of MPE therapy and highlights the importance of evidence-based interventions to improve PTSD outcomes within university settings and in low-to-middle-income countries. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2025
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Mbonalelo kha vhurangaphanda ha vhafumakadzi: young Vhavenḓa women’s views on their traditional leadership roles historically and post-1994

  • Authors: Nengwekhulu, Omphulusa
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Chiefdoms South Africa , South Africa Politics and government 1994- , Colonialism , Apartheid South Africa , Primogeniture South Africa , Patriarchy South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478427 , vital:78186
  • Description: This is a qualitative research study that examines how young Vhavenḓa women in post-apartheid South Africa views different traditional leadership roles that Vhavenḓa women have historically played and continue to play in Venḓa society. Therefore, the research question that this Master of Arts (MA) research study sought to research is the following: How do young, 21st-century Vhavenḓa women view the traditional leadership roles historically and currently held by Vhavenḓa women in Vhavenḓa society? To grapple with this research question, this study employed a combination of purposive and snowball sampling strategies to recruit seven research participants. Research participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview approach, which allowed the researcher to build rapport with research participants. Data was manually coded into five themes, namely: 1) The Role of Makhadzi in Traditional Leadership Among the Venḓa Community, 2) The Role of Vhakoma in Traditional Leadership Among the Venḓa Community, 3) The Role of Vhakololo in Traditional Leadership Among the Venḓa Community, 4) The customary practice of male primogeniture and how it contradicts the South African Constitution post-1994, and 5) The socialisation process that puts boys and men on a leadership pedestal. The data was then analysed and discussed in Chapters Four and Five through an Africana Womanist theoretical framework. An important finding in this study is that makhadzi, the father’s sister and also a woman who is a custodian of traditional leadership, is the traditional role that all the participants recognised as the leadership role that Vhavenḓa women have historically played and continue to play. Another role identified by participants as significant within the Venḓa leadership structure is Vhakoma, the Queen Mother and the chief's mother. However, there was limited familiarity with the role of Vhakololo, the royal members or people born into the royal family, as only one participant identified it as a leadership role traditionally occupied by Vhavenḓa women. Research participants suggested that colonial modernity contributes to a lack of knowledge about their culture. Another important finding of this study is that in post-1994 South Africa, there has been a tension between customary practices such as male primogeniture and the South African Constitution. Consequently, some women leaders have used the courts to challenge this practice. Ultimately, this study contributes to the discourse about women’s empowerment and the dismantling of patriarchal structures that undermine women's potential as leaders in the Venḓa context. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Political and International Studies, 2025
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Mental healthcare users’ perceptions of mental health services at a primary healthcare level

  • Authors: Zwane, Siphelele
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478372 , vital:78181
  • Description: This study interrogates the complexities of mental healthcare in primary healthcare settings, focusing on the experiences and perceptions of participants within the Makana municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, which is characterised by a low socio-economic status. The matter of mental healthcare is of great significance within the context of South Africa, a country grappling with multifaceted challenges. Over the years, mental health has progressed from being marginalised to being more widely acknowledged. While the integration into tertiary and urban healthcare settings has become smoother, primary healthcare has encountered numerous obstacles. This presents a concern, due to the socioeconomic difficulties faced by individuals accessing primary care, which predispose them to mental health issues. Consequently, it is imperative to conduct research focusing on the experiences and perspectives of mental healthcare users within primary healthcare, a relatively underexplored area. The primary objective of the current research study was to contribute to the existing knowledge base, providing valuable insights for relevant stakeholders and policymakers, such as the National Mental Health Policy Framework 2023-2030, to reference when formulating strategies to enhance the integration of mental healthcare into primary healthcare. The study used purposive sampling to interview mental healthcare users within the Makana municipality. Employing a qualitative design facilitated in-depth dialogue between the participants and the researcher, generating valuable data. Thematic Analysis was employed to analyse and present meaningful data, providing an overview of the participants' shared experiences. The study identified four significant themes: the utility of primary health clinic; the urgent need for mental health education; socioeconomics, and mental health, and the complex dynamics of help-seeking behaviours. The findings underscore the pressing need to integrate quality mental health into PHC, emphasising the importance of mental health education, increased resources, task-sharing, and the prioritisation of both physical and mental illnesses. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2025
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Municipal demarcation: an exploration of ethnic conflict and violence in the 2015 Malamulele and 2016 Vuwani protests

