ResearchSpace

ResearchSpace is the institutional repository of the University of KwaZulu-Natal,
unlocking knowledge, empowering impact, and preserving UKZN's research legacy.


ReseachSpace Libguide

Communities in ResearchSpace

Select a community to browse its collections.

Now showing 1 - 5 of 11

Recent Submissions

The recasting of female gender roles: an analysis of the representation of female protagonists in Bollywood Cinema (National Film Awards 2010–2018)
(2026) Ramlutchman, Nisha.; Sewchurran, Anusharani.
Hindi cinema, popularly referred to as ‘Bollywood’, is a part of the wider Indian film industry, which includes regional language cinema such as Bhojpuri, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telegu and others. Hindi cinema is enjoyed across the globe, beyond the Asian sub-continent, extending to, for example, South Africa, Nigeria, Russia, Australia, Greece, Canada and the United States of America. With the expansion of the Indian diaspora across the world and internet-driven globalisation, Hindi films are today viewed as a transnational cultural force. This research investigates whether Indian National Film award-winning performances in the category of ‘Best Actress’ lead to a recasting, or any evolvement, in the representation of female gender roles in selected Hindi films. Film production in India exceeds over one thousand films annually, of which Hindi cinema’s contribution accounts for approximately 340 films (Galalite Screens, 2025). Concomitant with its global transnational reach, Hindi cinema also plays a crucial role in the construction and circulation of dominant social norms, cultural values and Indian identity. It can be argued thus that Hindi cinema’s global visibility magnifies its position as an ideological apparatus. Specifically, the thesis analyses four films between 2010–2018: The Dirty Picture (2011), Queen (2013), Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015) and Mom (2017). Through the theoretical framework of feminist film theory and interpretive paradigm of social constructionism, the study explores three key research questions: (i) how female characters in the films under analysis appear on screen (the ‘presences’) and thus, how do they not appear (the ‘absences’); (ii) how do these representations reflect broader constructions of female gender roles; and (iii) how the issue of women representation is reflected in Hindi (National Award) films today in comparison to traditional and stereotypical representation of women in mainstream Hindi films. A qualitative methodological approach addresses these questions, through a combination of a close reading (textual analysis) of each film and a reflexive thematic analysis to identify recurring motifs across the films. Purposive sampling was used in the selection of the films as the period is marked by a heightened visibility of women in Hindi cinema. The study identifies three recurring absences across all four films: stable professional identity (episodic depictions of career, largely unexplored); recognised legitimacy (recognition in the domestic domain in conditional and gatekept ways); and substantial sexual desire (desire is either commodified, a spectacle, sanitised, ignored or not selfauthored). The study highlights that whilst women may appear as narratively central figures, this centrality does not result in a meaningful shift (a recasting) of female representation on screen. National award-winning films echo female stereotypes and key figures prevalent in mainstream Hindi cinema such as the vamp, the obedient daughter, the contrite (and eventually dutiful) wife and the self-sacrificing mother. The study recommends that scripts should be crafted that explore durable female agency with stable and sustained professional identities; self authored sexual desire and unconditional domestic recognition. A further recommendation is for the expansion of female presence ‘behind-the-scenes’ to shift the gendered narrative structure and move towards more authentic, multi-faceted and complex depictions of women.
Imposing personal liability on accounting authorities for soes financial losses under South African law.
(2024) Buthelezi, Micheal Celumusa.; Mcquoid-Mason, David Jan.
The primary aim of this study was to explore the legal feasibility to hold board members (accounting authorities or directors) of State-Owned Enterprises personally liable in delict to the State-Owned Enterprises for financial losses occasioned by breach of their fiduciary and constitutional duties. Various shareholder ministers have been collusive in the losses sustained at State-Owned Enterprises. The culture of impunity that dominated the State-Owned Enterprises , especially during the second decade in South Africa, orchestrated to ensure non-enforcement of accountability measures. A culture of impunity and lack of accountability within the sector of SOEs, both civilly and criminally, has led to the near collapse of State-Owned Enterprises in South Africa and also entrenched a patronage network which the law giver will have to pay attention to in the future. As part of exploring the desirability and legal feasibility to hold accounting authorities personally liable using the common law delictual remedy, the researcher revisited various legal instruments available for oversight over State-Owned Enterprises and other jurisdictions. This study concluded that the law in South Africa and in other jurisdictions, like Canada, the UK, the US and Chinaprovides for civil liability for damages arising from a breach of a director’s fiduciary duties. According to the findings of this study, the common law remedy under the Lex Aquilia is the most appropriate tool for achieving the accountability of top officials in SOEs. The research also argued for the activation of the enforcement institutions to uphold the constitutional principle of accountable public administration. In this regard, this study recommended the creation of a new SOEs Unit will be an agent of the National Treasury responsible for all the affairs of the country’s strategic SOEs and their subsidiaries, including litigating on their behalf. In a nutshell, the study recommends that the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) should be dissolved and replaced by an SOEs Unit to be situated in the National Treasury. This research