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A quantitative analysis of public attitudes towards the fourth industrial revolution: an integrated technology adoption model in South Africa.
(2024) Mthombeni, Zama Mabel.; Mtapuri, Oliver.
The impact of technology on society is a multifaceted and intricate issue in a rapidly changing world of constant technological advancements. The emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has sparked a growing debate regarding its potential opportunities and challenges for various societies. While robots have been utilized for over 50 years in previous industrial revolutions, their recent integration into domestic and different work environments through the 4IR is a modern development. Social robots are now deployed to perform tasks that were previously performed by humans and are used in scenarios where they must interact with people. Despite the significance of these changes for human development, there has been limited research on public attitudes towards such advancements of the 4IR in South Africa. This study investigated the relationship between micro-level sociological characteristics and attitudes towards the 4IR using survey data from the South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) among a sample of adult respondents (n=2736) in South Africa. The study adopted a positivist paradigm and a quantitative approach and sought to contribute to the understanding of public perceptions of the 4IR in South Africa. Existing attitudinal adoption models were reviewed, and the study used these to develop an integrated framework that harmonized these theories. This framework incorporated a dimension of micro-sociological indicators and categorized attitudes into two distinct categories. The use of micro-sociological indicators in the technology adoption model was an important approach that allowed for a more comprehensive understanding of public attitudes towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in South Africa at the micro-level. Unlike traditional adoption models that focus solely on macro-level factors such as economic and institutional conditions, micro-sociological indicators consider individual-level characteristics such as race, social class, knowledge, age, and gender. . The study findings revealed a distinct social class effect, highlighting heightened scepticism toward the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) among individuals in lower social classes, those with worker vulnerability, and those lacking internet access. A crucial recommendation is to challenge the prevailing narrative of elitism linked to technological progress and emphasizes targeted investments in historically marginalized communities. South Africa can learn from the experiences of other nations and consider implementing comprehensive strategies involving policy interventions, public-private partnerships, and social initiatives. Exploring the feasibility of universal basic income as a social safety net would be prudent, aligning with global trends in addressing the socio-economic impact of automation and technological advancements.
Developing a competence-based framework for theprovision of mental healthcare in patients with mental health problems and HIV in primary healthcare in Maseru, Lesotho.
(2023) Posholi, Malerotholi Thabida.; Ngcobo, Winnie Baphumelele.
In 2017 there were approximately 792 million people with mental health problems globally. mental
health problems are increasing rapidly globally but mental health services are lacking. Approximately
80% of people living with Human immunodeficiency virus have mental health problems
yet these disorders have been absent from the global health agenda. Around 90% of people who
require MHS do not obtain them in Low and middle-income countries.
Purpose of the study
The aim of the study was to develop a competence-based framework for mental health provision
in people living with Human immunodeficiency virus in primary Health Care in Lesotho.
Methods
A mixed method study was used. In total, 88 questionnaires were returned by the respondents and
50 interviews were conducted. The findings from the quantitative and qualitative study were supportive
and used to develop a competence-based framework that would facilitate the provision of
mental health services for people presenting with mental health problems and Human immunodeficiency
virus in primary health care. The quantitative data was analysed using an appropriate
software package, in this case SPSS version 26. Qualitative data was analysed using the soft ware
called Nvivo and thematic framework analysis.
Findings
92 % of the participants needed competence-based frame work to enable them to successfully
manage mental health problems in people presenting with mental health problems and Human
immunodeficiency virus however the majority (69.7%) of the participants had inadequate
knowledge regarding mental health. Competence-based frame work was developed in this study
to enable health professional to successfully manage people with mental health problems and Human
immunodeficiency virus. Currently, mental health services are lacking in primary health
cares in Lesotho. There was lack of knowledge regarding mental health in health professionals,
mental health was also not an in-country priority as the professionals are taught about mental
health in colleges, but do not practice it in their professional work.
Conclusions and recommendations
Availability of competence-based framework was seen as a great need by health professionals to
manage mental health problems. Many studies emphasized the need to integrate mental health
services with Human immunodeficiency virus services as they are related. However, in Lesotho it
was still a serious problem during the time of the study. There is a need to train health professionals
about mental health services and also hire at least one psychiatric nurse in each primary health
care. Competence-based frame work was therefore developed in this study to enable health professionals
to provide mental health services in people presenting with mental health problems and
Human immunodeficiency virus.
An integrated model of aftercare for substance use disorder clients in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2023) Mpanza, December Mandlenkosi.; Govender, Pragashnie.; Voce, Anna Silvia.
Background: There is currently a high global burden of substance use, which is burdensome
to the public health and welfare system. Adequate treatment, including aftercare services, tends
to be limited worldwide. In South Africa (SA), substance abuse contributes considerably to
morbidity and mortality and treatment services are not only limited but also fragmented among
stakeholders. These problems are compounded by a number of factors, including the absence
of aftercare policies, treatment models, a lack of resources, and an absence of norms and
standards for aftercare services. Consequently, most persons with Substance Use Disorders
(SUDs) do not receive aftercare. Furthermore, there is high relapse and many re-admissions of
persons with SUDs, which exacerbates the burden on the health care and welfare systems. The
situation appears to be worse in rural districts. South African policies have called for the
development of an aftercare model of care for persons with SUDs, which has not been realised
to date.
