Browsing by Author "Rieker, Mark Ivan."

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Agenda setting analysis of hydraulic fracturing in South Africa : an application of Kingdon's agenda setting theory.
(2016) Koetlisi, Nthabiseng Gertrude.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
This dissertation unpacks the agenda setting process of energy as a policy issue from 2008 to 2015. It explores how and why hydraulic fracturing emerged and developed as a policy alternative in this regard. The agenda setting theory of John Kingdon is applied to guide this analysis. Agenda setting examines how problems gain the attention of government so that policy alternatives can be examined and identified. Kingdon explained this process through three analytical streams: the problem stream, the policy stream, and the political stream, and discussed how their convergence can result in a policy window wherein an issue comes to the attention of policy makers and policy alternatives can be developed and decisions can be taken. A qualitative research methodology was employed to explore all the events and the participation of different actors which led to the identification of hydraulic fracturing as a policy alternative. Data was collected through documentary analysis and was analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. The findings of this study have reflected the agenda setting theory of John Kingdon. As Kingdon has argued, when the three streams are coupled together, it is an appropriate time to address the problem and for a policy change. This is applicable in this study: the energy problem was recognised, and a suitable policy solution was attached to problem, accompanied with a change in the political stream. The window opens when the three streams are coupled together. The window opened in 2008 when the energy problem became intense, during the period when the country experienced load shedding. This was when the energy problem was considered a crisis that demanded attention. Policy entrepreneurs advocating for hydraulic fracturing saw the window of opportunity and pushed for their proposals to government decision makers. A change in the political stream was also experienced. Important government decision makers like the President and other administrators were interested in solving the energy crisis and were in support of hydraulic fracturing. They considered hydraulic fracturing as a feasible solution to the energy crisis.
An analysis of public participation in the integrated development planning processes of the Hibiscus Coast Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2014) Gumbi, Lihle.; Lawrence, Ralph Bruce.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
The importance of the concept of public participation continues to gain great momentum in the circles of local government in South Africa. Public participation is a way of ensuring that local government is responsive to that which the public prioritizes as their development needs. Public participation in South Africa is very important as it is the backbone of the democratic state that the 1994 general elections introduced. In response to the importance of public participation in the local government, the South African government has passed several statutes to ensure that substance and emphasis is given to the country’s local government sphere. These statutes include, amongst others, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, the Municipal Structures Act 1998, the Municipal Systems Act 2000 and the Municipal Finance Management Act 2003. It is at the local government sphere where the public participation is primarily applied in order to promote both good governance and a responsive local government. This research project is an analysis of public participation in the integrated development planning processes of the Hibiscus Coast Local Municipality. This study acknowledges that public participation is an important component of transformation and democratization of local government. Legislation alone cannot meet this requirement and more still needs to be done to truly enhance public participation in local government. This study found that despite legislation that provides for the structures that the public must use to participate in the integrated development planning processes in the Hibiscus Coast local municipality; there is a need for the Hibiscus Coast municipality to develop its own conceptualization and understanding of public participation. Moreover, proper mechanisms need to be established to enhance the participation of the local communities and stakeholders in the municipality’s integrated development processes. The study is primarily based on qualitative data collected from the Hibiscus Coast Local Municipality through personal interviews with councillors, officials and ward committee members, review of local government statutes and literature providing knowledge on the subject under study.
Assessing policy responses of African states and international actors on the threats of transnational terrorism to Africa's security and stability : a case study of Kenya.