has found that there is fragmentation among South African institutions and instruments of oversight of the organs of the state, from parliamentary committees to Chapter nine institutions, such as the Public Protector and the Auditor General. Other institutions, such as the SIU and its Special Tribunal, operate parallel to these other institutions. The fragmentation is also seen among various legislations meant to fight acts of corruption and the like, such as PCCAA and the POCA, as well as the SIU and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996. This study has argued for the integration of the Auditor General and the SIU, including its Special Tribunals. The argument was to reconfigure the SIU (and the Special Tribunals) into a chapter nine institution as units of the Auditor General. The incorporation of the Special Investigating Unit and its Special Tribunal(s) into the Auditor-General of South Africa as its Unit responsible for civil recoveries on behalf of state organs to improve the oversight mechanisms and ensure efficient recovery of losses of State-Owned Enterprises. In this regard, the proposal was that the SIU and the Special Tribunals should operate in the same manner as the Competition Commission, as well as its Competition Tribunal and the Competition Appeal Court. It was argued that moving the SIU and the Special Tribunal into the office of the Auditor General would yield positive advantages, such as the saving on costs. Integrating the SIU and the Special Tribunal into the office of the Auditor General would yield positive advantages, such as the saving on costs and efficiency in oversight and recovery of losses, as the Auditor General does annual auditing. The Auditor General would also be able to use the provisions of the SIU and Special Tribunals Act to recover damages on behalf of State-Owned Enterprises. Most importantly, integrating the SIU and Special Tribunals into the office of the Auditor General would ensure their independence, taking them away from the control of the State President and executive. Regarding the Public Protector, this study argued that despite the advantages offered by the powerful sword in the hands of the Public Protector in the form of its remedial action, the Public Protector process is hamstrung by a lack of adequate financial resources to carry out its investigations. Also, the research has also argued that the remedial action that the Auditor General may take, in terms of the Public Audit Act 25 of 2004, in contrast with the remedial action of the Public Protector, which is wide enough to make any appropriate order, is inadequate. In particular, the Auditor General remedial action does not hold accounting authorities personally liable to compensate State-Owned Enterprises for financial losses stemming from a breach of directors’ fiduciary and constitutional duties. The study has also bemoaned the fact that the SIU process is only open to the State President who has the constitutional prerogative to authorise the SIU recovery process and not open to the public. Hence, this study has proposed that the SIU process should operate in the same manner as in the case of the Public Protector, in which the process allows members of the public to participate by lodging complaints, especially against public office-bearers of SOEs. Additionally, the law should also permit members of the public to litigate on behalf of the State-Owned Enterprises , which suffers financial loss, against accounting authorities and third parties, with or without the SIU, in the Special Tribunal. As it was argued, all this process should take place in the SIU and Special Tribunals, reconfigured under the directorate of the Auditor General. Ultimately, this study recommended that the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) should be dissolved and replaced by an SOEs Unit to be based in the National Treasury. In a nutshell, the study recommends creation of a new SOEs Unit will be an agent of the National Treasury responsible for all the affairs of the country’s strategic SOEs and their subsidiaries, including litigating on their behalf.
Representing Zuluness on TikTok: exploring Zulu cultural identity in the indigenous language short video format.
(2025) Mbambo-Kibirige, Wendy.; Gibson, Sarah Elizabeth.; Evans, Henri-Count.
Identity is shaped through shared cultural meanings and through how individuals present themselves within everyday interaction by drawing on the cultural and linguistic resources available to them. On social media, identity is performed visually, linguistically, and emotionally, as users adapt and reinterpret trends within their own cultural contexts. This study examines how Zulu cultural identity is expressed and negotiated within short-form video content on TikTok in South Africa, where such platforms function as significant sites of cultural production and participation. The research addresses the need to explore indigenous language expression in contemporary media spaces, particularly in contexts where historically marginalised languages are increasingly used in creative, meaningful, and socially resonant ways. A mixed methods netnographic approach was used to explore how Zulu identity is constructed, represented, and engaged with across 98 TikTok videos, posted between January and June 2024, along with associated 18,977 audience comment interactions. Data was collected using the 4CAT Capture and Analysis Toolkit to obtain video metadata, engagement patterns, and comments, enabling both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Quantitative findings showed high levels of interaction, with cultural expression content generating aboveaverage engagement and predominantly positive sentiment, characterised by multilingual play and extensive emoji use. Computational text analysis techniques, including translation and comment and emoji sentiment scoring, supported the analysis of audience engagement. Qualitative reflexive thematic analysis identified four key themes: Visualising and Performing Zuluness; Digital Participation and Platform Affordances; Gender, Morality and Cultural Policing; and Cultural Knowledge Transmission and Continuity. These themes illustrated strong expressions of cultural pride through dress, language, and music; the use of humour to foster relatability and shared identity; the negotiation of respect and modernity in relation to gender and intergenerational norms; and the prominence of the amabhinca aesthetic, a contemporary Zulu subculture, as a fusion of rural heritage and urban style. Overall, the study demonstrates that Zulu identity in social media spaces, articulated through the short-form video content, is dynamic and continually negotiated through participation and interaction, enabling individuals to assert belonging, engage in collective meaning-making, and contribute to evolving understandings of Zuluness in contemporary South Africa.
