Browsing by Author "Mutereko, Sybert."

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An analysis of educators' perceptions of the developmental appraisal system: a case study of schools in Richards Bay.
(2017) Mbatha, Misumuzi Felix.; Nzimakwe, Thokozani Ian.; Mutereko, Sybert.
Research has shown that employees engage in Performance Appraisal on an on-going basis to review their current performance and strategize on ways to improve. This view derives from Locke’s conceptualization of goal-setting theory, in which employees set themselves challenging goals to achieve during the appraisal cycle. Educators participate in an appraisal process every year, but unfortunately very little improvement is noticeable in their performance. The pass rates of the learners they teach are not improving. The main aim of this study was to analyse the perceptions of educators regarding the Development Appraisal System as it is constructed within the Department of Education. The study used a mixed-methods approach, which involved survey methods (the administrations of questionnaires to 135 respondents) and in-depth interviews (7) to elicit the views of educators on the implementation of Developmental Appraisal in schools. Through the data analysis this study established that Performance Appraisal is well entrenched in schools. There were, however, challenges related to the quality of its implementation. Educators find the process time consuming and state that there is no time to do justice to the appraisal processes. The data analysis suggests that the training programmes do not respond to the needs of the schools. A further analysis revealed that educators engage in such appraisal largely to fulfil administrative requirements. The consequence is that the scores entered on evaluation instruments and reporting documents are unreliable and misleading, which affects the suitability of the development interventions designed for educators. These findings have critical implications for the Department of Education with regard to monitoring and supporting school managers to run an effective and efficient Developmental Appraisal System.
Analysis of post-secondary correctional education: case of Brandvlei Correctional Centre, Cape Town.
(2018) Miselo, Amanda.; Mutereko, Sybert.
The main aim of this study is explore the provision of PSCE to reduce recidivism amongst offenders studying through NSFAS. Violence in South Africa justifiably ignites anxiety as well as tension and issues about the government’s reaction to crime and violence have turned out to be exceptionally politically charged. The vision of the Department of Correctional Services is to provide the best correctional services for a safer South Africa and more specific to the study, the vision of their formal education department is to be one of the world’s leading providers of formal educational programmes, delivered with respectability and commitment to perfection, to persons assigned to their care. Literature primarily revealed that accumulation of educational achievements may improve employability and income. Secondly, an increase in the educational accomplishments of parents, may positively impact the educational achievements of their children. This may help to curtail the increase of intergenerational crime amongst the segments of the offender population, who were the most likely to reoffend. Research studies increasingly revealed that training levels of guardians were a solid indicator of the educational accomplishments of their children. The study employed a mixed-method approach, involving both quantitative and qualitative methods, utilising in-depth interviews (six), documentary analysis and survey methods (16 questionnaires) to elicit the views of offenders, Department of Correctional Services officials as well as their formal education management unit about the effectiveness of post-secondary correctional education at their centre. The study revealed that offenders felt that the Department of Correctional Services was not investing in improving ways to attract additional offenders into the post-secondary correctional education space. Consequently, offenders sourced information for themselves and registered for their studies to obtain admission into higher education institutions. This finding, also reported in the literature, emphasised that higher education institutions were moving towards online delivery of courses and fewer universities would offer an education to offenders, since it was deemed to be troublesome and tedious. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Department of Correctional Services have a comprehensive awareness programme to emphasise the importance of post-secondary correctional education, in increasing the chances of offenders finding employment upon release, thereby decreasing recidivism. Furthermore, the Department of Correctional Services should afford offenders with the opportunity to work within correctional centres in areas where their skills and qualifications are required.
Analysis of the implementation of performance management and development system: a case study of department of arts and culture in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2017) Ndlovu, Sikhumbuzo Michael.; Mutereko, Sybert.
Studies have shown that employees must be involved in the whole cycle of Performance Management. This view draws upon Locke‟s conceptualization of goal-setting theory in which employees and supervisors in a workplace should set objectives that need to be achieved during the performance cycle. Unfortunately, studies have shown that employees are not involved in the performance planning and setting of their performance targets. This study has sought to explore the implementation of Performance Management in the Department of Arts and Culture in KwaZulu-Natal (DAC-KZN). Drawing on the pragmatism philosophy, the study has employed a mixed-method approach which involved in-depth interviews (six), documentary analysis and survey methods (83 questionnaires) to elicit the views of workers on the implementation of Performance Management in the DAC-KZN. Through documentary analysis, this study has established that there are proper and systematic procedures for Performance Management. However, data gleaned from interviews and surveys show that such procedures are not adhered to. Workers are often excluded from the planning and setting of goals. The quarterly reviews that are meant to assess progress are rarely performed. Training needs that are identified through Performance Management are rarely addressed. A further analysis has revealed that the central tendency is evident when supervisors give performance scores, with most workers being given average scores and few scores being above the average, which adversely affects their motivation. These findings have critical implications for human resources managers in the public sector. The consequence of this is that there is a need to balance the tensions between time constraints and proper Performance Management by involving workers in the whole cycle of Performance Management.