(2015) Zondi, Sikhumbuzo.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
Contemporary global state of affairs is faced with one of the most malicious phenomenon’s that has evolved over time but at a pace incomparable to its present outlook. Transnational terrorism and the war against it have come to define the age in which we live. The threat of terrorist attacks and the measures taken by governments around the world to prevent such atrocities are now part of our daily lives. Terrorism has been occurring for many centuries, however the twenty first century has witnessed the most brutal and deadliest acts of transnational terrorism ever recorded in history. Transnational terrorism is affecting all corners of the world and hardly a day passes without any acts of terrorism being reported in the media, from the United States of America to Australia, from Kenya to France, from Indonesia to Afghanistan and from the Middle East to West Africa. Terrorism is everywhere and it seeks to redefine the international state system, the legitimacy of sovereign states to protect their citizens and to introduce new legal norms governing the behavior of states. In Africa terrorism is a recently new phenomenon but it has made it existence felt on the security and stability of the continent, owing largely to other pressing factors that when combined threatens the security and stability of Africa, thus making it difficult for the continent to develop and advance its socio-economic and political objectives. Africa has witnessed some of the most horrifying acts of transnational terrorism from the Boko Haram attacks in northern Nigeria, Chad and Cameroun to Al-Shabaab attacks in Kenya. Also from al-Qaeda attacks in Somalia to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) attacks in Tunisia. Africa’s security and stability are being seriously threatened by transnational terrorism and collective policy responses from all levels of analysis by all actors of international politics appears the only remedy against this phenomenon. With this in mind, this study seeks to examine the historical evolution of transnational terrorism in Africa. It also tries to assess the causes and policy responses made by both African and international state and non-state actors against the menace of transnational terrorism. The research uses Kenya as a case study to provide an in-depth analysis of the threat and collective policy responses to transnational terrorism. Finally, it assesses the implications of transnational terrorism on Africa’s security and stability and concludes with recommendations on how to collectively combat transnational terrorism.
The AU and ICC's disagreement over the 2007/8 Kenya's post-election violence : a challenge to post conflict reconstruction in Africa.
(2014) Makanda, Joseph.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
Ever since the unprecedented post-election violence that rocked Kenya in 2007/8, a lot of ink has been poured in explaining its causes and how to avert future recurrence of similar violence in Kenya. To-date, many commentators have turned their attention to the AU’s discontent on the ICC process in post-2007/8 Kenya. However, what has conspicuously moot in their literature is the impacts of the AU and the ICC’s disagreement on post-conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction. In one way or another, many analysts have either faulted/supported the AU or the ICC. This study seeks to fill in the gaps left in the existing literature by analysing the lingering threats of the AU and the ICC disagreement on post-conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction in Kenya. This study acknowledges that neither the rectificatory justice that the ICC seeks to promote nor the alternative solution that the AU suggests(withdrawal or deferral of the cases facing Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto at the ICC) can sufficiently address post-conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction in Kenya. The study argues that the causes of the 2007/8 PEV are rooted in a history of social, economic and political exclusion of other tribes practiced by all post-colonial regimes: use of tribalism in appropriating privileges to tribes affiliated to the presidential office. What transpired during the 2007/8 PEV underscores that violence is a process, not an event. Although violence may be unprecedented, it is a product of a history of actions and decisions of political process. In offering an attempt of addressing the causes of the 2007/8 PEV, firstly, the study sees both the approaches of the AU and the ICC as lacking. In doing so, the study warns that by maintaining their functional based stands, the AU and the ICC are inflaming and widening ethnic disharmony, discord and polarization in Kenya. Secondly, by problematizing the usefulness of the AU and the ICC (function-based institutions) in post-conflict peacebuilding, the study through negative-positive peace and horizontal inequality frameworks argues that the AU and the ICC stands on post-2007/8 PEV Kenya are tenable, if and only if, the ethnic division, polarisation, politics of domination and seclusion, land injustices and poor governance in Kenya need to be addressed. The study proposes addressing ethnic inequalities, politics of domination and seclusion, land injustices and discriminatory governance, healing of the ethnic hostilities as the most effective approaches of mitigating the simmering cauldron of election-related violence in Kenya.
The challenges and benefits of policy networks : a case study of labour policy implementation at the Centre for Criminal Justice.
(2010) Aduojo, Obaje Timothy.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
This study investigates the challenges and benefits of policy networks. It focuses specifically on the experiences of the Centre for Crimlnal Justice, examining the challenges and benefits it experiences in its networks. In spite of the widely applauded benefits of networks in this study and in other publications, findings from this study still highlight the challenges of networks in labour policy implementation. The study reveals that the element of diversity and the complicated nature of networks' management threaten networks' ability to realize their objectives. The lack of binding regulations and managerial structures in certain networks reveals the drawback in networks' management. Firstly, it raises questions about the legitimacy of any self-initiated coordination in networks since such might not be formally accepted by network members. Secondly, the thesis argues that the lack of binding regulations in some networks deepen the likelihood of uncooperative attitude among actors, especially when it suits them, given that there are no defined consequences for their actions. Other findings in this study draw attention to the operational conflict between the vertical and lateral-minded members of a network. This discusses the question of methodological disagreement between actors of contrasting view points in the execution of certain tasks. Finally, the thesis looks at the question of actors' autonomy in a network. It argues that threats to actors' autonomy or dignity could promote lack of commitment from network members, neglect of responsibility and the possible breakdown of the network if such issues are not properly addressed. In summary, though networks are ideal tools for policy implementation and service delivery in contemporary society, they nevertheless have their challenges. Hence the study concludes with an invitation for proper acknowledgement of the challenges in the process of networks and the need for further studies in this field to enhance the effectiveness of networks in implementation processes.
