Browsing by Author "Govera, Hemish"

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    The association between socioeconomic factors, alcohol use and alcohol-related outcomes in South Africa
    (University of Western Cape, 2021) Govera, Hemish; Bayat, Amiena
    This thesis researched the relationship between alcohol consumption, socioeconomic characteristics and alcohol-related harms such as subjective health status, chronic health conditions and mental health status in South Africa. The study sought to determine if the alcohol harm paradox (AHP) exists in the country. The AHP is the empirical finding that socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals tend to suffer more alcohol-related harms compared to individuals who are socioeconomically advantaged, despite reporting similar or lower levels of alcohol consumption on average. The research presented the contextual background to alcohol consumption in the country that helped form the current drinking culture, which includes the harmful drinking culture fomented by the apartheid system in the townships and farms of South Africa. The study also reviewed the effectiveness of current alcohol policies and legislation in addressing alcohol-related harms in the South African society.
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    Resilience in food systems – response and adaptation to shocks and disruptions: the case of the Phillipi Horticultural area in Cape Town, South Africa
    (South African Society for Agricultural Extension (SASAE), 2025) Bayat, Amiena; Govera, Hemish
    This study explores the concept of food systems resilience. It studied the vulnerability to shocks and pressure of the Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA), a key urban food-producing region in Cape Town, South Africa. The PHA is critical for the city’s food security but faces challenges such as rapid urbanisation, governance gaps, and socioeconomic pressures threatening its resilience and sustainability. Using a descriptive methods approach, the research collected data through surveys with stakeholders from the government, the private sector, NGOs, private individuals, and informal settlers. The study adopted the place-based approach emphasising the importance of community-led initiatives and local actors in managing food systems. The perspective highlights the significance of addressing challenges collaboratively within specific contexts. Key findings revealed insufficient governance commitment, a lack of multi-stakeholder collaboration, and the growing threat of urban development on agricultural land. The study also confirmed the importance of community-driven strategies to adapt to these challenges and build resilience. In conclusion, the research emphasises the need for integrated, community-centred, and multi-stakeholder approaches to safeguard the PHA’s food system. To address these issues, the study recommends strengthening governance frameworks, promoting collaboration among diverse stakeholders, empowering community leadership, and protecting agricultural land from urban encroachment. These measures are crucial to maintaining the resilience and sustainability of this vital urban agricultural region
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    The relationship between inflation and unemployment
    (University of the Western Cape, 2017) Govera, Hemish; Ocran, Matthew Kofi
    The nature of the relationship between inflation and unemployment has implications for the appropriate conduct of monetary policy. However, the question as to whether the traditional Phillips curve relationship holds true remains debatable despite advances in both theoretical and empirical evidence. This study revisits this debate for South Africa by examining data on unemployment, the repo interest rate and core CPI for the period from 1994Q1 to 2015Q4. This was in the light of recent developments in both theoretical and empirical Phillips curve literature. The research employed a hybrid version of the NKPC and various econometric techniques. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller test was used to examine the unit root properties of the data series. The Johansen cointegration technique was applied to test for cointegration among the variables. The research derived and estimated an error correction model for inflation. The model results demonstrated that the repo interest rate is statistically significant in explaining inflation. The VECM was derived and estimated to examine both short-run and long-run relationships among the variables. The results confirmed the existence of a positive but insignificant long-run relationship between unemployment and inflation. The study used the Granger causality test to ascertain the nature of causality among the variables. The research established the presence of unidirectional Granger causality running from core CPI to unemployment. Forecast error variance decomposition shows that large percentages of variations in each variable are attributable to each variable respectively. The empirical findings are helpful to the understanding of the Phillips curve relationship in South Africa and emerging economies in general.