Analyzing accountability in street-level bureaucracy : managing the implementation of national curriculum statements in the mGungundlovu District of South Africa.
(2013) Mutereko, Sybert.; Lawrence, Ralph Bruce.
ii ABSTRACT It has become generally accepted among public policy stakeholders, practitioners and scholars that street – level bureaucrats play a vital role in policy implementation. Because of that, street – level bureaucrats are attracting considerable interest due to their ability to influence policy outcomes through the exercise of their professional discretion and autonomy. On the other hand, there is an immense body of literature covering different techniques public managers can use to hold street – level bureaucrats accountable. Although many studies have been done to investigate the role of management in holding street – level bureaucrats accountable, there are very few such studies in done in South Africa. Our knowledge of the role of management in holding street – level bureaucrats accountable to organisational goals in the education sector of South Africa is largely based on very limited data. The aim of the research was therefore to analyse accountability mechanisms used in managing the implementation of National Curriculum Statements in the education street - level bureaucracy of South Africa. The specific geographical unit of the study was uMgungundlovu District in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The study had five key objectives, each of which is suggestive of a type of accountability: political accountability, performance accountability, hierarchical accountability, legal accountability and professional accountability. In order to understand the different types of accountability used in the implementation of National Curriculum Statements, a comprehensive review of documents was done. This was followed by interviews with six high school principals and surveys with 100 high school educators. The data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. The results from documentary review show that the government was exercising political accountability in education through various policies as well as financing education. However, not many respondents were satisfied with its level of political accountability. The results further show that in line with performance accountability, the government was using performance measures to in order to hold educators accountable among other reasons. With various levels of effectiveness, the government is using different forms of hierarchical, legal and professional accountability mechanisms to hold educators accountable. The findings of this study have shown that there are various forms of accountability used in the implementation of National Curriculum Statements. Each type of accountability has its strengths and weaknesses; therefore, they are not mutually exclusive. The present findings have important implications for our understanding of the role played by management in managing policy implementation in street – level bureaucracies.
The assessment of organizational inclusion in the employment of differently abled people (DAP): a case study of the South African Social Security Agency in KwaZulu Natal.
(2018) Mkhize, Jerome Thokozani.; Ruffin, Fayth Anese.; Mutereko, Sybert.
The public sector organizations have the mandate to ameliorate poverty by not only through the provision of social assistance but develop the community for self-reliance and sustainable economic participation. Previous studies have provided that Differently abled people (DAP) have, and are continuing to be marginalised. Barnes and Mercer, (2008), Marumongae (2012) confirm that the majority of DAP can live independent and productive lives provided they are offered opportunities, resources, adequate environment, dignity and technical aids that allow them to display their potential. Barclay L.A., Markel K.S, and Yugo J.E. (2012) also argue that stigmatization interferes negatively with the integration of DAP into the work environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the organizational inclusion in the employment of DAP with reference to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The mixed method used a combination of both the quantitative and qualitative methods to obtain answers to questions posed by the study. The quantitative research method was used whereby questionnaires were circulated to SASSA employees. Fifty-six respondents returned the completed questionnaires. Some of the questionnaires had additional statements providing more information for the study. Data collected through questionnaires were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Services version 24. Five participants provided their responses during the in-depth face to face interviews. These interviews were conducted to obtain their understanding about the employment of DAP and to gather information on their perceptions about the employment of DAP. Findings from the survey revealed that 64.3% of respondents agreed that SASSA-KZN has adequate policies influencing the employment of DAP. Only 14.7% disagreed. Statements from some participants indicated that they are not aware of the policies that are in place to accommodate DAP. The findings on interviews indicated a minimal diversion where respondents during interviews showed that they were not aware that SASSA-KZN has adequate policies on the employment of DAP this means that education on policies is essential. However, perceptions of SASSA employees are that there should be systems developed to accommodate DAP and they do not have a problem with working with DAP. Findings on the second objective to establish the perceptions of KZN SASSA managers about the that DAP need more time off for medical appointments, they have to be closely monitored and that there are cost implications because of infrastructure improvements. Findings on the third objective aiming to determine how KZN SASSA employees perceive the implementation of the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 with regards to the employment of DAP, survey and interviews agree on the employment of DAP which is a conversion on employee perceptions. Findings on the fourth objective show a conversion on the findings since both the survey and interviews findings reveal that there is no adequate infrastructure and no procurement plans in place to accommodate DAP. The findings have major implications for the employment of DAP by SASSA-KZN. For management and Human Capital management practitioners, the study has the following implications: It may assist them to learn and interpret and consistently communicate all policies to employees across the board since the current finding is that not