Browsing by Author "Luthuli, Nomkhosi Hlengiwe."

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7

Assessing the transition of the Durban International Airport to King Shaka International Airport: implications for the establishment of an airport city.
(2019) Mpondi, William Nhlanhla.; Luthuli, Nomkhosi Hlengiwe.
The reason for the transition of airports from one area to another is to create either a positive impact on economic growth or a negative impact on stimulation of economic activities. The transition of the Durban International Airport to King Shaka International Airport (development as airport city/ aerotropolis) was a plan that was facilitated by KwaZulu-Natal democratic government. The purpose of this transition was to facilitate the growth of economic development in a province which is faced with poverty, unemployment and inequality (Robins et al, 2011). Airlines that were operating at the Durban International Airport were those airlines with short haul but the long haul could not be accommodated by the airport due to the short runway and there was no space to develop the airport further (Van Turenhout, 2012).The study aims to assess the transition of the Durban International Airport to the King Shaka International Airport: Implications of the airport city/aerotropolis. The study will gather the information which underlines the importance of the transition; the impact of the development of the airport city/aerotropolis and the role it played in economic development of the province. Data was collected through face to face interviews with the stakeholders that were and still are involved in the transition of the Durban International Airport to the King Shaka International airport and development of the airport city/aerotropolis. The results show that the transition has benefited the province by growing the economy of the province and the creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZ’s) which are accommodating different forms of industry (DTP Annual Report, 2017/18). The results will assist in the development of the body of knowledge and there is a huge possibility for further development of the study in the areas of SEZ’s.
Cost recovery strategies for non-revenue water at eThekwini Municipality.
(2020) Ncala, Thabo.; Luthuli, Nomkhosi Hlengiwe.
Water utilities worldwide lose a total of $141 billion per year (R2357.52 billion) in revenues due to non-revenue water (NRW). South Africa (SA) is losing revenue approximated at R7.2 billion annually due to water-loss scourge; eThekwini Municipality (EM) is losing R700 million annually due to its NRW currently sitting at 50 percent, whereas 15 percent is internationally accepted best practice. NRW of 50 percent is apparent and real losses, 15 percent and 35 percent respectively. The aim of the research is to explore cost recovery strategies for NRW at EM by; determining NRW key drivers; investigating extent, effects and implications; exploring effective and efficient information and communications technology support systems (I&CTSS); adopting effective and efficient cost recovery software programs; and by assessing effective and efficient billing and metering systems. This is a qualitative desktop analysis research of content such as: the state of NRW in SA, NRW global best practices, quantifying global NRW problem, SA’s Municipal utilities assessments & audits on NRW, Water-loss management and NRW reduction, Guidelines of reducing NRW in SA, from; the DWS and WRC Reports, M. Farley, A. Lambert, R. Liemberger, A. Wyatt, R. McKenzie & V. Kanakoudis. Findings of the research: determined the key drivers of NRW as the unmetered properties such as rural and informal settlements, hostels, low-cost housing, firefighting equipment, high burst rate and leakages, overflowing frequency of water pipes and reservoirs respectively, slow response to burst and leaks due to human capital and plant capacity issues. Water purchased from Umgeni Water Board, EWS could only account for 59.4 percent, and 40.6 percent was recorded as water loss. Over the years EWS used numerous (I&CTSS) tools such as; WhatsApp Hotline, e-Services, c-Services, online/email services, App, Toll-free numbers, SMS Hotline, Facebook Page etc. Revenue Management System (RMS) is challenging in many instances and disruptive on daily operational functions and duties of EWS. Water Conservation and Water Demand Management (WC/WDM) Business Plan and strategy is recommended; to reduce system input volume, increase water reuse, install water meters, ensure clean audits, increase billed metered consumption, introduce flat rate, enforce water supply By-Laws and apply tariff amendments.
An exploration of the conceptualisation and enactment of regional economic development through an analysis of the Durban aerotropolis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2017) Luthuli, Nomkhosi Hlengiwe.; Houghton, Jennifer Alice.
