UWCScholar

This repository serves as a digital archive for the preservation of research outputs from the University of the Western Cape

Communities in UWCScholar

Select a community to browse its collections.

Now showing 1 - 5 of 11

Recent Submissions

Investigating casual workers in the wine tourism industry of the Western Cape in South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2026) Mokhathi, Idah Gofaone; Yu, Derek
The global economy continues to experience a decline in permanent formal sector employment, accompanied by a rise in the casualization of jobs across both the formal and informal sectors. Despite this trend, there is limited research on casual workers labour, particularly within the South African wine tourism industry. This study addressed this gap by investigating casual workers in this industry, with the following research objectives: to examine the personal characteristics of casual workers employed in the wine tourism industry; to assess the employment characteristics of these casual workers; to explore the main challenges faced by these workers to propose policy recommendations to mitigate these challenges. The study adopted a primary data collection approach by administering survey questionnaires to over 200 casual workers across the Western Cape province between February and July 2025 to gather detailed information on their personal experiences. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with more than 20 wine farm managers to gain further insight into the employment characteristics of casual workers from a managerial perspective.The significant ramification of this study is its contribution to identify the challenges faced by the casual workers in this industry, thereby enabling farm owners and policy makers to develop strategies to improve the working conditions, benefits and career trajectory of the casual workers. The empirical findings showed that the wine farm casual workers were predominantly African individuals under the age of 35 years, with Grade 12 (Matric) as their highest educational qualification. Among those with prior work experience, the majority had previously been employed in the wholesale and retail trade or agricultural sector. On average, the workers reported working 40 hours per week, and approximately three quarters had received some form of training, mainly in the areas of customer service and wine-related knowledge. The study further revealed that casual workers earned an average daily wage of R259 while financially supporting two to three dependents. More than half of the respondents expressed satisfaction with their remuneration and the consistency of payments. Despite this, irregular working hours and a lack of job security emerged as the primary challenges faced by casual workers. Nevertheless, nearly two thirds indicated that they would be willing to remain employed on the wine farm if offered a permanent position with sufficiently high remuneration.
Influence of innovation and firm competitiveness on business performance: the moderating role of dynamic capabilities in Low-Tech Small and Medium Enterprises
(University of the Western Cape, 2026) Mapuranga, Miston; Maziriri, Eugine Tafadzwa
Amidst accelerating technological change and intense global competition, innovation and dynamic capabilities have become critical for the survival and growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This is particularly true in South Africa, where manufacturing SMEs are pivotal to job creation and inclusive economic growth yet face severe structural impediments, including infrastructure deficiencies, regulatory inefficiencies, and intense import competition. Despite their importance, low-tech manufacturing SMEs remain disproportionately vulnerable, suffering from high failure rates and stagnant productivity. This study examines the impact of innovation on firm competitiveness and business performance, as well as the moderating role of dynamic capabilities, within a context that is both critically challenged and under-researched. The study adopted a positivist research philosophy, a deductive approach, and a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire from 304 owners and managers of low-tech manufacturing SMEs across Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng, South Africa. The data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to test the hypothesised relationships. The findings reveal a nuanced hierarchy of innovation drivers. Organisational innovation emerged as the strongest predictor of firm competitiveness (β = 0.240, p < 0.001), followed by product innovation (β = 0.177, p = 0.003) and process innovation (β = 0.136, p = 0.015). Notably, market innovation alone had no significant direct effect. A strong, significant positive relationship was confirmed between firm competitiveness and business performance (β = 0.690, p < 0.001). Crucially, the study provides a key insight into the role of dynamic capabilities; while they did not moderate the relationships for product, process, or organisational innovation, they exhibited a significant positive moderating effect on the link between market innovation and competitiveness (β = 0.147, p = 0.015). This suggests that dynamic capabilities are crucial for translating marketoriented ideas into tangible competitive advantages. This research concludes that for low-tech manufacturing SMEs, superior performance is achieved strategically by focusing on foundational internal innovations (organisational, product, and process). In contrast, the potential of market innovation is unlocked only when supported by a firm’s ability to sense, seize, and transform opportunities. The thesis offers a significant theoretical contribution by empirically validating an integrated model and ranking innovation drivers within a resource-constrained environment. For practitioners and policymakers, it provides an evidence based roadmap, advising SME leaders to prioritise organisational and operational improvements and cultivate dynamic capabilities to navigate complex challenges and build sustainable competitive advantage.
A Legal Analysis of the Role of Local Government in the Production and Procurement of Renewable Energy in South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2026) Makora, Misheck; Steenkamp, Rochine Melandri