all employees are aware of the policies on the employment of DAP. Policy makers within SASSA-KZN may learn to ensure that policies and guidelines are implemented effectively to inculcate positive attitudes and perceptions among all employees. This will also assist in closing gaps where employees feel that policies are inactive. The aim of this chapter was to provide a summary of the study, make recommendations and to outline the implications of the study. It has shown that the management of the employment of DAP is poor and not in line with the true sense of transformation. The study has further shown that the environment within SASSA-KZN is not yet adequate to accommodate DAP. The positive side of the findings is that SASSA-KZN does have policies on employing and supporting DAP but on the negative side they are not adequately communicated and properly implemented for effectiveness. Recommendations were that SASSA KZN develops clear systems to accommodate the employment of DAP. It further recommended that adequate infrastructure should be provided in future in order to accommodate the needs of DAP even when the policies of employing them are clear and adequately implemented, employment of DAP showed diversion between survey and interviews on whether it is gainful to employ DAP. Survey findings indicated that it is gainful and on the contrary, interviews indicated that DAP need more time off for medical appointments, they have to be closely monitored and that there are cost implications because of infrastructure improvements. Findings on the third objective aiming to determine how KZN SASSA employees perceive the implementation of the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 with regards to the employment of DAP, survey and interviews agree on the employment of DAP which is a conversion on employee perceptions. Findings on the fourth objective show a conversion on the findings since both the survey and interviews findings reveal that there is no adequate infrastructure and no procurement plans in place to accommodate DAP. The findings have major implications for the employment of DAP by SASSA-KZN. For management and Human Capital management practitioners, the study has the following implications: It may assist them to learn and interpret and consistently communicate all policies to employees across the board since the current finding is that not all employees are aware of the policies on the employment of DAP. Policy makers within SASSA-KZN may learn to ensure that policies and guidelines are implemented effectively to inculcate positive attitudes and perceptions among all employees. This will also assist in closing gaps where employees feel that policies are inactive. The aim of this chapter was to provide a summary of the study, make recommendations and to outline the implications of the study. It has shown that the management of the employment of DAP is poor and not in line with the true sense of transformation. The study has further shown that the environment within SASSA-KZN is not yet adequate to accommodate DAP. The positive side of the findings is that SASSA-KZN does have policies on employing and supporting DAP but on the negative side they are not adequately communicated and properly implemented for effectiveness. Recommendations were that SASSA KZN develops clear systems to accommodate the employment of DAP. It further recommended that adequate infrastructure should be provided in future in order to accommodate the needs of DAP even when the policies of employing them are clear and adequately implemented.
Community involvement in the implementation of the national policy on public-private partnership: a study of infrastructural development in Lagos State, Nigeria.
(2020) Ashade, Oladimeji Abiodun.; Mutereko, Sybert.
Undoubtedly, public-private partnership (PPP) has emerged as a policy tool for infrastructural financing, optimisation and maintenance through an appropriate policy framework. The policy framework of PPP is expected to promote collaborative governance through democratic values in the partnership agenda. These ideals have positively impacted on design and implementation of PPP policy in the developed nations. Ironically, a series of resentments, public outbursts, complaints and agitation that followed the implementation of the National Policy on PPP in Nigeria heightened the need for this study. These unwholesome developments usually arise from the host communities over claims to certain rights or due to their exclusion in certain critical decisions connected to the PPP projects implementation agenda. Using Lagos State, Nigeria as a case study, the researcher draws substantially from the themes of collaborative governance theories among others to examine how the National Policy on PPP in Nigeria aligns with the state’s policy to accommodate the host communities in the infrastructural policy implementation framework (PPP-IPIF). The multi-theoretical approach adopted is premised on the researchers’ pragmatic philosophical orientation to evaluate theories or beliefs in line with practical applications. Hence, data were sourced, presented and analysed using different statistical tools. Conclusions were drawn based on the combined strength of both qualitative and qualitative data using a triangulation/nested method. The major finding of the study suggests that the existing PPP implementation framework has not effectively incorporated the host communities by creating an institutionalised function for them. Therefore, their involvement or non-involvement in project implementation was left to the discretions of private project handlers. The study also established that, beyond compensation, the host communities desired to take an active part in the PPP policy implementation framework. Before this study, our knowledge of PPP infrastructural project governance was sketchy. It is against this background that this study employs the theoretical viewpoints of collaborative governance and participation theories, to advance the knowledge of host community stakeholding in PPP implementation. The study analyses the framework upon which the projects were established and the extent to which participatory values were institutionalised in the collaborative arrangement. The study concluded that PPP is a collaborative governance model whose implementation is still at the experimental stage in Nigeria; the researcher, therefore, develops a workable model as part of the recommendation based on the study’s experiential findings.
Complex adaptive leadership approach in the South African local government: a case of uMzimkhulu Local Municipality, South Africa.
(2023) Ngqoyiya, Andile Christopher.; Mutereko, Sybert.; Ndebele, Nduduzo Comfort.
