Browsing by Author "Dinbabo, Mulugeta Fitamo"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An instance of xenophobia: an investigation into the violence against Somali traders in Khayelitsha
    (University of the Western Cape, 2017) Aden, Abdi Ahmed; Dinbabo, Mulugeta Fitamo
    South Africa has been praised by many as having the most democratic constitution in the world which safeguards the rights of all who live within the borders of the nation. Ironically this has not been so with migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers, mainly of African origin. Attacks on these groups have been on the increase since the 1990s with little protection of their rights and dignities by the South African authorities. Many of the attacks reported takes place in townships and informal settlements which is mostly inhabited by black South Africans. The purpose of this study was to investigate the attacks on Somali traders in the township of Khayelitsha.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An investigation of the role of social capital in the determination of participation in high risk informal financial services
    (University of the Western Cape, 2017) Dyongo, Siphathise; Dinbabo, Mulugeta Fitamo
    Bourdieu's Social Capital (Fine 1999) has been dubbed as the buzz word within the social sciences (Fine, 2007). The Theory of Social Capital is one of the micro theories that has dominated the development world since the departure from the grand theories of Modernisation, Dependency and World Systems. Despite the fact that Social Capital has gained remarkable prominence during the 1980s, its first appearance in development literature can be dated as far back as the 1950s. In its simplest sense Social Capital can be understood as the 'capital of the poor', which consists of the "norms and networks that enable people to act collectively" (Woolcock & Narayan, 2000: 225). This capital of the poor is not as straight forward to measure as other forms of capital. It is very complex and multidimensional. It also manifests itself in variable ways across contexts and time. In the case of this study two indicator variables were relevant for its measure: trust and networks.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Assessing the level of participation in the regulation of African traditional medicines in South Africa: focus on African traditional health practitioners in the villages of Thembisile Hani local municipality in Mpumalanga
    (2013) Vilakazi, Fikile Mabel; Dinbabo, Mulugeta Fitamo
    This mini-thesis provides empirical evidence on the level of public participation and its correlation with trust, reciprocity, class and power amongst African traditional health practitioners (ATHPs) in the regulation of African traditional medicines (ATMs) in South Africa. Data on public participation of ATHPs was collected and analysed, using a social capital theoretical model created from an adaptation of Putnam’s (2000) concepts of trust and reciprocity as central to social capital theory. The analysis further employed Bourdieu’s (1968) thinking to link power and class to the concept of social capital and borrowed from feminist and historical materialism theories. The thesis sought to test how the analysis of power and class, once politicised, could be used to convert Putnam’s notion of trust and reciprocity into "critical trust” and “critical reciprocity”, based on hyper-reflexive engagement of social agents with their own reality within social networks. ATHPs were requested to rank themselves from a scale of high to low to determine their level of involvement. Public participation (the dependant variable) was tested against acts of reciprocity, trust, power and income or class (the independent variables) to ascertain correlation. Data was analysed using STATA, a computer-based programme for analysing quantitative data. The findings of the study showed that income and power play a significant role in determining public participation. The level of one’s income and power determines whether one is active or passive in participation. The high levels of trust and reciprocity demonstrated by ATHPs towards government had no particular significance in facilitating active participation instead trust, in particular, played a negative role, in that it demobilised ATHPs from active participation since they trusted that government will protect their best interest in the regulation process. The argument in this thesis is that trust and reciprocity has to be converted into ‘critical trust’ and ‘critical reciprocity’ through active questioning and analysis of power and class dynamics for it to activate and invoke conscious active participation. A follow-up study is necessary to test the possibility and success of such a conversion for public participation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Assessing youth participation in decision-making processes in community development programmes: a case study of the Spes Bona High School Dream2be Peer Education Programme
    (University of the Western Cape, 2011) Chege, Stella E.W.; Dinbabo, Mulugeta Fitamo; NULL; Faculty of Arts
    During this study, the challenges and best practices of youth participation in problem identification, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes were investigated and the effect of project outcomes on the youth and its implications for community development observed. The use of the qualitative research methodology to examine the extent to which the youth are involved in the decision-making processes was employed. In addition, a literature review that pertained to youth development and participatory community development was conducted. In particular, the participatory concept, and its relation to the inclusion of the youth at the decision-making table, was examined. By providing evidence from the empirical data, an argument is presented that there are internal rigidities that are a hindrance to the youth in expressing their voice in the decision-making platform. However, the conclusion can be drawn that in order to understand the process of participatory development, it is crucial for the youth, community development practitioners and other stakeholders to understand the socio-economic conditions surrounding the youth as these will ensure positive programme outcomes as well as subsequent sustainable youth development.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An assessment of women’s participation in agricultural production: a case study of Marange Irrigation Scheme in Zimbabwe
    (University of the Western Cape, 2015) Simango, Patience Masimba; Dinbabo, Mulugeta Fitamo
    Agriculture is the chief economic activity in many rural communities and women who make up the majority of the rural dwellers play a focal role in this sector. Despite efforts aimed at promoting women’s rights and ensuring gender equality in development, researchers have shown that women are still marginalised and have less access to productive resources needed for effective agricultural production. Using quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, the research investigated the nature and the extent of women’s participation in agricultural production at Marange Irrigation Scheme in Marange Communal Land, Zimbabwe. The participatory development theory was employed to guide the research. Data collection tools utilised in this study were a well structured questionnaire, semi-structured individual interviews and observation. Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data was done using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis respectively. The results of this study showed high level of women’s participation in most farm activities but low participation in extension programmes. The socio-economic variables considered for Pearson’s correlation tests – age, household income, education, land size and number of dependents – showed no significant relationship with the level to which women participate in agricultural activities. The findings of this study revealed that the key factors constraining women’s participation in agricultural activities were lack of capital, limited agricultural inputs, market constraints and water shortages. In addition, the research showed that farmers were not fully involved in every step of the irrigation development project. Consequently, women’s agricultural productivity was low and the sustainability of the project was uncertain. Despite these challenges, the results of this study revealed that participating in farming can instil a sense of ownership, enhance capacities and improve livelihoods. The level of women’s participation in farm decision-making was found to be high. This study advances that addressing women’s agricultural needs and improving their access to agricultural productive resources could result in effective participation of women in agriculture and meaningful agricultural productivity. In line with the participatory development theory, the study further contends that the full participation of women, as well as other intended beneficiaries, in the development process could be the key to sustainable rural development initiatives. This could help bring the much needed transformation in rural areas.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Community-based organisations (cbos) and the child rights-based approach (crba) in implementing services for vulnerable children: a case study of Kuyasa horizon empowerment in Kayamandi, Cape Town, South Africa
    (2013) Grundlingh, Heidi; Dinbabo, Mulugeta Fitamo
    Vulnerable children in Southern Africa are not receiving adequate services to support their human development. The child rights-based approach (CRBA) has become the globally accepted norm informing the quality and variety of multidimensional services children require to realise their rights and ensure their optimal human development. Community- Based Organisations (CBOs) are providing services to children in their communities. Unfortunately, relatively few CBOs in Southern Africa have been able to deliver all the multidimensional services required by vulnerable children to realise their right to survival, protection, development and participation. Yet, in the immediate future, existing CBOs could be capacitated as part of a collaborative approach with governments and donor agencies, to scale up services for vulnerable children. In line with the CRBA and the people centred development approach (PCDA), this research describes the factors that enhance or constrain the services for vulnerable children provided by the CBO, Kuyasa Horizon Empowerment (Kuyasa), in Kayamandi, Cape Town, South Africa. The aim of the case study was to identify and describe these key factors which impact on CBOs service delivery, utilising the CRBA as theoretical framework, so as to provide recommendations for future capacity building with Kuyasa in particular and other CBOs in general. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of research were applied throughout the study using a variety of techniques and instruments. Generally the findings indicate that, in terms of the CRBA, the factors which enhance services for vulnerable children provided by Kuyasa, were (1) their approach to empowerment as a point of departure for other practices and principles, (2) the scope and sequencing of their multidimensional services , (3) the practice of assigning responsibility to children to encourage contribution and the (4) principle of mentorship to validate children‟s iii potential and contribution in the absence of biological fathers. The critical constraints were (1) the variety of challenges children encounter in the community, i.e., sexual abuse, early sexual debut and alcohol abuse, (2) the challenges out of school youth encounter in accessing higher education or employment, (3) conflicting interests which hindered consensus in the participation process and (4) managing complex or prescriptive donor relationships. In light of the critical constraints identified, a collaborative and integrated approach is recommended. The constraining factors identified by this case study cannot be addressed by CBOs in isolation. The challenges children, out of school youth, and CBOs encounter can only be mitigated through a collaborative and integrated approach, where the grassroots level services provided by CBOs are combined with interventions offered by government departments and the development community. Some of the success factors and constraints can be extrapolated and used to inform many similar organisations operating in similar contexts. Finally, framing the findings in terms of the CRBA, promotes advocacy and discourse around a shared theoretical framework.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Social capital and community-led management of rural water schemes: Evidence from Mulundu Community Managed Water Scheme in Luapula Province of Zambia
    (University of the Western Cape, 2017) Katete, Christopher Dominic; Dinbabo, Mulugeta Fitamo
    The main objective of this study was to assess the contribution of social capital to community-led management of water schemes - using the Mulundu Community Managed Water Scheme in Luapula Province of Zambia - with the view to provide appropriate conclusions and recommendations on how water schemes can more viably be managed. This came in the backdrop of mixed evidence regarding success of community managed water schemes in Zambia and elsewhere.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Social welfare policies and child poverty in South Africa: a microsimulation model on the child support grant
    (University of the Western Cape, 2011) Dinbabo, Mulugeta Fitamo; Le Roux, Pieter; Wright, Gemma; Institute for Social Development; Faculty of Arts
    The study assessed the extent of child poverty in South Africa using five different policy scenarios, and modelled the impact on poverty and inequalities of people living in households with children using the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) index of poverty measurement, including poverty rate P0, (headcount index ratio), poverty gap index P1, (the depth of poverty), and the severity of poverty P2 (squared poverty gap index). Societal welfare inequalities have been measured using the Gini co-efficient. In general, the scenario analysis was based on the 2007 population baseline and 2008 government policy rules. The results of the study clearly indicate that there is a positive correlation between cash transfer (Child Support Grant) and a reduction in poverty and the inequalities of people living in households with children in South Africa. An increase in the Child Support Grant amount and the number of child beneficiaries, in modelling, produced a positive effect in addressing increasing child poverty and vulnerability. In addition, the research process identified four interrelated gaps that hinder the successful implementation of the social welfare policies underlying the Child Support Grant to reduce the poverty and inequality profile of people living in households with children in South Africa. First, inadequate understanding of the constitutional rights of the child exists. Second, failure to use proven best practice of institutional arrangements and implementation modalities was identified. Third, lack of political will for the championship of a universal basic income grant (UBIG) is present. Fourth, insufficient research, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and dissemination of best practices is done. Within the context of the above mentioned analysis, the study finally brings into focus general observations gained from the investigation and provides recommendations to policy makers and other stakeholders.