A critical analysis of policy implementation of the freedom of the press in Ethiopia under the rule of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).
(2013) Wolde, Eyerusalem Amare.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
This study analyses the status of press freedom in Ethiopia under the rule of Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). The study critically examines the implementation of the legal frameworks regarding freedom of expression and press. In order to understand the status of the press in the current democratic state of Ethiopia, the study employs an implementation analysis of press freedom by drawing from Francis Kasoma’s Theory of Independent Press in Africa. The study’s focus is limited to the Ethiopian private media during the EPRDF-led government. It is contended that due to its repressive nature, the EPRDF rule contributed to the expansion of the private press in Ethiopia. This was evident in the 1995 Constitution Article 29 and the 1992 press proclamation. The study noted that despite the constitutional provisions for press freedom in Ethiopia, as well as all the international statutes to which Ethiopia is signatory, the implementation of legal frameworks for press freedom under the EPRDF government were modest at best. The study argues that the EPRDF created two extreme situations under which the press operated in Ethiopia. These are independent versus dependent media. The independent (private) press has been dubbed oppositional to the government and hence persecuted, while the dependent (public) press has been enjoying relative freedom under the totalitarian auspices of the ruling party and the government. In both extremes the media has been constrained and had their freedom curtailed. The difference has been that the private press is overtly constrained, while the dependent press is apparently enabled, as long as it covers the positive side of the government. As such, the public space for media has been severely constrained in Ethiopia in such a manner that the traditional role of media to serve as a bridge between the society and the state is missing. The EPRDF created a situation in which both extremes fail to meet the ideals of press freedom as exemplified in economically advanced countries.
A critical analysis of the implementation of policy mechanisms for cost recovery : a case study of the Msunduzi Municipality.
(2013) Manda, Lameck.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
Cost recovery has been widely documented as a means through which local municipalities can financially sustain service provision. In the South African context, the devolution of powers from the national government to local government transferred service delivery functions and financing of service provision to local municipalities. Policy analysts use implementation theory to understand the complexity of policy implementation. There are diverse models which policy implementation analysts use to analyse the implementation process but there is no consensus on an ideal model. This study attempts to analyse the implementation of cost recovery mechanisms at the Msunduzi Municipality. The study found that tailoring of cost recovery principles and other constitutional mandates (such as free basic services) is problematic for local municipalities. The study found that different contexts provide different outcomes of the policies implemented. For instance, the Provincial government intervention after a service delivery crisis of the Msunduzi municipality resulted into contrasting outcomes. Before the Provincial intervention, revenue collection was at 55% and increased to 80% after the intervention. The study also found that the capacity of the local municipality to implement cost recovery mechanisms has a great bearing on the outcome of the policy in question. The Provincial Intervention Team provided the necessary technical and human capacity to improve collection of consumer service debt. This is consistent with implementation theorists like Lipsky, Matland and Wiemer and Vining who argue that contextual factors may lead to divergence from initial intended goals and objectives of a policy or programme. The study also found that implementation of cost recovery is being hampered by non-payment of services charges by consumers, billing and collection problems and failure to comply with the Financial Management Act before the provincial intervention.
A critical analysis of the implementation of the slum upgrading policies in Kenya.
(2013) Mwau, Diana Mutheu.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
For the past five decades, the provision of adequate housing for the urban poor has been an elusive exercise in Kenya, as in most developing countries. Several years before Kenya’s independence in 1963, concerns over the proliferation of slums and informal settlements began to emerge. Various intervention strategies have been attempted without any significant success. This study examines the historical manifestations of policies adopted by the Kenyan government to address the issue of slums from its independence to date. Since then, the Government of Kenya has recently shifted its approach from slum demolition to slum upgrading initiatives as an intervention measure. This study focuses on the case study of public housing project in Kibera Soweto East in Nairobi, an initiative conceived under the Kenya Slums Upgrading Programme (KENSUP), courtesy of a partnership between Government of Kenya and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) which began in 2002. Despite the timely intervention of KENSUP, various challenges encounter its implementation initiatives. This study aims to understand this complexity by uncovering the underlying KENSUP’s implementation challenges and suggest some recommendations to enhance the efficiency of government in providing its poor with decent and affordable housing.