The South African local governments are faced with a growing trend of service delivery protests from a population that requires an array of high-quality services. To overcome the service delivery challenges faced by South African local government there is a need for strong adaptive leadership. The main objective of this study was to recommend an adaptive complex leadership style towards achieving optimal performance in a specific South African Local Municipality with a view to assisting local government to achieve optimal service delivery and reach set goals of the South African Constitution. This study was conducted in the uMzimkhulu Local Municipality. A mixed-method approach was used. Data were collected through interviews and a survey questionnaire. Qualitative data were analyzed through the use of NVIVO software and quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. A total of 112 respondents completed the questionnaires and 11 participants were interviewed. The findings of this study revealed that effective leadership strategies should be adaptive to complex internal and external environmental factors. Leadership effectiveness is affected by several internal environmental factors. These internal factors include personality clashes among employees, conflicting interests between management, tensions from agent interactions, management unwillingness to embrace innovation, lack of skills among employees, employee lack of passion and a lack of organisational cohesion. External factors affecting leadership included: technology, political influence, public pressure, economic factors and changes in the needs of residents. A model for complex adaptive leadership should include leadership that is enabling, administrative, and adaptive, and must have a combination of different leadership styles. In conclusion the model confirms that leadership is a complex phenomenon as it demands the understanding and appreciation of various factors occurring simultaneously. Leadership decision making requires an understanding such complex internal and external factors. From the study, it is recommended that future studies should focus on understanding the cause of the internal and external complexities affecting leadership in local municipalities.
Democratic consolidation and electoral violence: an analysis of Kogi State, Nigeria and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 1994-2017.
(2019) Yusuf, Ibrahim.; Mutereko, Sybert.
Since the introduction of electoral democracy in South Africa in 1994 after the demise of apartheid, and Nigeria in 1999 following years of military interregnum, democracy has been threatened by many factors, among which election violence is one of them. However, elections in Kogi State, Nigeria and KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa have been plagued by political intrigue, manipulation, violence and destruction. Although tireless efforts are being made to consolidate democracy in Nigeria and South Africa, election violence appears to be impeding this effort. This study "Democratic Consolidation and Electoral Violence: An Analysis of Kogi State, Nigeria and KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa 1994-2017" sought to understand the extent to which election violence undermines democratic consolidation. The study adopted a qualitative research approach using case studies. A structured interview and focus group discussion (FGD) was used to gather data from ten locations- five each from Kogi State and KwaZulu-Natal, respectively. Twenty people were interviewed for this study, among whom the participants included politicians and electorates. In addition, three focus group discussions were conducted in equal proportions: two in KwaZulu-Natal and one was carried out in Kogi State. Thematic and descriptive analyses were both used in aiding to the analysis of the data from this study. Results obtained from the study revealed that election violence undermines the consolidation of democracy in Kogi State and KwaZulu-Natal. Also identified is that election violence affects the pace and space of democratic consolidation in Nigeria and South Africa. Similarly, election violence does not only affect the credibility of elections but is also responsible for the quality of leadership and governance in Nigeria and South Africa. Adding to this constraint is the incorporation of Africa into the international capitalist world through colonialism which is why conflict and electoral violence in Africa cannot be divorced from the current relations with the international system, especially the capitalist west. The study further discovered that most of the politicians in Nigeria and South Africa lack the required qualifications, both political and educational qualifications, and the competence to rule, which best explains the irrational behaviour among the political elite. The study then recommends that election violence must be addressed; the current relations with the West would need to be reviewed and that all politicians must be properly educated headlong if Nigeria and the Republic of South Africa want to make inroads into democratic consolidation.
Evaluating the effectiveness of supply chain management strategy in a TVET college: a case study of Elangeni Technical and Vocational Education and Training College in Durban.
(2018) Mabanga, Sithembiso Ephraim.; Mutereko, Sybert.; Ruffin, Fayth Anese.
This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the supply chain management (SCM) strategy adopted by Elangeni TVET College in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province, in the Republic of South Africa as their procurement tool. Purposive sampling was used through which sixty (60) respondents were identified within the college. This study collected quantitative data using a questionnaire; the findings are presented using tables and graphs. The study employed a survey method to elicit the views of the users and beneficiaries of the supply chain management processes on the effectiveness of the implemented supply management strategy at Elangeni TVET College. Fundamentally, institutions such as Elangeni TVET College by virtue of being the closest to the people play an important role of providing skills through education that aimed at improving lives and standard of living of the young people in the communities where TVET colleges are based. The findings of the study revealed that (i) the beneficiaries of the SCM processes at Elangeni TVET College are satisfied with the SCM strategy adopted by the college as a procurement tool (ii) the stakeholders in the value chain have good experiences of the SCM processes of the college, and (iii) the college has sufficient capacity and resources it needs to support the college to achieve its organizational goals and objectives of delivering quality teaching and learning. The study concluded that Elangeni TVET College has in place functioning SCM processes that play an integral role in assisting the college to deliver services to the students.
Examining financial management of local government in South Africa: a case study of Alfred Duma Local Municipality in KZN.
(2020) Mbatha, Nonzwakazi Pamela.; Mutereko, Sybert.