  • Authors: Shivambu, Matimu
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Municipal boundary , Apartheid , Territorial dispute , Demonstrations South Africa , Tribalism , Political corruption , Municipal services South Africa Limpopo
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478438 , vital:78187
  • Description: In 2015, communities in Malamulele, located in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa, protested against the Thulamela Local Government Municipality, citing inadequate service delivery and favouritism toward Venda-speaking areas. The protesters demanded the establishment of a new municipality for Tsonga-speaking residents, disrupting daily life through road blockades and shutdowns of schools, transportation, and commercial activities. In response, the government demarcated the Thulamela Municipality and created the Collins Chabane Local Government Municipality, which included Vuwani and other Venda-speaking communities. However, this inclusion sparked violent protests in Vuwani in 2016, fueled by claims of insufficient consultation and a desire to remain within the Makhado Local Government Municipality. This study utilised qualitative research methods, specifically semi-structured interviews, to capture the experiences and perspectives of participants from Vuwani and Malamulele. It applied conflict and territory theories to analyse the underlying issues. The findings reveal that colonial policies of divide and rule, along with apartheid-era Bantustan policies, significantly influenced these protests. The study underscores the importance of public participation in community matters, highlighting the unequal provision of services among different groups and emphasising the need for reconciliation. The protests were deeply rooted in the legacy of colonial and apartheid histories and cannot be understood in isolation from these historical contexts and their enduring impacts. This research addresses a gap in the academic literature by exploring the ethnic dynamics and sequence of events in the 2015 Malamulele and 2016 Vuwani protests. It provides insights into the decisions of the government, Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB), and community stakeholders that fueled these conflicts, contributing to a broader understanding of post-1994 ethnic violence and conflict in South Africa. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Political and International Studies, 2025
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Perceptions and reflections of primary healthcare professionals on mental health services in Makhanda

  • Authors: Piliso, Zandisiwe
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478344 , vital:78179
  • Description: Primary mental healthcare in South Africa is still in its early stages, despite policies that have been developed, such as the National Mental Health Framework Policy. Provinces such as the Eastern Cape are far behind development, which can be attributed to limited resources. The scarcity has been noted in the literature, but not extensively. Literature concentrated on healthcare professionals’ perspectives towards primary health greatly narrow, particularly in the Makhanda area. With the integration of primary mental health services, healthcare workers’ viewpoints have impacted on service delivery. This study aims to add knowledge and explore the perspectives of healthcare professionals on primary mental healthcare in Makhanda. The ecological systems theory was used as a theoretical framework for the study. Thematic analysis was used to examine the healthcare professionals’ insights and to extract meaning for the participants involved in the study. Thirteen participants were used, using purposive sampling in four primary healthcare settings. Data were collected using semi-structured and one-on-one interviews. The study revealed three themes including, (i) Scarcity of Mental Health Services, (ii) Mental Health Literacy, (iii) Barriers to the Provision and Use of Physical and Mental Health Services. The findings suggest that there are limited mental health care services in primary care and that there is a gap between service provision and physical and mental healthcare. The data also revealed that mental health literacy is limited, which links to the stigma around mental illness. Furthermore, evidence points out that more mental health education, human resources and training of healthcare professionals would further improve the mental health services in the Makhanda area. In addition, there are barriers to the provision of not only primary mental health care but healthcare, as well as a lack of medical equipment, human resources, and structural space that make it difficult for healthcare professionals to perform their jobs and affect clinic functioning, at times. Another barrier is that the perception of mental health service provision is simultaneously viewed in a positive and negative light and mainly received negatively by service users. In conclusion, healthcare professionals experience a deficiency of resources and a limited provision of mental healthcare, which highlights the lack of implementation of policies that have developed nationally and globally. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2025
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Reclaiming the ‘Self’: self-objectification and victim-survivors’ bodies in Margie Orford’s The Eye of the Beholder and Akwaeke Emezi’s Freshwater

  • Authors: Landsberg, Zoe
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Self-objectification , Self in literature , Victims in literature , Detective and mystery stories History and criticism , Magic realism (Literature) , Sex crimes in literature
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478453 , vital:78188
  • Description: Self-objectification is conventionally viewed by objectification theorists as a negative process that is pursued by victims as a result of experiencing sexual violence. What makes self-objectification particularly negative is that it confirms that the victim feels alienated from their body following their harrowing experience. In this thesis, I argue that Margie Orford and Akwaeke Emezi depart from this view of self-objectification. Instead, through the protagonists in their respective novels, The Eye of the Beholder and Freshwater, Orford and Emezi offer a positive revision of self-objectification by articulating it as a necessary process in a victim’s journey toward reclaiming their body and, with it, their concept of ‘self”. To make this argument, I begin by drawing on Western existential phenomenology and African ontology to develop what is referred to as the basic relational view of the ‘self’ which understands the ‘self’ as the connection point between one’s body and one’s subjecthood. Applying this understanding of the ‘self’ to the selected texts, I show that it is the connection between each protagonist’s body and spirit that is disturbed by their experience of sexual violence. Initially aligning with the negative view of self-objectification, Orford and Emezi confirm this disturbance through their protagonists’ pursuits of self-objectifying behaviours. However, using Elaine Scarry’s artist–artifact model and Russel W. Belk’s articulation of the ‘extended self’, I demonstrate that it is by means of self-objectification that the protagonists are presented as able to reestablish a meaningful connection to their violated bodies and thereby reclaim their disrupted concepts of ‘self’ as they journey towards survivorhood. In this way, through the victim–survivor journeys of their respective protagonists in The Eye of the Beholder and Freshwater, Orford and Emezi inscribe the process of self-objectification with an unorthodox duality where it is not a wholly negative process, but rather one that is pivotal to a victim’s survival. Thus, I conclude in this thesis, Orford and Emezi offer a positive revision of self-objectification, a revision that has not yet been studied in the scholarship on the selected primary texts. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Literary Studies in English, 2025
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Resisting gender-based violence in post-1994 South Africa