South Africa’s electricity supply crisis has been characterised by recurring load-shedding since 2007, with severe socio-economic and governance consequences for municipalities responsible for basic services such as electricity reticulation as outlined in Schedule 4 Part B and section 156 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Although there have been extended periods in which load-shedding has been suspended in recent years, including a prolonged suspension since mid-May 2025 as reported by Eskom, the underlying legal and institutional constraints affecting municipal energy security, affordability, and reliability remain contested and consequential. While municipalities are responsible for distributing electricity within their jurisdictions, they are often constrained because of inconsistent electricity supply from Eskom. Efforts to procure from alternative renewable energy sources such as Independent Power Producers are hindered by the requirement to first obtain ministerial determination in terms of section 34 of the Electricity Regulation Act of 4 of 2006. The requirement for ministerial determination persists even under the amended Electricity Regulation Amendment Act 38 of 2024. While it introduces reforms such as a competitive market structure through a Transmission System Operator, it still centralises significant decisionmaking power to the Minister. As a result, municipalities remain constrained in their ability to independently procure or generate renewable energy to meet local demand. Through a doctrinal research methodology, this research critically examines the legal framework governing the electricity industry with particular focus on local government. It further explores how these legal dynamics impact local government’s ability to procure and generate renewable energy. The research also proposes the legal reforms to strengthen the role of local government in achieving energy security and advancing a just energy transition. Through a case study analysis of the City of Cape Town, the research analyses how municipalities, have leveraged locally available legal mechanisms such as by-laws and strategies to navigate the existing legal constraints in the electricity supply industry and play a more active role in the renewable energy space.
Awareness of caregiver reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions in children treated for drug-resistant tuberculosis
(University of the Western Cape, 2026) Thomas, Duran; Keuler, Nicole; Okeyo, Ida
Introduction: Despite the advances in treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in children, children are still at risk of developing adverse drug reactions (ADRs) during the prolonged treatment process. Monitoring and reporting of ADRs to ensure patient safety is a critical component of pharmacovigilance. The foundation of pharmacovigilance activities relies on ADR reporting by healthcare professionals and patients. However, there are limited studies that have focused on how caregivers of children navigate ADR reporting processes. This study aimed to explore the awareness of caregiver reporting of suspected ADRs in children treated for DR-TB. Methods: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted at Brooklyn Chest Hospital (BCH), a centralised provincial TB institution in Cape Town, between January and June 2025. The study consisted of two phases, phase one included direct observations of healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists) and caregivers for a period of two weeks (Monday to Friday). Phase two included semi-structured interviews with five caregivers. The participants were purposively sampled and included caregivers of children (0-14 years) treated for DR-TB. Observation field notes and interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four main themes emerged: (1) caregivers’ understanding and perceptions of ADRs and side effects; (2) access to healthcare and system influences on ADR reporting; (3) caregivers’ role, motivation, and responsibility in ADR reporting; and (4) social context, stigma and coping. Caregivers were unfamiliar with the term ‘adverse drug reaction’ but understood side effects as harmful bodily reactions. Caregivers preferred reporting ADRs to doctors at BCH due to the perceived expertise in managing paediatric TB and ease of accessibility. Reporting at primary clinics was limited by untrained staff, long waiting times, poor communication and stigma. Caregivers’ demonstrated strong commitment in their children’s care, motives for ADR reporting included emotional concerns, moral duty, and altruism. Stigma and discrimination in both healthcare settings and communities caused emotional strain. Coping strategies such as shared caregiving, family education, and positive reinforcement supported treatment adherence. Conclusion: Caregivers demonstrated strong commitment and vigilance in managing their child‘s DR-TB treatment, yet gaps in ADR awareness and alternative reporting pathways persisted. Reliance on doctors for reporting ADRs reflected trust in medical authority, while the pharmacist’s role in pharmacovigilance remains under-recognised. Limited training of healthcare workers and system insufficiencies at primary care clinics hindered reporting by caregivers.
Local government’s pursuit of the just energy transition: legal perspectives on the city of Cape Town
(University of the Western Cape, 2026) Koen, Jayde; Steenkamp, Rochine Melandri; Van der berg, Angela
Energy plays a critical role in social and economic development, especially considering the increasing energy demands projected for 2050, globally and in South Africa (SA). The current state of energy access in SA specifically raises concerns about economic, environmental, and resource security costs. The transition from fossil fuel-based energy systems to low-carbon renewable energy systems is crucial due to the detrimental effects caused by GHG emissions. The concept of a "just energy transition" (JET) focuses on the pragmatic progression from fossil-fuels toward cleaner renewable energy sources. SA’s commitment to decarbonisation and transitioning to renewable energy is driven by both environmental concerns and the electricity crisis that the country faces.