A critical analysis of the policy advocacy role of civil society organisations in land reform issues : a case study of the Association for Rural Advancement in the Land Redistribution Programme in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2011) Ruzindana, Jean Claude.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
This study aims at exploring the policy advocacy role of civil society organizations in land reforms policy using the Association for Rural Advancement in KwaZulu-Natal as a case study, and focusing specifically on the aspect of land redistribution programme. The specific objectives of the study are to identify the advocacy strategies used, to assess their strengths and weaknesses, to examine the extent to which land redistribution programme is being influenced by the advocacy action of AFRA, to identify the limitations in policy advocacy for land redistribution, and to assess the effectiveness of AFRA‘s policy advocacy work in the lens of the factors for effective policy advocacy delineated by Bratton (1994: 48-55). Thus, this study provides an understanding of the magnitude and challenges of policy advocacy functions of CSOs in such a sensitive issue as the land ownership in South Africa. This study has been informed by qualitative research methodology in both data gathering and analysis. Data were collected using a triangulation of data collection techniques, and analyzed using thematic analysis, which is a method for identifying, analysing and reporting patterns (themes) within data. It has emerged from this study that civil society organisations provide avenues for voices and issues that may not have been prioritised by policy makers to be placed on the public agenda. A wide range of strategies to engage with the state are employed by civil society organisations, and those strategies are strategically employed in a complementary manner so that they could be more effective depending on the issue at hand and the context within which advocacy is being made. Furthermore, it comes out the study that there are many challenges faced by the CSOs involved in land issues, among others are the antagonistic climate portraying the relationships with the state, the issue of funding, the low literacy level of rural landless people, etc. For more impact to be perceived in policy influence, the study suggests that CSOs in the land sector and AFRA in particular should establish an effective networking framework in order to pool resources, and share expertise and experience; they should increase their clients‘ involvement in policy process by making opening their membership to rural people living in the communities they work with; examine the possibility to gain domestic financial base. For government agencies, more particularly the Department of Land Affairs, it is suggested to reassess their relationships with the civil society so that the two sectors work collaboratively for the best of the poor people they all have to serve.
A critical assessment of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace's contribution towards good governance in Zimbabwe from 1990-2000.
(2013) Phiri, Stephen.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.; Hewitt, Roderick Raphael.
Zimbabwe and its controversial government, with Mugabe at the helm, has been a source of concern for Southern Africa, global politics and not least Zimbabweans themselves. Though Mugabe has presided over the country for more than three decades, there has been relentless criticisms of, and opposition to, his form of governance. Apart from caustic political opponents of Zimbabwe’s government, there has also been advocate groups or the civil society who have been intrepid critics of the government. One of the most influential civil organizations in Zimbabwe is the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church in Zimbabwe has a college of Bishops which gives the most formal and influential stance of the Church on Zimbabwean politics. One of the most effective advocacy channels used by the Catholic Church has been the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJPZ). This paper analyzes the role of the CCJPZ in trying to infuse political and moral rectitude in the Zimbabwean governance. Through the use of Antonio Gramsci’s theory of civil society, the paper analyses why the calls of the CCJPZ have remained largely unheeded by the Mugabe leadership. By this the paper further analyses whether certain tendencies that have rendered CCJPZ hamstrung or ignored are solely because of its own weakness, or the impervious nature of the Zimbabwe government to those it considers its wanton detractors and hypocrites. Gramsci talks of civil societies which can be pro-hegemony i.e. in tandem with the ruling class and one that is counter-hegemony i.e. at variance with the ruling class. The findings in this paper show that the CCJPZ has not abdicated its moral certitudes in support of the ruling class, hence it is counter-hegemony. The paper tries to explore how far-reaching the crusade for good governance, as championed by the CCJPZ has been. Despite being a Catholic group, the paper argues, the CCJPZ has to incorporate all Zimbabwean who are restive because of what is largely considered bad and violent governance. Only a wide-reaching crusade that does not include participants based on religious persuasion can give a more forceful voice against the form of governance that rules Zimbabwe. The key terms that underpin this study are: Civil society, State, Good governance, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace.