  • Authors: Dube, Nobuhle Lynn
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Gender-based violence South Africa 1994- , Activism , Social media , Masculinity , Patriarchy , Women Violence against South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478416 , vital:78185
  • Description: This study investigates the origins of gender-based violence, along with some of the legal, policing, and socio-cultural barriers to effectively addressing gender-based violence in post-1994 South Africa, as perceived and articulated by Black women activists. To that end, this study conducted semi-structured interviews with eight Black South African women activists involved in the fight against GBV, based in different parts of the country. The analysis and the discussion of the research findings are framed around six themes and theorised through an African feminism lens. A key finding of this research project is that GBV in post-1994 South Africa can be attributed to multiple sources which include poverty, African culture, women’s liberation in post-1994 South Africa, patriarchy, and toxic masculinities. Another finding of the study is that GBV activists joined the fight against GBV for various reasons, which included personal experience with GBV, a development of feminist consciousness, and a desire to change the justice system and how society understands GBV. A consistent theme in the interviews was that the struggle against GBV is not the sole responsibility of women and girls and that society as a whole bears the responsibility for the fight against GBV. While participants recognised the importance of the compulsory South African high school subject – the life orientation syllabus – participants pointed out that this subject tends to focus mainly on unplanned teenage pregnancies, the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV prevention among young people in South Africa. Thus, the life orientation syllabus foregrounds the dangers of sex, rather than prioritising encouraging students to recognise GBV and equip students with tools to effectively deal with it. Research participants highlighted the importance and benefits of getting involved in the fight against GBV. Participants further recounted that it was the #TheTotalShutDown movement in 2018 that led to President Cyril Ramaphosa meeting with the organisers of #TheTotalShutDown and forming an organising committee, consisting of representatives from the presidency, non-profit groups, and the organisers of #TheTotalShutdown, who worked together to produce the National Strategic Plan against GBV & Femicide which led to the introduction of legislation such as the Domestic Violence Amendment Act 14 of 2022, the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act 12 of 2022, and The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 13 of 2022. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Political and International Studies, 2025
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The exploration of Black and Brown drag performance communities: an artistic tool for creating safe spaces

  • Authors: Adriaan, Aaron Robert
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Sexual minority culture South Africa , Performance art South Africa , Drag performance South Africa , Intersectionality (Sociology) , Autoethnography , Theater South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478383 , vital:78182
  • Description: This research investigates the role of drag performance in South Africa, particularly its contribution to the fostering and maintenance of safe spaces for Black and Brown Queer communities. Inspired by the community building legacy Kewpie. This research project employs auto-ethnographic research practice to generate a better understanding of modes of Queer drag praxis drawing on Linda Tuhiwai Smith's (1999) concept of the "insider/outsider" researcher. The project acknowledges the ethical challenges of researching vulnerable communities. This research is guided by self-reflection and information gathered from fieldwork; informed by an awareness of the theory of ‘intersectionality’ (Carbado, Crenshaw, Mays, Tomlinson 2013) exploring the complexities of race, class, and sexuality within Cape Town’s Queer community. In this way, the study navigates the complexities of race, class, and sexuality within the drag context of Cape Town through the viewpoint of this researcher. The contextual exploration of drag unfolds across two interconnected disciplinary avenues: Firstly, the historical context of drag and its evolution within the performance art canon: to understand the place of contemporary drag in the broader artistic and cultural discourse. Secondly, the study investigates theatrical histories and conventions that have influenced and transformed drag practices. This is done to frame drag performance with forms of theatrical performance. This historical and disciplinary background is used to formulate a distinction that is at the centre of this research: proposing that contemporary drag practice in the City of Cape Town can be understood and to some extent distinguished by the categories of embodied costume and embodied performance. Embodied costume within the scope of this research view the use of drag aesthetics and visual elements in artistic expressions and performances that fall outside of traditional ‘drag show’ culture. Embodied performance refers to drag performances that fall within the context of traditional ‘drag show’ genres, communities, and venues − reminiscent of cabaret performance. This conception highlights the performative aspects of the drag persona, which is an extension of the performer’s identity. While some performers and performances can exemplify either embodied performance or embodied costume, these categories are not mutually exclusive, with incalculable overlaps in keeping with the rich possibilities of drag practice. The purpose of highlighting these distinctions is to create a critical framework for exploring the unique position drag occupies between fine art and theatre, incorporating both fields of practice, and synthesising them into a unique language for the expression of alternate gender narratives. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Fine Art, 2025
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The feasibility and acceptability of Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD at a community trauma centre in Cape Town: a qualitative analysis

