UWCScholar

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 11

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Coastal fynbos on acid sands of the Cape Flats
(University of the Western Cape, 1989) University of the Western Cape
The state’s upgrading programs and policies: A gramscian analysis of informal settlement upgrading in Cape Town.
(University of the Western Cape, 2025) Magobiyane , Zukhanye; Mandyoli , Lindokuhle
Urban informal settlements, as an inheritance of the colonial and apartheid spatial planning, have been and continue to pose a challenge to the South African democratic state. These areas are characterized by poor sanitation, greywater issues, flooding, vulnerability to diseases, and criminal activities, due to inadequate service delivery from the city. In this study, informal settlements are viewed as a consequence of inequality, poverty, underdevelopment, and need for shelter embedded in the history of colonialism and apartheid. Despite constant land invasions which constrain city resources, the City of Cape Town (CoCT) is mandated by the South African Constitution and the Bill of Rights to intervene in subsequent inhumane conditions and human rights issues affecting people in informal settlements. As a result, the city employs informal settlement upgrading programs and policies as a crucial intervention to address the challenges faced by residents in these areas.
A comparative analysis between the AfCFTA and the EEA agreements: The impact of the activities of foreign multinational corporations and counterfeit goods on economic development and enhancement of socio-economic rights
(University of the Western Cape, 2025) Mashego , Katlego; Ndlovu , Precious
It is estimated that the AfCFTA could generate approximately USD 450 billion by 2030. This growth has the potential to promote economic development, which, in turn, could positively affect the realisation of socio-economic rights in Africa. Despite this potential, many African countries continue to face challenges in enforcing these rights. This research argues that it is essential that all African countries rigorously implement the AfCFTA. No African country is immune to the challenges identified in this research, particularly those related to the enforcement of socio-economic rights. The AfCFTA holds significant potential to promote job creation, reduce poverty, and increase prosperity across the continent. In other words, the Agreement could contribute positively to addressing socio-economic issues. However, this study argues that for these benefits to be realised, two main challenges must be addressed: the activities of foreign multinational corporations and the trade in counterfeit goods. If these issues are not effectively managed, the AfCFTA may fail to achieve its full potential, and Africans may not fully benefit from it. This research contends that an intra-African trade agreement is crucial for promoting economic development and, in turn, supporting the enforcement of socio-economic rights.
Examining the politics of leadership within state-owned entities: a case study of Eskom
(University of the Western Cape, 2026) Levendal , Marlon; Okbandrias , Meron
Leadership is at the heart of both prospering and struggling enterprises, driving their successes and failures. The investigation of public leadership is especially important, since leaders in public organisations work in complex and demanding environments that are constantly shifting. This study investigates the nature of leadership in SOEs in general and Eskom in particular. Eskom has become central to national debates on governance, political interference, and institutional decline. The research is driven by concerns about persistent leadership instability and governance failures at Eskom that have contributed to various operational disasters. The study examines how political appointments (i.e., cadre deployment) and compromised leadership have influenced Eskom’s performance over the past 15 years. A qualitative interpretive methodology was used, drawing on documentary analysis, leadership reports, commission reports, and peer-reviewed literature. Thematic analysis based on document triangulation was used to identify patterns across the data, with a particular focus on leadership decisions, governance structures, political influences, and the ways in which these elements have intersected to shape institutional outcomes.
Strengthening teamwork and respect (STAR): nurses’ perspectives and experiences of disrespectful maternity care in rural district hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2026) Horwood, Christiane; Haskins, Lyn; Luthuli, Silondile; Mapumulo, Sphindile; Filippi, Veronique; Penn-Kekana, Loveday; Doherty, Tanya
Background: Disrespectful maternal care has been reported from women’s perspectives, but less is known about how health workers understand these behaviours. To develop interventions, it is important to explore the drivers of disrespectful care from providers’ perspectives. Objective: To explore nurses’ perspectives on disrespectful maternal care. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 nurses in maternity units in nine rural district hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, between April and August 2024. This was part of a continuous process evaluation for a participatory learning and action intervention called Strengthening Teamwork and Respect (STAR). One STAR champion and one team member were selected from each hospital. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed using a reflexive thematic approach. Results: Participants reflected on how STAR changed their perceptions and understanding of respectful care. Five themes were identified: limited understanding of disrespectful care; normalisation of disrespectful behaviours; justification of disrespectful care; blaming women for disrespectful care; and perceptions of disrespect in the community. Overt incidents of disrespectful care were reported to be commonplace, including rudeness, shouting and slapping women. Lack of dignity and privacy was also common. Nurses recognised these behaviours as unacceptable and unprofessional and offered several explanations, including peer pressure, stress, burnout, and a poor work environment. Some believed that harsh behaviour was sometimes necessary to ensure safe delivery, particularly when women were perceived as uncooperative. Conclusions: Normalisation of disrespectful care highlights the need for interventions that address the underlying culture and the organisational and contextual factors that support and sustain these behaviours.