This study sought to examine the factors affecting financial management in the Alfred Duma Local Municipality (ADLM) in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) Province of South Africa. The study focused on four broad objectives that sought to determine the availability and use of oversight structures for sound financial management, to assess the systems and processes for financial management, to ascertain the level of skills and competencies among municipal officials, and to examine the nature of the relationship between politicians and Municipal administrators with regard to municipal financial management. The study draws on a pragmatic paradigm that was premised on the use of a mixed-methods approach where questionnaire surveys, interviews and documents were used to collect data. The findings of the study revealed that oversight structures that include Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPAC) and Oversight Committees exist although their role is ineffective in safeguarding municipal finances. The findings further acknowledged the existence of processes such as Integrated Development Panning and participatory budgeting towards sound municipal financial management. However, as reported in the findings. Alfred Duma Municipality still needs to upgrade its skills base in the Finance Department to be able to obtain clean audits. The conclusions drawn for this study are that, to achieve sound financial management, the nature of the relationship between politicians and municipal administrators must be well-managed, and skilled people must be hired towards improving community service delivery. The study, therefore, recommends Alfred Duma Municipality to implement regular financial audits through either internal or external auditing procedures. This should help to detect fraud and corruption at an early stage. This can be realised through regular training and development workshops to capacitate the municipal officials through the acquisition of satisfactory financial expertise that should enhance their competencies in monitoring service delivery.
Examining the disaster mitigation efforts in eThekwini Municipality: the case of Umlazi Township in South Africa.
(2019) Ndlovu, Cosmas Buhlebuyeza.; Mutereko, Sybert.
Disaster mitigation in South Africa is characterised by poor implementation of policies, thus there are few interventions that prevent the disaster impact or the reoccurrence of damages. Previous studies (Van Niekerk, 2014; Paton and Johnston, 2017; CoGTA, 2018) have established that stakeholders react to a disaster after it happens and a few measures are then put in place for disaster mitigation. Previous studies, as mentioned above have tended to focus on lack of funds as an impediment to proper disaster mitigation coordination rather than focusing on how implementation of policies or how specific stakeholders can be a weak link in the mitigation process. Using a qualitative research design that employed in-depth interviews with key stakeholders (n = 7) and three focus group discussions (n = 18), this study sought to identify the nature and the degree of disasters and to find out what mitigation strategies were employed by the Municipality and their effectiveness, according to different role players in Umlazi Township eThekwini Municipality. Analysis of data revealed that floods and fire are the most common disasters in Umlazi and the disasters affect everyone in society. Better and stronger infrastructure was a common mitigation strategy recommended by participants. Effectiveness, however, was viewed as being limited. Emerging from the findings is the suggestion that a multi-pronged approach involving cooperation between the communities, ward committees and Municipal disaster management could be the effective means of curbing disasters. This study, which attempted to contribute to the growing corpus of literature and theory on disaster management, points to a need for political will among policymakers to ensure that issues of disaster management are prioritised in budgets and in decision-making.
Exploring curriculum responsiveness for public administration graduate employability: a case of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
(2021) Gumede, Sphamandla Simphiwe.; Mutereko, Sybert.
This study sought to gain an in-depth understanding of the public administration curriculum and how it is responding to the needs of both the students and employers. The study further establishes the extent to which graduates produced at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in the Discipline of Public Governance, are skilled enough and meet the requirements of the employer. Data from several studies reveal that a university that fails to produce qualified graduates does not offer its graduates the opportunity to compete with the outside world which then leads to a high unemployment rate. The literature review revealed that graduates need to possess qualities that assist them to take adaptive, proactive approaches to their careers, which involves managing their employability. Developing graduates’ attributes through effective communication between UKZN, School of Public Governance, and the employer requires commitment and support from management for the process to become successful. A mixed-method approach was employed to collect, analyse, and interpret the qualitative and quantitative data, which included the administration of questionnaires to UKZN academic staff, and to students/graduates at all study levels at the UKZN particularly those who are enrolled in the Public Administration course at the School of Management, Information Technology and Governance. The study conducted seven online in-depth interviews, and one online focus group discussion involving first-year students and undertook an online survey involving fifty-seven students from the Public Administration discipline. Parametric inferential analysis was used to provide a detailed understanding of the study population through the study sample, it helped generalise the results. The findings reveal that the discipline of Public Administration curriculum is in line with the Employability Model. It further reveals that there are challenges that compromise the skills development of students/graduates. Findings also revealed that there is space for improvement in all challenges that were posed during the study. The study further recommends that the input of public sector employers will make the Public Administration curriculum more effective. The study also recommends that the allocation of sufficient resources is necessary to achieve the skills development of students/graduates in the Public Administration discipline.
Exploring the effects of collaborative global health partnerships in the Ministry of Health and Child Care's monitoring and evaluation systems in Zimbabwe.
(2022) Grand, Zacharia.; Mutereko, Sybert.