This study explores the conceptualisation and enactment of regional economic development (RED) through an analysis of the Durban Aerotropolis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study is undertaken during a time where the process of globalisation is progressively increasing the importance of regional processes and the role of local actors in shaping development trajectories (Ascani, Crescenzi & Iammarino, 2012). These regional processes imply practical action going beyond the limits of traditional local economic initiatives (Amin, 1999) commonly referred to in the South African context and in other parts of the world as local economic development (LED). In this regard, the major problem prompting the enquiry in this study is the tendency of vagueness and ambiguity in the discourse of policy documents and government strategies relating to regionally inclined processes. More specifically, while the Durban Aerotropolis Strategy alludes to the impact of the Durban Aerotropolis on the development of the region and connecting regional economies, the conceptual vagueness of such allusions has consequences for both theoretical and empirical RED research as well as implications for economic development policy development and implementation. This calls for deconstruction of the relevant development discourse to provide a clearer conceptualisation of RED. The problems just mentioned are further compounded by a nomenclature shift in South African practitioner circles with incorporation of issues pertaining to the ‘region’ and associated difficulties, in what was hitherto confined to more specifically local issues of economic development. These difficulties relate to the way economic development practitioners proceed with their work in the absence of a context-specific conceptualisation of RED, coupled with lack of understanding of the nature of RED projects and of how they are implemented. To find solutions to these problems, the study examines the conceptualisation of the region inherent in RED through the Durban Aerotropolis. It seeks to understand the enactment of RED through collaborative and cooperative governance mechanisms and through agglomeration and clustering of business activity, and it explores coordinated investments for regional marketing within the Durban Aerotropolis. This was done using exploratory qualitative research within a social constructivist paradigm in which respondents were selected using a purposive sampling approach. The data was collected through in-depth, face-to-face interviews and analysed using a thematic analysis technique. The findings of the study reveal that function, form and scale are central characteristics of the way that the region is conceptualised in the case of the Durban Aerotropolis as an instance of RED. Here, function is the purpose of a RED project, form refers to the kind of economic development mechanism or strategy that could assist in fulfilling that purpose, and the scalar characteristics establish the extent, reach and magnitude of the project—factors that have a direct bearing on the practical enactment or implementation of RED projects. It also emerged from the study that regional conceptualisation should be done by the various stakeholders of the project who have a responsibility to see it succeed through collaborative and cooperative governance. Furthermore, RED enactment entails agglomeration and clustering of business activity which can be achieved by attracting people and investment. This, however, requires coordination of efforts for regional marketing in which stakeholders work on the competitive advantage of their region through development of infrastructure, skills development and capacity building, and provision of incentives. Overall, the study establishes that conceptualisation of RED entails defining the objectives of RED and that it precedes RED enactment. However, RED enactment requires two facilitative mechanisms which are collaborative and cooperative governance, together with coordinated investments and collaborative efforts for regional marketing – to achieve the desired outcome of RED, which is an agglomeration and cluster economy with its associated externalities. The study has thus contributed to the conceptual clarification of regionally inclined processes of the Durban Aerotropolis. This will subsequently assist in theoretical and empirical RED research as well as economic development policy development and implementation. The study will also help to establish clearer and simpler nomenclature shift and will impact the work of economic development practitioners by making provision for a context-specific conceptualisation of RED and will provide new knowledge that will add significantly to understanding of the nature of RED projects and their implementation.
The impact of corporate culture on training and development at Polyoak Packaging, Pinetown.
(2015) Zuma, Phillip Mduduzi.; Bozas, Alexander Robert.; Luthuli, Nomkhosi Hlengiwe.
Training and development is an important component for the performance and sustainability of all organisations. Different organisations have different cultures that influence how they do things in a particular way. The research problem concerns the existence of corporate culture and its impact on training and development. The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of corporate culture on training and development at Polyoak Packaging in Pinetown in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It will recommend practices that will lead to improved employee engagement and better understanding of corporate culture, to ensure that after training, implementation of knowledge and skills is happening, hence improving performance, and productivity in the organisation. A qualitative research study was for the purpose of this study undertaken to solve the problem. Qualitative data was collected using an open-ended interview schedule developed specifically for this study by the author. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select 5 managers, 7 production setters, and 13 packers from the business units of Polyoak Packaging in Pinetown. The collected data was analysed using thematic analysis to assign information and concepts to the various research questions. The research findings showed a general agreement that corporate culture has an influence on training and employees’ commitment, and ultimately improvement of performance and productivity in the organisation. Conclusions from the study are that communication before and after training; knowledge sharing; and the workplace environment; trainees’ support for skills transfer after training; and continuous evaluation and monitoring post training are essential and core parts of an organisation to improve its activities and sustain competitiveness in the industry it serves.
The investigation of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the University of Kwazulu-Natal foundation’s fundraising efforts.
(2022) Kokoropo, Tebelo.; Luthuli, Nomkhosi Hlengiwe.