  • Authors: Markham, Kate Emily
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478339 , vital:78178
  • Description: South Africa deals with pervasive trauma stemming from its history of political violence, high crime rates, and social challenges, ultimately contributing to a significant burden of trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among its population. Despite the prevalence of PTSD, evidence-based psychological treatments (EBTs) such as Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) remain underutilised, particularly in low-resourced areas. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of PE among social workers at The Trauma Centre for Survivors of Violence and Torture in Cape Town. This study used a qualitative research design, with special emphasis on Implementation Science. The study used the concepts of feasibility and acceptability to guide the research. The results revealed several key themes. Social workers’ pre-implementation themes included the perceptions around PE and implementation in South Africa, with three subthemes emerging. First, the impact of South African socioeconomic and political factors on The Trauma Centre. Second, perceptions surrounding the implementation of PE. And finally, the improvements and feasibility of PE; the social worker’s post-intervention findings focused on the feasibility and improvement of PE, post-treatment views, and the hurdles and limitations to implementation. The client's post-intervention findings explored refugee struggles, associated psychological distress, with two sub-themes of self-worth and suicidal ideation, and second, a lack of support and helplessness, loneliness, and isolation. The final theme looked at the experiences of PE, more specifically the positive client experiences with PE, and the challenges of PE. The implementation of PE at The Trauma Centre revealed both successes and challenges. Findings from this study suggest that PE can be effectively administered through task-shifting in low-resource settings. However, this study also highlighted significant challenges in the feasibility of implementing PE long-term in this context. Clients revealed ambivalent feelings regarding PE. Those who experienced positive outcomes demonstrated the potential for PE to be utilised in resource-limited settings. Those who did not find PE beneficial, highlight the need for future research to adapt PE to be culturally specific and feasible for a resource-constrained setting. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2025
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The process of translating the Experiences in Close Relationship (ECR) Scale into isiXhosa

  • Authors: Hadebe, Mandisa Zandile
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Interpersonal relations South Africa , Psychological tests Translating , Xhosa language , Xhosa (African people) Mental health , Intimacy (Psychology)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478306 , vital:78175
  • Description: Intimate relationships are highly influenced by each individual’s attachment style. These attachment styles play a significant role in how romantic partners engage with each other and yet there are few tools that measure them. Not only are the tools few but also, they are not easily available in South African languages. Implementing isiXhosa language screening tools widens and enhances mental healthcare access for isiXhosa-speaking populations. This study aimed to develop an isiXhosa language version of the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR). The ECR is a 36-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess adult attachment styles in the context of close relationships. The scale evaluates the presence of anxious and avoidant attachment styles in adult romantic relationships. Anxious attachment is characterized by heightened anxiety about the relationship and a constant need for reassurance, while avoidant attachment involves a tendency to distance oneself emotionally from partners, often leading to difficulties in forming close connections. By measuring these styles, the scale provides deeper insights into how individuals relate to their partners and navigate intimacy in their romantic lives. The ECR was translated into isiXhosa using a four-stage translation design, which included: 1. Forward translation, 2. Back translation, 3. Committee meetings, and 4. Qualitative piloting of the resultant translation in a small sample of first language isiXhosa speakers. A quantitative pilot will follow this study. The results indicate that while broad concept equivalence was easier to achieve, participants struggled with understanding some of the items due to the difference in academic, written language and spoken language. The questions about emotions proved more difficult to translate. South African languages differ in dialect across different areas of the country. The isiXhosa terms chosen for this translation often conveyed distinct meanings or could be interpreted differently, depending on the specific geographical region and local dialect. This rich linguistic diversity posed a considerable challenge throughout the translation process, as it required careful consideration of context and cultural nuance to ensure accurate communication. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2025
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Translation of the Composite Abuse Scale (Revised) Short Form (CASR-SF) into isiXhosa