Aim: The aim of the study was to propose an integrated model of aftercare for persons with
SU post-inpatient treatment phase in a public facility in KwaZulu-Natal.
Methodology: A qualitative study in two phases. The first phase: policy analysis, and the
second phase had two stages: Stage one was semi-structured and focus group interviews with
forty-six participants who represented all five levels of the Beer’s Viable System Model (VSM)
from governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Stage two semi-structured
interviews with five persons with SUDs and their family members (n=5). Data was analysed
thematically using the Braun and Clarke approach.
Results: Findings indicated that South African policies did not provide clear guidelines on
aftercare. Aftercare was found to be lacking, fragmented, poorly coordinated among service
providers and not well integrated into the substance use treatment system. The needs of service
users demonstrated the extent and nature of aftercare required.
Conclusion: The extent and nature of aftercare services warranted aftercare services that are
integrated into SUD treatment systems, lifelong orientated, and responsive to the needs of
persons with SUDs and their families. An integrated recovery management model of care is
proposed together with relapse management strategies.
'The artist woke': Perceval Gibbon: from reporter to novelist.
(1989) Stewart, Graham Douglas James.
My contention is that the development in Gibbon's narrative technique shows
evidence of a liberalising ideological change, which enabled the author to
transcend the racist attitudes apparent in his early works and attain a more tolerant
point of view in Margaret Harding, his last novel. I draw a distinction between Gibbon's
authorial 'point of view' and 'narrative viewpoint' to differentiate between his
own occasionally-expressed racism, and his ironic portrayal of racist characters.
Gibbon ultimately overcomes his ambivalence by refining his style; a process that
not only mirrors the resolution of his personal response to the question of race but
also marks his progress from news reporter to accomplished artist
In my Introduction I argue that Gibbon, whose preoccupation was with social
issues rather than the individual moral development of his characters, has tended
to be ignored by critics who favoured the psychological (or realist) novel.
In Chapter 1, the short stories of The Vrouw Grobelaar's Leading Cases are
shown to reveal two key elements of Gibbon's writing: a readiness for personifying typically South African attitudes, and a concern with relationships between
people of different races. Gibbon's narrator does not, however, distance himself
sufficiently from Vrouw Grobelaar's bigoted views.
Souls in Bondage addresses a theme that Gibbon recognises as the matrix out
of which South Africa's future society must develop: the relationship between white
colonials and the local black population. The central character, Thwaites, reflects
in ·his shifting sympathies Gibbon's own growing apprehension of racism, and is
evidence of Gibbon's firmer control over the narrative and moral centre of his
material.
While Salvator ignores the racial predicament in South African society, it reveals
some development of Gibbon's command of narrative viewpoint. The theatrical
'placement' of juxtaposed characters anticipates the structure of Margaret Harding.
In Margaret Harding Gibbon's criticism of racist society shows a maturity in
which the uncertain identifications of Vrouw Grobelaar and Souls in Bondage have
been resolved. The richer, more poetic depth of his writing style may also be
attributable to a collaboration with Joseph Conrad.
Gibbon's work deserves more than a marginal place in South African literature.
His Vrouw Grobelaar short stories and his novels offer a unique insight into society
at the turn of the century, and reflect the author's own experience of shedding the
Social Darwinist ideology of race: from 'savage' to 'artist'.
Talent development and employability of actors in South Africa: a case of KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng.
(2019) Myeni, Sifiso Nhlanhla.; Phiri, Maxwell Agabu.
The study aimed at creating a talent development framework for the employability of independent contractors who are actors in South Africa’s film and television industry. Employability was defined as consisting of an individual’s abilities to find employment based on their competencies, social capital, human capital, their talent as well as the context in which their competencies are applied. The theoretical underpinnings of the study were based on Cagne’s expanded model of talent development (Cagne, 2013) which provided the conceptual scope of the study. The South African talent development environment has been affected by the country’s past historical marginalisation and imbalances and to date, it still remains a challenge. Independent contractors exist in multiple organisational settings with the nature of the work being project-based and hence often are side-lined on development opportunities that are required to enable their employability. The film and television industry includes the internet, data consumption, television, cinema, video games, e-sports, music, publishing, out of home marketing and radio. The study followed the mixed methods research design using the rationale of triangulation and using different sampling approaches. A total of 325 actors affiliated with the South African Guild of Actors formed the population of the study. The qualitative approach collected data by means of a purposive sampling approach, using expert knowledge from 22 industry stakeholders. Semi-structured interviews were used as a data collection method and were analysed using content analysis. The quantitative approach collected data from 94 independent contractors using a random non-probability sampling approach.
Self-administered questionnaires were used as a data collection method and further analysed by means inferential statistics such as anova, independent samples test and scheffe’s multiple comparisons tests. The study found social capital bearing more influence on actors employability with the networking skills identified as still lacking for South African actors. Further the study found positive influence played by talent development, self-perceived employability and human capital on employability of actors. The study recommends the adoption and further expansion of the talent development model, the formalisation of the mentorship programme and the inclusion of social media and brand awareness training and development offerings in the industry.