ABSTRACT The study investigates the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the fundraising efforts of the UKZN Foundation. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has made a devastating impact on the lives of many people and the economies of many countries. The pandemic affected a lot of sectors in the economy including the higher education sector. The University of Kwazulu-Natal was under pressure to ensure they provide the required tools to carry out online learning and teaching. The UKZN Foundation, which remains the fundraising arm of the University of Kwazulu-Natal, had a responsibility to appeal to both existing and potential donors to support the university in light of the pandemic and the demands that came with it. The UKZN Foundation had to formulate strategies and plans to ensure they alleviate the pressure from the university by appealing for more funds. The outbreak of the pandemic affected the state funding for universities substantially, the education department had to reallocate funds so to prioritize challenges brought about by the outbreak of the pandemic. The outbreak caused universities to undergo a serious financial strain. Universities had to review their budgets so to ensure they remain afloat and can carry their day-to-day costs. Due to financial pressures experienced by the UKZN in light of the pandemic, thirdstream income became a priority to support university needs. Despite organizations holding back, as far as pledging is concerned due to Covid-19, the UKZN Foundation is still required to appeal, and source funds to support the university. This study's objectives centred around establishing whether the UKZN foundation was able to achieve its income and donor targets in light of the Covid-19 pandemic; exploring the extent to which the foundation has been impacted in meeting project demands; investigating whether the foundation's stakeholders and relationship management have been affected by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and establishing if the foundation was able to remain in alignment with the requirements of the UKZN strategy in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.A qualitative research method was adopted for this study and interviews were conducted with external donors, UKZN foundation management staff, and other UKZN employees. The findings from the study indicate that despite the economic pressure brought about by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, the UKZN Foundation was able to raise a substantial amount of funds to support the university to provide effective remote teaching and learning in the light of the pandemic. This study shows that the pandemic brought a lot of challenges to the academic sector and that the University of Kwazulu-Natal endured a lot of financial pressure. Despite the economic pressures, the UKZN Foundation was able to appeal to donors to support the University of Kwazulu-Natal. The UKZN Foundation was instrumental in supporting the university with its remote learning and teaching funding requirements. Key words: Covid-19 pandemic, Philanthropic funding, UKZN Foundation, UKZN.
The role of Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) on the sustainable local economic development of KwaMbonambi and Sokhulu communities.
(2020) Tloubatla, Makitimela Anthony.; Luthuli, Nomkhosi Hlengiwe.
Abstract available in PDF.
The investigation of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the University of KwaZulu-Natal Foundation’s fundraising efforts.
(2022) Kokoropo, Tebelo.; Luthuli, Nomkhosi Hlengiwe.
TThe study investigates the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the fundraising efforts of the UKZN Foundation. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has made a devastating impact on the lives of many people and the economies of many countries. The pandemic affected a lot of sectors in the economy including the higher education sector. The University of Kwazulu-Natal was under pressure to ensure they provide the required tools to carry out online learning and teaching. The UKZN Foundation, which remains the fundraising arm of the University of Kwazulu-Natal, had a responsibility to appeal to both existing and potential donors to support the university in light of the pandemic and the demands that came with it. The UKZN Foundation had to formulate strategies and plans to ensure they alleviate the pressure from the university by appealing for more funds. The outbreak of the pandemic affected the state funding for universities substantially, the education department had to reallocate funds so to prioritize challenges brought about by the outbreak of the pandemic. The outbreak caused universities to undergo a serious financial strain. Universities had to review their budgets so to ensure they remain afloat and can carry their day-to-day costs. Due to financial pressures experienced by the UKZN in light of the pandemic, thirdstream income became a priority to support university needs. Despite organizations holding back, as far as pledging is concerned due to Covid-19, the UKZN Foundation is still required to appeal, and source funds to support the university. This study’s objectives centred around establishing whether the UKZN foundation was able to achieve its income and donor targets in light of the Covid-19 pandemic; exploring the extent to which the foundation has been impacted in meeting project demands; investigating whether the foundation’s stakeholders and relationship management have been affected by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and establishing if the foundation was able to remain in alignment with the requirements of the UKZN strategy in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. iii A qualitative research method was adopted for this study and interviews were conducted with external donors, UKZN foundation management staff, and other UKZN employees. The findings from the study indicate that despite the economic pressure brought about by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, the UKZN Foundation was able to raise a substantial amount of funds to support the university to provide effective remote teaching and learning in the light of the pandemic. This study shows that the pandemic brought a lot of challenges to the academic sector and that the University of Kwazulu-Natal endured a lot of financial pressure. Despite the economic pressures, the UKZN Foundation was able to appeal to donors to support the University of Kwazulu-Natal. The UKZN Foundation was instrumental in supporting the university with its remote learning and teaching funding requirements.