Decentralized spaces for change : a case study of the Lunerburg war room at eDumbe Local Municipality.
(2014) Zondi, Lungile Prudence.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
This research paper looked at a war room as a decentralized space for change through which public participation is to be enhanced and service delivery accelerated at a ward level. The Lunerburg community demarcated as ward one under eDumbe Local Municipality was used as a case study. The eDumbe Local Municipality falls under Zululand District Municipality located in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal. Since the take-off of democracy in South Africa, national government has put programmes in place to fight the acceleration of poverty and attend to the backlogs of service delivery. Provincial government are always mandated to implement national programmes or improvised according to the needs of their provinces. In the province of KwaZulu-Natal, the former Premier Zweli Mkhize launched war rooms as a provincial strategy derived from the national war on poverty campaign (announced by former president Thabo Mbeki during the State of the Nation Address, 2008) in the attempt to create decentralized spaces for change through which public participation is to be enhanced to achieve accelerated service delivery at a ward level. The other significance of the strategy is that it takes provincial government to local municipality wards in a collaborative manner. It is also important to note that the use of war rooms in the attempt to enhance public participation and service delivery is not understood and accepted by many people. Currently there are discussions held by the KZN office of the Premier in collaboration with sector departments as well civil societies in the attempt to give war rooms a relevant name. Literature on public participation, decentralization as well as on good governance supported by various diagrams and tables was used to argue in support that citizen’s voices should be integrated in development plans that affect them directly. The study was empirical, employed qualitative methodologies and used triangulated means to collect the data. Content analysis was used to analyse the collected data. The focus of the research was to investigate the extent through which, war rooms as decentralized spaces for change, serve as a unique mechanism to achieve public participation at a ward level in respect to currently existing strategies at a ward level. The study intended to also highlight mechanisms that are used by the war room as well to diagnose the support that the war room is receiving from other government departments. Study findings revealed that the Lunerburg war room executive committee members still lack proper training in relation to their roles and responsibilities within the war room. Members of the Lunerburg community didn’t know where the war room is located and what it does at a ward level. It was also discovered that the Lunerburg war room is not resourced to enhance public participation and accelerate service delivery on its own. Operations of the Lunerburg war room enable community members as beneficiaries of the war room to remain passive participants rather than active participants in the decisions that affect them directly.
An evaluation of indigenisation policy in Zimbabwe.
(2014) Shumba, Busisiwe Monica.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
The need to redress the skewed ownership of productive assets has given rise to the process of indigenisation and economic empowerment processes in many previously colonized countries. Countries such as Zambia, Brazil, South Africa and lately Zimbabwe have embarked on indigenisation or economic empowerment initiatives, to varying degrees. The common aim of these initiatives is to increase the role played by the previously marginalized population groups in the mainstream economy and to correct imbalances in resource ownerships construed as a major cause of vulnerability and obstacle to economic growth and development. This paper seeks to analyze Zimbabwe’s indigenisation policy. The controversial Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment policy in Zimbabwe has been dismissed by many as a statutory instrument designed to suit the interests of politicians contrary to assurances that it seeks to empower ordinary citizens. There are arguments that the indigenisation policy was only used to position individuals in political spheres to allow them to penetrate the countries’ resources and it is not about the majority’s benefit. The indigenisation policy has been used and continues to be used by the elite in order to commit or justify acts of economic banditry, expropriation and unfair practices. The paper discusses whether the indigenisation policy has provided the stated benefits to the majority of Zimbabweans. Secondly the paper also seeks to evaluate whether the indigenisation policy has achieved or on the right track towards achieving its intended objectives and also looks at the constraining factors in the implementation of indigenisation policies in Zimbabwe.