  • Authors: Mankantshu, Buncwanekazi
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Psychological tests Translating , Xhosa language , Intimate partner violence , Self report , Translating and interpreting Social aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478328 , vital:78177
  • Description: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a common occurrence in South Africa, yet appropriately validated tools that screen for IPV are not easily available, particularly in African languages. Establishing isiXhosa language versions of screening tools broadens and improves access to mental healthcare services for isiXhosa-speaking groups. This study aimed to develop an isiXhosa language version of the Composite Abuse Scale Revised Short Form (CASR-SF). The CASR-SF is a self-report measure designed to gauge the presence, intensity, and severity of IPV across three domains: physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. Previous translations of this questionnaire indicated its transportability across different languages and contexts, which in addition to the cost and time effectiveness of adapting instead of developing a new questionnaire, led to the decision to translate and adapt it into isiXhosa. The CASR-SF was translated using a four-staged translation design, which included: 1. Forward translation, 2. Back translation, 3. Committee discussion, and 4. Qualitative pilot in a small sample of first language isiXhosa speakers. Four independent translators worked independently to produce the forward and back translation in stages 1 and 2 and the translations team met in stage 3 to discuss and resolve challenging items with the goal of producing an equivalent final isiXhosa version of the CASR-SF. The resulting preliminary version was piloted on a sample of 7 first-language isiXhosa speakers who partook in cognitive interviews as a confirmatory step. The results indicated that for the most part broad concept equivalence was easier to achieve than linguistic equivalence, and participants generally did not struggle with understanding the items. However, questionnaire items on emotions and relatively new terms such as social media were far more complex to translate. African languages such as isiXhosa use metaphors as more respectful/acceptable expressions for topics such as sexual acts, which complicated the translation process at times. There were also various terms that could be used for different English concepts and the aim of this translation was to find one term that would be appropriate and meaningful across different isiXhosa language dialects, which proved challenging at times. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2025
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‘Basadi ba kae? [Where are the women?]: a history of the making of Sepedi (Sesotho sa Leboa) womanhood, 1935 – 1999

  • Authors: Mahlo, Mathabo Makgare Betty
  • Date: 2025-04-25
  • Subjects: Northern Sotho language , Sotho (African people) , Women, Black Africa , Representation (Philosophy) , Missionaries , Berlin Mission Church (Transvaal, South Africa)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478465 , vital:78189
  • Description: This study sought to explore the way an African ethnicity – namely the ‘Pedi’ ethnicity - emerged through literary texts and examined the representations of black African woman in vernacular texts from 1935 to 1990. This thesis is geographically situated in the Northern Transvaal, currently known as the Limpopo Province, the ‘homeland’ of Northern Sotho speakers (‘Sesotho sa Lebowa’ or ‘Basotho’ communities). It began by tracing the various stakeholders who utilised the terms ‘Pedi’ and ‘Bapedi’ to represent a federation of independent chiefdoms within the Lulu (or Leolo) Mountain valley. The noun ‘Pedi’ became - over the course of the nineteenth and twentieth century - an ethnic category, encompassing those who spoke one of the many Northern Sotho dialects. As the Berlin Missionary Society (BMS) expanded their missionary enterprise into the Transvaal in the 1860s, a Northern Sotho language was formalised – with the aid of black African Christian converts from different Northern Basotho’s chiefdoms. The formalisation of Northern Sotho as a language resulted in the creation of an artificial link between Northern Sotho communities and the Northern Sotho language by the Union of South Africa state. The state used this link as marker of ethnic difference, conflating speaking practices with ethnic units. In view of the foregoing, this study discussed the various historical processes that have informed our contemporary understanding of the ‘Pedi’ (henceforth referred to as Bapedi) – as an ethnic category. This study commenced with an understanding of the emergence of the ‘Basotho’ (Northern Basotho) subject, followed by the ways in which missionaries and black African Christian converts added cultural weight to this term through the formalisation of language, the particularisation of a Northern Sotho culture and the production of Northern Sotho print media. Within these texts, ideas around a Northern Sotho ethnicity were circulated. Additionally, within vernacular texts, appeared representations of black African women, which echoed missionary ideals of Christian womanhood and precolonial ideals of womanhood. This study foregrounded the discourse on the formation of the Northern Sotho ethnicity in the light of the representations of women in literary texts. This is because literary works were targeted at black African communities, and these works shaped black Africans’ own ideas of ethnicity and womanhood. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, History, 2025
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A case study of the internal branding process at Kagiso Media

  • Authors: Mchunu, Bonisiwe Purity
  • Date: 2025-04-04
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479449 , vital:78314
  • Description: This research took the form of a case study of a media company, Kagiso Media (KM), that had been through a process of change. The company adopted a branding approach and used internal branding activities to implement a change intervention, which was unconventional and a unique approach, making it worthy of investigation. The primary aim of the study was, therefore, to analyse how a change in brand ideology (i.e. encompassing the business mission, vision, goals and shared values) shaped the senior leadership behaviour at KM and also led to the development of an improved performance management system. A case study research method was used. Data was collected through face-to-face and online interviews with the leadership team and combined with relevant company documents. A deductive thematic approach was used to analyse the data. The study revealed that brand ideology can impact leadership behaviour and performance if implemented deliberately. When the new CEO was appointed, his starting point was to change the KM brand ideology. The study revealed that, because of greater clarity in brand ideology, leadership behaviour improved. There were shifts in the manner in which leadership behaved and how they handled performance as a result of entrenching the new brand ideology. The study also revealed that the development of brand ideology necessitated changes in the performance management system. Brand-centred performance management systems contributed towards building a performance culture. In essence, developing a clear brand ideology was central to changing leadership behaviour and the revision of the performance management performance system. While limitations of the study are acknowledged, it has contributed by offering a unique perspective of an internal branding driven change and demonstrates how a change in brand ideology can impact leadership behaviour and performance management. Furthermore, the study recommended that further research could be done to include the perspectives of staff beyond the leadership team. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2025
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An analysis of the impact of financialisation on commodity futures and spot prices