A psycho-legal analysis of the selection of gamete donors by intended parents.
(2025) Manias, Dominique.; Thaldar, Donrich Willem.
This thesis presents a comprehensive psycho-legal analysis of gamete donor selection by intended parents in the rapidly evolving landscape of South African assisted reproductive technology (ART). The research investigates the nuanced interplay between the psychological and legal dimensions that inform the decision-making processes of intended parents, and critically examines how personal desires and societal norms intersect with legal frameworks. The study contextualizes the emotional and psychological challenges faced by intended parents, who often grapple with grief and identity issues when using donor gametes. The research further explores the legal landscape, and focuses on the National Health Act, the Children’s Act, and the Regulations Relating to Artificial Fertilization of Persons, which govern ART practices in South Africa. These Regulations emphasize donor anonymity, informed consent, and the rights of all parties involved, and yet present challenges of balancing privacy with the psychological needs of donor-conceived families. Empirical findings of the research are that intended parents prioritize medical and genetic factors alongside personal and cultural values in their donor selection criteria, and often seek donors who reflect their own identity and familial aspirations. This preference is influenced by societal pressures and the desire for offspring to ‘pass’ as being genetically related. The research underscores the complexity of donor selection in a diverse cultural context, where legal anonymity provisions can conflict with the psychological well-being of donor-conceived children, so necessitating a re-evaluation of these frameworks. This thesis advocates policy reforms that align reproductive rights with the diverse needs of individuals and families, so ensuring equitable access to ART services while protecting the interests of prospective children. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of the psycho-legal dynamics in donor selection, supports intended parents in their fertility journey, and promotes the well-being of all the parties involved. By highlighting the complex interplay between psychological impacts and legal frameworks, the study calls for a balanced and compassionate approach to reproductive law in South Africa.
Solitary Struggle: A critical qualitative evaluation of solitary confinement as a management tool and the impact on inmates’ basic human rights at Ebongweni Correctional Centre in South Africa.
(2025) Naidoo, Samantha.; Peté, Stephen.
Solitary confinement, a deeply entrenched practice in South African prisons, has historical roots extending back to the apartheid era. Despite legislative efforts to restrict its use, the practice persists in facilities like Ebongweni Correctional Centre, a super-maximum-security prison, where concerns have been raised about its potential to violate inmates' constitutional rights and undermine their well-being and rehabilitation prospects. While legal and policy frameworks governing solitary confinement in South Africa have been subject to scholarly review, there is a notable gap in empirical research that examines the actual implementation of these policies and their impact on inmates. This study addresses this gap by critically evaluating the use of solitary confinement as a prison management tool at Ebongweni Correctional Centre. The purpose of the study is to examine its compliance with constitutional and international human rights standards, including the Nelson Mandela Rules, and to assess its effects on inmates' rights, well-being, and prospects for rehabilitation. The research problem stems from the apparent disconnect between policy intent and practice, where solitary confinement appears to function less as a rehabilitative tool and more as a punitive mechanism. Using a qualitative research design, this study employs in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of inmates and staff at Ebongweni. It also incorporates a comprehensive analysis of legal and policy documents, as well as researcher observations. The methodology ensures a multi-faceted understanding of how solitary confinement is implemented and experienced in this unique correctional setting. The findings reveal significant gaps between the legal and policy frameworks governing solitary confinement and their practical application. Solitary confinement practices at Ebongweni appear to fall short of constitutional provisions and international human rights standards. Prolonged isolation is shown to have severe detrimental effects on inmates’ psychological well-being, social functioning, and rehabilitation prospects, raising serious questions about the alignment of these practices with South Africa's constitutional and rehabilitative mandate. These findings have important implications for correctional policy and practice. The study highlights the need for urgent reforms that include evidencebased policies prioritising inmates' human rights and well-being while maintaining institutional safety and security. Key recommendations include strengthening oversight mechanisms, investing in staff training on human rights and rehabilitative principles, and developing alternative management strategies that promote restorative justice and inmates’ reintegration into society. This study contributes to the growing discourse on prison reform in South Africa by providing empirical evidence that underscores the necessity of a paradigm shift in correctional practices. It concludes by affirming that a humane and rights-based approach to incarceration is not only achievable but essential for fostering a just and equitable society.