An evaluation of performance management : a case study of the integrated quality management system (IQMS) implementation in Majuba TVET College in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2016) Mchunu, Lindelani Clement.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
Firstly, I would like to thank almighty Jesus Christ. I thank you for projection, wisdom and understanding, through the ups and downs of 2016 academic year. Thank you Lord. I would also like to thank my supervisor Mark Rieker whose guidance, professional coaching, continuous help and support regardless of health issues during the year, has been unwavering. You have been a source of strength to me and you made me feel special. To Musawenkosi Francis Mofokeng, I gave thanks for loaning me R5 000, 00 for registration at the University; you have shown me real friendship, thank you. Without you my brother, Simenyiwe Mchunu; I was not going to make it; your support courage and motivation thought the year, when we were broke; hiking on freeway, and eating mealies as our lunch. We have been through a lot together, but let’s hope for the best. I wish almighty God blesses you and your family. Nokuphila Ngcobo, Clifton Wesley Smith, Nokukhanya Zondo, and Tawanda Dundhlu are people I must thank because their support has added value to my life. To my dearest Wife (Mrs Silindile Raquel Mchunu); I am out of words with your support you gave me through my studies, love you always. Lastly, a special thanks to all participants who are my colleagues from Majuba TVET College, Central office (HR, QUALITY AND CURICULUM), which include the IT &B Campus, Centre for People Development campus and Dundee Campus. You contribution is highly appreciated.
A gendered approach to migration through the prism of human trafficking in armed conflicts for terrorism: the women of the Islamic State.
(2021) Mncibi, Vumile Simphiwe.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
The 2012 Syrian war is a major contributory factor in the growing relationship between terrorism and human-trafficking, as practiced by extremist group known as the Islamic State (IS). Terrorism and human-trafficking are known to thrive as individual criminal platforms that play out as weapons of warfare in armed conflicts. However, this study identified a literature gap which prompted an inquiry into how these two platforms mutually interconnect in armed conflicts. This study particularly employed a gendered approach to understanding the roles of women in building the relationship between human trafficking and terrorism in highly patriarchal and religiously defined conflict terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State. Three interrelated theories underpinned this study. The theories include the “push and pull theory” of migration, the failed state theory, and the feminist theory, further covered by religiously defined feminist movements such as Islamic feminism and contextually to IS, jihad (i) feminism. The above theories interconnect to explain the outplays of power relations present in conflict-based terrorism in the Syrian war and IS, that has narrated the participation of women in migratory affiliated human-trafficking practices executed for purposes of terrorism. The results in this study demonstrated that the Syrian war has stood as a pivotal instrument in the institutionalising of terrorism in the country and its intensive evolution to recent practices of pseudo-state building trajectories carried out by IS. The study found that with counterterrorism trajectories quickly taking shape in the Syrian war, terrorist groups such as the IS also readapted to avoid annihilation. This caused IS to use more women as strategic frontline actors to ensure the organisation’s survival. Women quickly became frontline, cum, sedentary actors used by IS to interject criminal platforms such as human-trafficking to aid the organisation recruit agents, generate revenue and sustain the organisation’s survival and state-building initiatives amidst counterterrorism initiatives taking place in Syria. From these results, the study recommends that for groups such as IS to be conquered, counterterrorist initiatives should encompass holistic approaches that are both gendered and criminally inclusive, so that they can yield more effective results that accommodate the evolving practices of terrorist groups such as the Islamic State.
The impact of the extended curriculum programme and students' experiences of the programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
(2010) Nala, Nkosikhona.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
This research responds to a body of literature that identifies the epistemological difficulties faced previously disadvantaged University entrants who are insufficiently prepared to successfully master the academic requirements at tertiary institutions in South Africa. The study investigates the impact of the nascent Extended Curriculum Tutorials (ECTs) programme in the Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg on students‟ academic performance and social integration into the academy. These ECTs were developed and piloted in 2006 and were formally implemented in 2007. the aim of the programme is to articulate access into mainstream study through introducing students to the discursive practices of selected disciplines. They are available as an augmented extension of the existing access programme at the University. The research focuses on the following questions: 1) Are extended curriculum academic access interventions instrumental in the academic success and student development?; 2) What are the students‟ personal and interpersonal experiences within the programme in their social and academic development?; Which pedagogical approach/es are prevalent within the extended curriculum tutorials and 4) What is the role and the use of social capital within the programme? A triangulation of quantitative and qualitative methods was employed for data collection in this study. The findings are based on: 1) A comparative statistical analysis of students‟ assessment marks; 2) A student evaluation of the programme; 3) Participatory classroom observations and 4) in-depth interviews with students and tutors within the programme. The findings reveal that the extended curriculum tutorials are instrumental not only in supporting academic success but also in facilitating personal development.