  • Authors: Calitz, Geoffrey George
  • Date: 2025-04-04
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479528 , vital:78321
  • Description: The debate on the commodity financialisation phenomenon was triggered in response to the steep rise in commodity futures and spot prices during the 2000-2011 super cycle. The two schools of thought regarding the underlying causes of such dramatic price increases are divided between those attributing the super cycle to fundamental drivers, and those who suggest that fundamental drivers alone are an insufficient explanation, and that other non-fundamental drivers are important. Fundamental drivers commonly cited in the literature include the sustained growth in demand for commodities throughout the early 2000s from emerging economies, such as China and India, and shocks to supply chains such as crop failures, export bans, and other factors such as macroeconomic dynamics. However, an alternative school of thought found empirical evidence which suggested that in addition to fundamental drivers, non-fundamental drivers such as key regulatory changes in commodity and financial markets in 1999/2000, and the subsequent changes to the trading activities in commodity derivative markets and the resultant historic growth in the participation of purely financial investors, significantly impacted the structure and price dynamics in commodity markets, in a phenomenon known as the financialisation of commodity markets. This study contributes to the empirical literature by expanding compared with previous studies the time period under investigation, as well as expanding the range of commodities examined. The most recent 2020-2024 period of rising prices is included, and the behavior of both cross-sector and same-sector pairwise return correlations of futures and spot prices in this period is compared to the pre-financialisation period. The study contributes to the literature by examining how the cross market and cross asset return correlation structure has behaved throughout the entire post-financialisation era. The study makes a further contribution by establishing the statistical significance of futures market returns as a predictor of spot market returns. It is found that the financialisation phenomenon impacted both commodity futures and spot markets. Pairwise return correlation is substantially greater throughout Period 2 (post-financialisation) compared to Period 1 (pre-financialisation) for same-sector and cross-sector pairs of futures and spot prices. The structural change in return correlation between these two periods was found to be especially pronounced for cross-sector pairs of futures and spot prices. The financialisation hypothesis is further supported by the findings of persistent structural changes in cross market and cross asset return correlation, which has become even more pronounced in the later stages of financialisation. The most recent period of rising commodity prices, Period 2(c) (2020-2024), is found to show elevated pairwise return correlation for futures and spot prices levels when compared to Period 1 (pre-financialisation), but the increase in correlations is less than in earlier financialisation periods such as Period 2(a) (2000-2011) and Period 2(b) (2012-2019). These findings suggest that index buying may be less important in the later stages of commodity financialisation. It was found that futures market returns are statistically significant predictors of spot market returns. Furthermore, the causal effect of futures market returns on spot market returns under the effect of financialisation (2000-2024) is found to be statistically significant in all five examples (WTI crude oil, gold, silver, LME copper and aluminium) examined in the study. The study finds that a clear structural change occurred in commodity spot and futures markets in the post-financialisation period. The consistency of this structural change is evident when analysing both cross sector and same sector pairwise return correlation behavior of commodity spot and futures prices, and when analysing cross market and cross asset return correlation between commodity markets and financial market benchmarks. The implication for investors is that commodity markets no longer offer certain portfolio diversification benefits and downside protection to drops in equity markets previously found in the empirical literature, and investors need to recalibrate strategies to account for these structural changes. The study concludes that the commodity market financialisation hypothesis is sound, and this implies that further research is required to better understand the impact of such structural changes on commodity futures and spot markets. In addition, because futures market returns are found to be a statistically significant predictor of spot market returns, it is imperative that further research be undertaken which investigates the explicit relationship between futures and spot markets so that policy makers and market regulators better understand the links between these two markets so that policy decisions are better informed. Furthermore, it is necessary that future research investigates how the transmission of information occurs between futures and spot markets, and how this matters for consumers, and addresses what welfare implications may be associated with this. Lastly, the author has advocated for increased transparency and restrictions in commodity markets, suggesting that all trading occurs on open regulated exchanges and that position limits are implemented, so as to prevent any market distortion which may come from institutional speculators taking excessively powerful and large positions. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2025
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An analysis of the role of tax legislation in promoting sustainability in the mining industry: a South African, Australian and United Kingdom perspective