Global Health Partnership support for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) policy and practice has strengthened Zimbabwe's public health system. Recent evidence suggests that hybrid governance systems such as partnerships can play an essential role in co-producing and co financing public health policies and programmes. Most public governance studies have embraced this approach as progressive. However, scholarly arguments on collaborative partnerships have missed an opportunity to fully investigate their effects on local health systems from a critical constructivist and dialogic policy approach to capture local partner reflexivity and resistance to external influence in public health policy planning and implementation. As a result, the current scholarly approaches to the collaborative partnership discourse have failed to account for the limits of agentive reflexivity in a global public health space tilting towards neoliberalism. This study used a qualitative case study approach, drawing from the Collaborative Governance of Partnership and Critical Discourse analytic frameworks to illuminate the effects of dialogic and discursive soft power encounters and its impact on M&E policy and practice in Zimbabwe. Data were collected using a documentary review of M&E policies and key informant interviews with Ministry of Health M&E staff. The findings suggest that collaborative partnerships for health have resulted in (un)intended effects that include digital exclusion of local partners, competition among partners, threats to sovereignty, fear of job losses, brain drain from government among other unanticipated challenges. As a result, the study argues that collaborative partnerships for M&E are contested spaces in which Global Health Partners(GHPs) revive old paternalistic aid tactics through control of governing rationalities that promote the local reproduction of neoliberal, market oriented ideas that influence and shape the ‘co-creation’ of M&E policies in Zimbabwe. The study further observes that the Ministry as a local partner apply various soft power strategies that include victimhood, extravesion,obsfucation and discourse control to counter GHP influence contrary to the key tenets of collaborative partnership for M&E. The study concludes that government counter-discourse and soft power strategies are perverse reflections and performative reproductions of neoliberal rationalities by converted local responsible agents who (un)knowingly contribute to maintaining partnership power imbalances in favour of Global Health Partners.
Exploring the effects of public sector outsourcing on support service workers: the cases of two outsourced companies in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2019) Mthembu, Zamazulu Fanelesibonge.; Mutereko, Sybert.
Evidence found in the literature suggests that New Public Management is among the most important approaches to effect reform in the public sector by promoting reliance on the private sector for the delivery of services. Data from several studies suggest that the public sector has engaged private companies by outsourcing the non-core services for improving service delivery, lowering government expenditure and creating opportunities for employment. Recently, the public sector has been encountering labour unrest by contract workers, protesting against the outsourcing of support services. The research to date has tended to focus more on outsourcing to improve efficiency rather than its impact on all parties involved. This research sought to explore how the employees and contract companies perceive outsourcing and how outsourcing has affected them. Using a concurrent mixed method approach, this study collected data from two private contract companies that are providing cleaning services to various government departments in KwaZulu-Natal. The study conducted three in-depth interviews with managers, held two focus group discussions and undertook 51 surveys with workers from the two companies. While some participants in this study were conveniently selected, others were purposefully selected. The analysis showed that outsourced workers perceive outsourcing as a government initiative to create job opportunities and to reduce its costs, but it has somehow resulted in their exploitation. In as much as workers appreciate that they receive their wages and benefits in accordance with the employment agreement, they expressed their dissatisfaction with their monthly wages, which cannot meet most of their basic needs. Another reported problem was the lack of meaningful benefits. A three-year contract of employment, may imply that their future is uncertain. They may also be working in an unhealthy environment. The statistical analysis of the data gathered in this study compared the responses of workers from the two companies and there was insignificant variation that was evident between the two sets of responses. The upshot of this study is that government departments and policymakers need to understand the experiences of the outsourced workers with regard to how outsourcing has affected them socially and economically. A key ethical implication of this study is that outsourcing may be benefitting the contract companies with little benefits to outsourced workers. Instead, it might have led to unethical as well as unintended exploitation of these workers by their employers. An implication of this is that the conditions of employment of contracted workers should be revisited by policymakers. Practitioners in both the private sector and the government should seriously consider the plight of such workers in the planning and implementation of outsourcing. Although this study was limited in terms of scope and in the number of cases studied, hopefully, it provides valuable theoretical and practical insights that future studies on outsourcing can draw on.
Exploring the implementation of the monitoring and evaluation system in local government: a case study of eThekwini Municipality.
(2019) Nonyane, Cenderela Phindile.; Mutereko, Sybert.
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) can play an important role in addressing issues of non-performance in Local Government and assist municipalities to strengthen good governance by ensuring effective accountability and responsibility of officials. There is a growing body of literature that recognises M&E as an effective tool to improve the quality of programmes and project planning. It also serves as an early warning indicator for management. Researchers have not used M&E much for Local Government studies possibly because there has been a struggle with Local Government to implement the M&E system. Although all government departments have included M&E in their processes, there is still a challenge of ensuring effectiveness of the M&E system. The purpose of this study is to explore the implementation of M&E in Local Government, with the specific objective of determining the efficacy of the system in place. Information for this research was gathered using the mixed method approach. Both the qualitative and the quantitative methods of data collection were used in this investigation. This involved the use of a survey questionnaire, in-depth interviews and document reviews in order to obtain the views of the eThekwini Municipal employees on the application of the M&E system and its effectiveness. The study found that after analysis of the results of the survey questionnaire and interviews, there were gaps in the implementation of the M&E system, whilst document reviews established that policies in place are not reviewed and are mostly implemented as drafts. Opinions differed as to whether the M&E system of eThekwini Municipality was effective or not. This view was of concern to respondents judging from the number of service delivery protest at eThekwini and the clean Audit reports the Municipality keeps receiving. There was no proof that the existing M&E at eThekwini Municipality has an influence on the performance of the Municipality. Overall, this study strengthens the idea that the existing monitoring system at eThekwini should be enhanced. Ethekwini Municipality needs to establish an evaluation system that is in compliance with the Government–wide Monitoring and Evaluation (GWM&E) system This dissertation will attempt to provide a deeper insight into the implementation of the evaluation system using the Theory of Change (ToC) and the Logical framework. There are significant alterations to be made to Local Government practise before a full M&E system according to the GWM&E framework can be put in place.
