Browsing by Author "Mdleleni, Lwando"

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    A deeper look at the advent of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and what it means for the marginalized, a social innovation perspective
    (Universty of the Western Cape, 2023) Maphukatha, Sihle; Mdleleni, Lwando
    The current technological paradigm shift known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), has impacted all parts of the world including the African continent. Developing countries such as South Africa are preparing for the transformative technological changes brought by 4IR. According to Schwab and other scholars 4IR is the fourth major industrial era since the 18th century in which new technologies are fused together with the physical, digital, and biological worlds affecting all disciplines, economies, and industries. South Africa recognizes the potential of adopting 4IR technologies to address issues of poverty, unemployment, and inequality. However, currently South Africa lacks the necessary resources, skills, and infrastructure to fully utilize the opportunities and mitigate the risks associated with these technologies, particularly in the marginalized society. This study seeks to determine the effect of the 4IR on the marginalized society and explore possible roles that can be played by social innovation (SI) to mitigate possible challenges and ensure inclusive participation in the implementation of the current technological revolution. SI is defined as new ideas such as products, services, and models that equally meet social needs and create new social relationships or collaborations that aim to develop society. In the context of this study, marginalized society refers to the demotion of society due to a lack of access to rights, resources, and opportunities.
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    Can social innovation advance the PMTCT programme? A South African reflection
    (Sinnergiak Social Innovation, 2022) Mdleleni, Lwando; Velapi, Linda
    The prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) programme is an initiative developed to enable health care practitioners to provide essential care to mothers in order to prevent the transmission of HIV to their infants.However,the PMTCT programme has not been reaching its intended prevention objectives. This paper identifies the social issues that elucidate the gap between PMTCT program goals and the role that Social Innovation could play in improving the status quo.Supporting Social Innovationin health helps reduce infectious diseases by empowering communities to become active participants in their health challenges through local adaptation of global strategies that facilitate the reduction of health system limitations.The article combines a review of the literature with empirical evidence extracted from research that has analyzed the postpartum experiences of mothers living with HIV in the context of the PMTCT program in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa in 2021.
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    A Critical Analysis of the Influence of Social Innovation in Addressing Food (In)Security in the Context of Natural Disaster
    (University of the Western Cape, 2023) Moosa, Shehaam; Mdleleni, Lwando
    The conventional top-down, command-and-control approach to disaster management and buffers implemented during times of crisis are often rendered unsustainable, as these strategies fail to encourage community resilience. In South Africa, recent years have seen the emergence of bottom-up practices and processes where diverse actors co-create solutions. However, despite these inclusive models, local communities remain plagued by poverty and food insecurity. These social inequalities are exacerbated in the context of natural and human disaster. It is against this backdrop that this study investigates the influence of social innovation, novel solutions to pressing social challenges, in addressing food (in)security during times of crisis. The study is qualitatively oriented and makes use of semi-structured in-depth interviews, as well as literature review and document analysis data collection methods. This research endeavour is affiliated to the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security and the Social Innovation & Development Niche Area/Special Projects Unit. The study is conducted, given the levels of food insecurity in South Africa, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and its after-effects, past and ongoing floods and drought, insecure employment, widening inequality, climate crisis, etc. The study analyses the influence of social innovations that emerged to address the threat posed by the COVID crisis and the recent Cape Town water crisis on food security.