  • Authors: Murahwi, Tadiwanashe Don
  • Date: 2025-04-04
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479506 , vital:78319
  • Description: The mining industry contributes significantly to South Africa’s economy, but is fraught with controversies due to its negative environmental, economic, and social impacts. Although tax measures are established to offset these negative externalities, the role of tax provisions in promoting sustainability within South Africa’s mining sector remains underexplored. The goal of this study is to analyse the tax provisions aimed at promoting sustainability in the mining industry in South Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom, in order to identify tax provisions applying in Australia and the United Kingdom that could be introduced into South African tax legislation to strengthen the sustainability of the mining industry. In addressing the goal of the research, the thesis outlines the socio-economic and environmental impacts of mining in South Africa, discusses the sustainability discourse surrounding the industry, and analyses and compares tax provisions promoting sustainability in South Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom. An interpretative qualitative research methodology was applied in the study. The research highlighted the significant environmental degradation caused by mining, including air and water pollution, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, while also noting the socio-economic consequences, particularly for local communities and vulnerable groups. South African tax legislation, such as the Income Tax Act, Mineral and Petroleum Resources Royalty Act, and the Carbon Tax Act, aim to promote mine rehabilitation, fair taxation, contribution to the fiscus, and a reduction in emissions. What is evident from the analysis of tax provisions in Australia and the United Kingdom is that tax measures go beyond mine rehabilitation, and address issues such as tax transparency, energy consumption, and community investments, promoting sustainability by balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship. The study concludes that current tax interventions primarily address environmental degradation while neglecting the social impacts of mining. Optimizing tax policies to enhance sustainability requires a comprehensive, balanced approach that addresses environmental, economic, and social aspects, including adopting practices from Australia and the United Kingdom to promote tax transparency, community investment, and environmental protection. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Accounting, 2025
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Composition portfolio

  • Authors: Jera, Tinashe Donaldson
  • Date: 2025-04-04
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479548 , vital:78323
  • Description: Completing this portfolio has been an incredibly enlightening musical journey for me. From the beginning of my composition studies as an undergraduate student, I found myself captivated by a multitude of musical styles, which fostered a desire to compose in various genres and for a range of voices. However, upon embarking on postgraduate studies, it became apparent to me that I yearned to cultivate a distinctly personal compositional voice that resonated with my own artistic sensibilities, one that I, as a composer, could wholeheartedly embrace and call my own. Upon delving into the depths of my culture and embracing my identity as a Zimbabwean classical musician, I came to the realisation of just how profoundly rich and culturally diverse my background and musical heritage truly is. Kofi Agawu (2023) comments that African composers possess “multiple and eclectic heritages.” He explains that these heritages stem from “community-based traditional music (music with the strongest claims to being of pre-European origin […]), modifications of this tradition into neo-traditional forms; the ubiquitous, popular music of Cuban, American and British origins; and […] selected European repertories”. So, along with other African composers who compose in the African art music tradition, my multiple heritages are reflected in my creativity, and this is evident in this portfolio. This portfolio has provided me with a remarkable opportunity to immerse myself in the intricacies of Zimbabwean music, exploring the nuances of its rhythms and dances as practised by our elders. Gerhard Kubik (1994) stated that in an expansive sense, "African music" encompasses "dance" as well, given that the two are inextricably connected facets of the same cultural complex. Studying the dances shown in this portfolio enabled me to develop a deep admiration for my own culture and the aesthetic appeal of our indigenous musical rhythms and dances. The process has also allowed me to embark on a comprehensive study of these elements, meticulously translating them into original musical compositions. Moreover, I have been fortunate enough to engage in meaningful conversations with some of the most noted musicians of Zimbabwean traditional music, something that has afforded me a profound understanding of the intricacies and subtleties that permeate our musical culture. A fundamental aesthetic element of this portfolio is its deep connection to Zimbabwean dance cultures. For example, the rhythmic ideas located in the Zimbabwean Dance Suite are intimately tied to the original dances of Zimbabwe, reflecting a genuine engagement with my cultural heritage, delineated further through the creation of original melodies and harmonies that replicate those located in Indigenous music-making. My music is, thus, imbued with traditional Zimbabwean artistic practices, though they are placed in a different cultural milieu, one where traditional roots are respected while new creative territories are explored, as Zimbabwean cultural elements are synthesised with Western music techniques. The Western aspects of my musical heritage are explored in-depth in the Clarinet Trio, Ndangariro, where the broad ideas of the twentieth century’s modernist tendencies largely located in post-tonalism are featured in my harmonic stance. Here, dissonant constructions with sometimes merciless, rasping dissonances colour the harmonic landscape. This follows the general trend of that era, which is frequently referred to as “the emancipation of dissonance” (Hinton 2010), where chord construction and treatment of dissonances is antithetical to the norms followed through the common-practice period with the boundaries between consonance and dissonance being blurred (Kostka and Santa 2018). Here, my primary influence is that of Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951), especially his development of twelve-tone serialism, and my reflexive commentary will outline this impact on my music. Further, the piquant sound world frequently associated with Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) is also apparent in Ndangariro. While the piano part frequently shows the influence of post-tonalism the melodic lines played by the violin and clarinet often (though not always) display the influence of Romanticism, especially Romantic-styled gestures. It is the merging of these two expressive domains that goes towards the emergence of this piece’s uniquely hued sound world. These composers' approaches to modernism and their departure from traditional harmony and chord progressions inspired my approach to exploring new musical soundscapes and conveying deep, meaningful ideas. This engagement with twentieth-century Western music opens up new avenues for expressing complex emotional landscapes and philosophical concepts. In this work, I continued to create my own range of ideas to develop unique chord structures and personalised sonic spaces. This portfolio is a deep, introspective look into my personal journey, mirroring significant life events and the evolution of my musical identity; it not only offers a glimpse into my own soul but also showcases the evolving nature of my own creative expression. At its core, this portfolio expresses life in all its manifestations from joy and happiness to the pain of loss and mourning as experienced through my African heritage. It speaks to the universal experiences of hardship and overcoming such hardship through resilience; therefore, the overarching message is one of hope, which, in this case, is expressed through musical and artistic innovation as African and Western elements are merged in musical composition. It is this blending which lies at the core of Tenzi Tinzwireyi Tsitsi, a setting of the Kyrie Eleison using Zimbabwean musical and linguistic features merged with Western choralism. , Thesis (MMus) -- Faculty of Humanities, Music and Musicology, 2025
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Resource-based view of barriers and drivers to the survival of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas of Centane in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Fadana-Dumani, Akhona Pumza
  • Date: 2025-04-04
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479427 , vital:78312
  • Description: This research study set out to analyse the barriers and drivers of small business survival in rural areas of Centane. Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME’s) are considered a crucial element in achieving economic growth as well as job creation. These businesses play a pivotal role in the improvement of rural economy and livelihood and their existence is intricately linked to the survival of the local communities. Hence, the study seeks to analyse the barriers experienced by rural SME’s, resources and interventions required to be successful, was conducted in Centane, a rural town situated in Mnquma Local Municipality, Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, The Resource based theory framework was employed to better understand the selected case study. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed in English then translated into isiXhosa the local vernacular to easy the information flow and ensures the respondent confidence during the face-to-face interview. The interviews were randomly conducted to fourteen (14) key informants (SME’s). The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results indicated that the inadequate infrastructure, lack of skills and training as well as funding and support from the government are the key barriers experienced by the SME’s. Furthermore, results showed that critical skills such as business, records, financial management as well as marketing are required to ensure the sustainability of the SME’s in this area. Through the integration of Resource-Based-Framework, the study revealed the significance, and the availability of both the tangible and intangible resources in shaping the competitive-edge, survival and the sustainability of SME’s in Centane. The involvement of local government and other related development agencies is recommended to actively participate and play a more active role in ensuring the development, survival, sustainability and success of the SME’s in this area. Their intervention should be through facilitation of trainings and skills development initiatives with special focus on financial, marketing and business-related skills. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2025
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Sustainable business models and organisational resilience: a case study of Spier Wine Farm in South Africa