An investigation of the implementation of the training and development programme in the department of arts and culture, head office: KwaZulu-Natal.
(2016) Mohlomi, Nolufefe Matyholo.; Mutereko, Sybert.
Training and development of employees is encouragedby the Skills Development Act (97 of 1998) which encourages organisations to develop employees and to instill a culture of learning in the workplace. To further ensure that training and development is achieved, organisations should have systems and strategies in place that are linked to the highlighted strategies. This study aims to investigate and to get the insights of employees into the overall implementation of training and development in the Department of Arts and Culture, which seems to be lacking. There is no systematic training and development process that is followed to guide the overall impementation and evaluation of the programme. Training needs for employees are conducted in this Department. However the implementation and allocation of thetraining programme is not clear. People at lower levels are complaining that they do not get training programmes allocated to them and, because of this, they are not productive. The main objective of this study was to investigate the Implementation of training and Development in the KZN Arts and Culture Department. The objectives of the study include: To examine how the training needs are identified in the Department of Arts and Culture and to prioritise the training and development of employees. To determine how the allocation and implementation of training programmes are conducted at the KZN Department of Arts and Culture and to ensure that all employees get access to training. To assess whether or not there are any challenges encountered by employees and the Human Resource Manager in the delivery of training in the KZN Department of Arts and Culture. To establish whether or not training and development programmes in the KZN Department of Arts and Culture get evaluated to assess their success or failure. This study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Stratified purposive sampling was utilised in this study. The research sample included thirty-eight participants. The study used questionnaires to collect data. Quantitative data was analysed through the application of the SPSS 23. Qualitative data was also analysed using thematic analysis. Thereafter, findings of the study were analysed, interpreted and discussed. This study has shown that there is overwhelming evidence to substantiate the claim that training and development is not adequately provided for in the KZN Arts and Culture division. Whilst training - needs analysis is conducted, the findings revealed that training programmes are rarely provided for the respondents. Additionally, the findings have shown that there is no systematic training and development model used by the KZN Department of Arts and Culture. This study revealed that there are challenges that negatively impact on the implementation of training and development, including lack of budget and delays in supply - chain logistics. Further to that, the findings have shown that training and development is not evaluated in the KZN Department of Arts and Culture. Therefore, these results indicate that the policy and strategies of the Department regarding training and development should be reviewed. Failing which, the Department is going to continue to have unskilled labour or incompetent workers. The Human Resource Practitioners should ensure the provision of systematic training and development of the workers.
Policy implementation and street-level bureaucrats' discretion, autonomy and coping mechanisms : a case study of national curriculum statements at a school in Pietermaritzburg.
(2009) Mutereko, Sybert.; Lawrence, Ralph Bruce.
The link between public policies and their desired outcomes has remained an important subject among scholars and policy makers. Public policies made at the ‘top’ will have to be implemented at local level by street-level bureaucrats who enjoy a considerable degree of autonomy and discretion in the execution of their duties. The implementation of the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) by teachers (street-level bureaucrats) is one such case. Using Lipsky’s streetlevel bureaucracy as a theoretical framework, this study sought to explore the levels of discretion, autonomy and coping mechanisms employed by school teachers at a private Christian school in Pietermaritzburg in the implementation of the NCS. The study sought to discover if the exercise of autonomy and discretion enhanced the implementation of NCS. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected by the insider participant using interviews with school teachers and observational methods. Analyses revealed that school teachers have considerable discretion in determining the kind of task they assign their learners. However, there were no significant relationships according to the level of discretion and teaching experience or level of professional qualifications. Furthermore, the study shows that most teachers made discretional choices to advance the goals of the Department of Education and to enhance the understating of learners. Factors which forced these teachers to use their discretion are due to poorly defined goals, inadequate resources and excessive workloads. In the face of challenges associated with their work, the teachers employ coping mechanisms which include ‘creaming’, private goal definition, modification of the conception of work, ‘rubber stamping’, referrals and real or psychological withdrawal. The findings of this study also show that school management through routine supervision and the Department of Education’s Common Tasks Assessments (CTAs) as well as national examinations curtail the autonomy and discretion of teachers in the implementation of NCS. The research reveals that the combination of individual decisions made by each street-level bureaucrat in effect constitute the policy of NCS through its implementation at school. The findings also underscore the need for management at all levels to find ways of harnessing the discretion of street-level bureaucrats which enhance the Department of Education’s goals and curb those which hamper policy implementation.
Public participation and collaborative governance in Zimbabwean flea markets: a case study of the City of Harare.
