UWCScholar

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 11

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Community perspectives and policy effectiveness: a study on floodplain wetland management and its socio-economic implications in the Msunduzi River Basin
(Springer Science and Business Media BV, 2026) Mokgala, Palesa J; Kanosvamhira, Tinashe P; Sibanda , Mbulisi
Despite the crucial role of floodplain wetlands in sustainable development, existing research reveals a significant gap in community awareness and engagement with relevant policies. This study seeks to elucidate the community’s understanding of wetland management policies and their perceived effectiveness in shaping agricultural practices and socio-economic development. Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through structured surveys with residents of the floodplain and interviews with key stakeholders. The key findings reveal a marked deficiency in community awareness regarding existing floodplain wetland management regulations, accompanied by widespread scepticism about their effectiveness. This lack of awareness is further exacerbated by perceptions of ineffective community participation in policy decision-making, highlighting a substantial disconnect between the intentions of these policies and the lived experiences of local residents. These insights suggest that, without meaningful engagement and transparent dissemination of information, the potential for effective floodplain management remains severely compromised, thereby jeopardising both environmental sustainability and socio-economic development within the region. The results underscore the urgent need for improved communication strategies and inclusive engagement processes to empower local communities in floodplain management. By addressing these identified gaps, policymakers can foster enhanced community participation, increase the efficacy of environmental regulations, and ultimately support sustainable socio-economic development. This study contributes to the broader discourse on urban governance and environmental management in the Global South, advocating for a paradigm shift towards participatory approaches in policy formulation and implementation.
An integrated approach to isiXhosa literacy teaching and learning in the foundation phase: current practices and prospects
(AOSIS (pty) Ltd, 2026) Kosi, Thembisa; Nomlomo, Vuyokazi
Background: The current South African Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) promotes integration through the use of interdisciplinary themes for teaching in the Foundation Phase but does not provide explicit guidelines on the application of this approach in literacy teaching. Aim: The study aimed to investigate teachers’ current practices and the potential of an integrated approach in the teaching and learning of Grade 3 isiXhosa literacy. Setting: The study was conducted in two primary schools located in the black townships of Cape Town, in the Western Cape province. Methods: A case study design was used in this qualitative study. Classroom observations and semi-structured interviews with two Grade 3 teachers were used to collect data. Results: The findings indicate that teachers’ intuitive use of interactive and learner-centred pedagogical strategies fostered the implementation of the integrated approach in isiXhosa literacy, yet missed opportunities to develop higher-order thinking skills. The findings provide insights into the potential of this approach, given a greater focus on innovative and inclusive pedagogies and teacher professional development. Conclusion: The study concludes that the integrated approach could play a significant role in enhancing learners’ conceptual, linguistic and emotional development when implemented correctly. Contribution: This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on African language literacy teaching and learning – an area that remains under-researched. It advances scholarship in early literacy pedagogy and provides valuable insights into the transformative potential of the integrated approach, thus informing future research and practice in African language literacy teaching and learning.
Afrobeats, moral disengagement and the cultural politics of online fraud: the difference between a twitch and a wink Is vast
(Routledge, 2026) Lazarus, Suleman Ibrahim; Olaigbe, Olatunji; Lazarus, Scipio E.
This article examines how Afrobeats reframes online fraud through mechanisms of moral disengagement, interrogating 40 songs by Nigerian artists (2023 to 2025). Drawing on Bandura's theory and cultural sociology, it interprets lyrics as moral texts. Thematically, it identifies five recurrent patterns: (i) victim dehumanisation through predator-prey metaphors (e.g., maga), (ii) reframing fraud as “hustle” or divine blessing, (iii) minimisation of agency via structural poverty or spiritual forces, (iv) cyber-spiritualism (Yahoo Plus), where juju rituals ensure success and protect fraudsters, and (v) glamorisation through aspirational global aesthetics. Structurally, fraud references operate as career-contingent resources, more common among emerging than established artists. All credited vocalists are male, highlighting gendered exclusion. Lyrics also encode temporal discipline, depicting synchronisation with Western time zones as both a moral duty and a logistical necessity for transnational fraud. Beyond technical coding, Afrobeats is read as a moral and cultural text through which identity, aspiration, and legitimacy are negotiated under postcolonial inequality and digital capitalism. It functions as a moral economy in which fraud is glamorised, spiritualised, and rarely contested. As a shared cultural grammar, these lyrics convert deviance into symbolic capital and export local fraud imaginaries, shaping global perceptions of Yahoo Boys and their victims.
Alcohol and substance use and associated risk factors in nursing undergraduates at a South African university
(AOSIS (pty) Ltd, 2025) Kovane, Gaotswake Patience; Mayers, Pat M
Background: The use of substances by university nursing students is a significant public health challenge and may impact their professional conduct and compromise the quality of patient care. Aim: The study aimed to investigate alcohol and substance use by undergraduate nursing students, and the associated risk factors, at a university in the Western Cape province, South Africa. Setting: The study was conducted at a university in the Western Cape province, South Africa. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive survey design was used. A convenience sample of second-, third-and fourth-year nursing students completed a self-report online questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests and multivariate linear regression were used to analyse the data. Results: A total of 212 questionnaires were completed. Most respondents (81%; n = 171) were female. The substances most used were tobacco (24.1%), alcohol (64.6%) and cannabis (marijuana) (23.7%). Few students had used ‘hard’ recreational drugs. Female students were more likely to have used alcohol and drugs over the 12 months preceding the study. Conclusion: To limit alcohol and drug use of nursing students, nursing education institutions need to increase efforts to raise awareness, include relevant curriculum content and provide appropriate support. Contribution: This study highlights the substance use risks and behaviours of undergraduate nursing students. Nursing students, as future health professionals, need to be empowered to make informed choices about the use of alcohol and other substances and need to be supported by university policies, appropriate education and counselling services.
The heterogeneous effects of financial openness on income inequality in sub-Saharan Africa
(AOSIS (pty) Ltd, 2025) Tita, Anthanasius Fomum; Opperman, Pieter
Background: The external determinants of income inequality include financial globalisation or financial openness. The world is increasingly financialised and forms of cross-border investment have grown significantly. Over the past two decades, income inequality and financial globalisation have increased in various countries. Aim: This study investigated the relationships between different de facto components of financial openness and income inequality. Setting: Annual panel data for 43 sub-Saharan African countries from 1990 to 2021. Method: The study employed a moments-quantile regression (MM-QR) estimation procedure that can reveal disregarded heterogeneous covariance effects in panel data models and allow for endogenous explanatory variables. Results: The findings revealed that foreign direct investment (FDI) and portfolio equity are associated with increases in income inequality, with FDI having a more pronounced effect in more unequal countries and portfolio equity having a less pronounced effect in such contexts. Debt reduces income inequality across all quantile levels, with the strongest effects observed in more unequal countries. Conclusion: The findings highlight the complex relationship between financial openness and inequality, shaped by its components and inequality levels. Contribution: The study contributes to the literature as only a limited number of studies have investigated the relationship between overall de facto financial openness, its various components and income inequality in sub-Saharan Africa. The use of a quantile regression approach contributes to the small number of empirical studies employing this approach when investigating the link between financial openness and income inequality.