  • Authors: Van Staden, Kurt Martin
  • Date: 2025-04-04
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479495 , vital:78318
  • Description: The aim of the mini-thesis titled: “Sustainable Business Models and Organisational Resilience: A Case Study of Spier Wine Farm in South Africa” was to explore the relationship between sustainable business models and organisational resilience. Sustainability in wine makers extends beyond wine making techniques into other areas of the wine business to include hospitality, choice of glass and selecting suppliers of grapes. Spier Wine Farm, located outside the town of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape of South Africa, has been making wine since 1692. Spier has made a concerted effort in developing a sustainability strategy and introduction of sustainability into the business model. The South African wine industry is of importance to social and environmental sustainability in South Africa, creating over 270 000 jobs. Sustainability involves taking future generations into account when meeting the needs of the current generation, considering the triple bottom line of: environmental, social and economic value creation. The sustainable business model is thus an adaptation of a traditional business model to include creating and sustaining environmental and social value, in addition to traditional economic value. Resilience theory is centred around change in adaptive systems, focussing both on the role of change and the source of change. Making use of a deductive approach based on existing literature, a case study method allowed for an in-depth understanding of the relationship between sustainable business models and organisational resilience. Through semi-structured interviews and pattern matching data analysis, themes were identified. The research findings determined that a causal linkage between a sustainable business model and improved organisational resilience, in the South African context is likely to exist. The key themes that were considered to be contributing to this finding were: access to more sales markets, improved brand equity, reduced staff turnover and more efficient use of resources. An interdependence between sustainable business models and organisational resilience was found to likely not exist as a causal relationship between organisational resilience and sustainable business models was not found. The findings noted that sustainability was considered a contributing factor towards organisational resilience, but the relationship is not that of dependency as other ways to become resilient exist. Finally, it was recommended that adopting a sustainable business model is likely to lead to improved organisational resilience. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2025
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