(2019) Mapfumo, Linos.; Mutereko, Sybert.
Public participation can play an important role in addressing developmental, governance and administrative challenges being faced by local authorities. Studies have shown that a highly participatory and engaged public determines the county’s level of development and this enhances participatory democracy. Drawing upon Sherry Arnstein’s typology of the ladder of participation and Mathew A. Crenson’s democratic model of public participation, the study explored public participation in the City of Harare. It also looked at Harare’s public participation framework and the role of stakeholders in the governance of the informal sector. It argues that participation is far from being achieved due to a multiplicity of factors. The study employed a mixed-methods approach which involved documentary analysis, in-depth interviews (32), and survey methods (165 questionnaires). By employing qualitative and quantitative methods of enquiry, I attempted to illuminate how Zimbabwean local government policymakers utilise public participation legislation within the context of collaborative governance. Furthermore, through the use of mixed methods design, the study sought to provide evidence for the validity of the hypothesis and find solutions to the inherent weaknesses that currently exist in Zimbabwe’s local government sphere when it comes to public participation. The results indicate that despite the introduction of a progressive constitution and the existence of various participatory mechanisms, various challenges continue to inhibit public participation in Harare. These include lack of funding, continued central government intervention, re-centralisation of governance due to loss of political power by the ruling party, political polarization, resistance by administrators to co-opt the public in decision-making processes and failure to adapt to change. The findings will be of interest to local government practitioners and scholars alike as they have a number of practical implications. The results of this study indicate that there is a need to put in place a robust legislative framework that promotes citizenry involvement and de-link party politics with development and governance of local authorities. A key policy priority should, therefore, be to inculcate a culture of inclusivity, tolerance, and de-centralisation of power and governance. Overall, this study strengthens the idea that public participation is sacrosanct and vital for political and economic development.
Public participation in the development of one stop development centres : a case study of the Mboza one stop development centre in Umhlabuyalingana Local Municipality.
(2017) Zungu, Mazwendoda Thandokuhle.; Mutereko, Sybert.
The study is an assessment of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government’s policy approach regarding the introduction of the Mboza One Stop Development Center (OSDC), an endeavor which is being spearheaded by the Provincial Department of Social Development (DSD). The focus of the study is on the Mboza OSDC, which is based at Mboza (in the uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality). The study asked numerous questions on topics significant to the development of OSDCs with the aims of speeding up integrated service delivery and decentralizing essential services to poor communities. The study also explored the broad theoretical framework, public participation and policy implementation in context. Public participation is at the center of this enquiry. The study employed both, qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection including fieldwork, interviews and surveys. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24 and Microsoft Excel was used to create diagrams. The findings of the study in relation to the key issues investigated revealed the relevance of the OSDCs, mostly in the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. It was further found that stakeholders had a significant role to play during the development of the Mboza OSDC. The investigation of the levels of participation concentrated on the degree of citizen power exercised and the degree of tokenism. The communities with OSDCs, such as Mboza, enjoy the benefit of having services offered locally at minimal cost. Thus, public participation proved to be fruitful in the development of the Mboza OSDC.
Racial integration in post-apartheid South African desegregated high schools: a case study of multi-racial teacher perspectives at one high school in the Western Cape.
(2022) Chetty, Kumresh Sivalingum.; Mutereko, Sybert.
The literature reveals the deleterious role of race and racism and its impact on society, particularly at post-apartheid desegregated schools, including the concomitant racial integration challenges. It also suggests that Critical Race Theory (CRT) is among the most apt approaches to effect social change and social justice at these beleaguered schools. Data/research from several studies highlights that racism and racist incidents have plagued post-apartheid desegregated schools since the advent of democracy. Most recently, media reports have again highlighted newer cases of racism and racist incidents taking place at post-apartheid desegregated schools. The field of research interest focusing on teachers in relation to the challenges of reintegration in post-apartheid schools has not been totally exhausted. The research to date has tended to focus more on teacher reactions and responses but rarely propound teacher-led initiatives and interventions. This research study sought to explore how teacher-led initiatives and interventions relate to their directly addressing the challenges of racial integration in post-apartheid desegregated schools, especially the schools in which they actually teach. This research project was a mono-method interpretivist qualitative study. It employed one qualitative data collection method and a corresponding qualitative analysis procedure. Purposeful or judgmental sampling was the sampling procedure used to select the research participants. Data was collected through interviews from four multi-racial teachers who were based at President High School in the Western Cape. The computer-aided qualitative analysis of the data gathered through thematic analysis compared the responses of the four teachers. It indicated that there was significant variation in their responses based on race. This was beneficial due to their intimate knowledge of the racial integration challenges faced at post-apartheid desegregated schools. This related to a disjuncture between policy and practice; teachers lacked formal conflict management skills which were needed to teach in racially diverse classrooms. This Political Science study highlights that the national and provincial departments of education need to be cognisant of the research inputs and outputs of teachers as political actors. This is informed by their interventions and recommendations in addressing the current educational crises of racism and racist incidents taking place at schools.