An implementation analysis of the children's Act number 38 of 2005 (Part B Chapter 13 and 14) : a case study of the Department of Social Development, Umzinyathi District.
Ndlazi, Lulama Sthembela.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
This study examines public policy implementation with specific emphasis on the implementation of the South African Children’s Act number 38 of 2005. The main area of concern for the current study is Chapter 12 of the act which focuses on foster care. Public policy is examined in general in order to provide a better understanding of why and how policies and Acts emerge. The study looks at policy implementation issues of the Children’s Act number 38 of 2005, foster care. The Children’s Act governs all the laws relating to the care and protection of children. It further defines the responsibilities of all involved (parents and care workers) and underscores provisions regarding court proceedings. The study examines how the Foster Care aspect of the Children’s Act number 38 of 2005 was implemented in uMzinyathi district of Kwazulu Natal. The study reveals that the social workers selected for the study (except for the newly appointed amongst them) are aware of and have been capacitated on the areas of foster care as contained in the said Act. The study further reveals that the implementation of this Act has met with some obstacles which borders on lack of resources; processes to be followed when placing a child and the misinterpretation of the Act by other stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Act. Against the backdrop of the findings, recommendations are made to inform policy and praxis in the subsequent implementation of the Act.
An implementation analysis of the graduate internship programme of the South African Department of Public Service and Administration.
(2010) Koma, Nneileng.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
The advent of democracy in South Africa has opened up a window of opportunity for issues or social ills to be brought forward to the attention of policy makers. South Africa is faced with a high number of unemployed graduates and one factor attributable to this is their lack of experiential training which is a requisite for entering the highly competitive labour market making it difficult for them to access employment. The government, in one attempt to address this policy issue, adopted internships as a remedial initiative in 2002. The youth make up a very high percentage of the South African population and therefore it is detrimental to the country if this high percentage of the population remains unlinked to the economy. It is now imperative also to understand that the assembling of what seems a good corrective measure of an issue does not guarantee success. The reality in South Africa indicates that there is a major problem around the implementation of policies and programmes by government. The implementation phase of the internship programme plays a very crucial part in ensuring an effective delivery of programme benefits, thus the importance of continuously evaluating implementation processes in implementing departments like the Department of Public Service and Administration. The findings of the study reveal that there are flaws in the implementation of the Internship Programme in the DPSA, relating to access strategy, the target population and the relevance of on the job training provided to interns.
An Implementation analysis of the KwaZulu-Natal Liquor Licencing Act (Act No. 6 of 2010) : a case study of uThukela District Area.
(2016) Mchunu, Simenyiwe Alfred.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
Abstract available in PDF file.
An implementation analysis of the Vukuzakhe emerging contractor development programme in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport.
(2010) Dlamini, Bongiwe Precious.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
This dissertation reviews the implementation of the Vukuzakhe Emerging Contractor Development Programme. The Vukuzakhe Emerging Contractor Development Programme was initiated by the KwaZulu Department of Transport to fulfil the South African democratic government's mandate of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE).The dissertation identifies and describes the barriers to, and problems of the implementation of the Vukuzakhe programme. Rossi and Freeman's (1989) approach to program monitoring/process evaluation is used as an analytical framework. The study examines how emerging contractors view the admission, progression and exiting strategies of the Vukuzakhe programme. The triangulation of both qualitative and quantitative methods was used to try and overcome issues of validity and bias. The qualitative method employed was in-depth interviews (ie face to face interviews) with the KwaZulu Department of Transport officials. These are officials from the DOT's Economic Empowerment Directorate who are directly responsible for the implementation of the Vukuzakhe programme. Three out of five officials agreed to participate in the interviews. Nevertheless, the data that was gathered from those three officials was very informative as far as the Vukuzakhe programme is concerned. Therefore the sampling that was used was purposive. The quantitative method employed was a structured, self administered questionnaire used to gather data from the emerging contractors. For this dissertation a sample of 20 emerging contrators who were in different stages of the Vukuzakhe programme were randomly selected from the database. Out of the 20 selected emerging contractors only 10 agreed to participate in the interviews. The results of the interviews was not generalised to all emerging contractors. However, the findings gathered were informative as far as the implementation process of the Vukuzakhe programme is concerned. Since both qualitative and quantitaive data were collected, content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data and the descriptive statistics using the SPSS programme was used to analyse the quantitative data.
An implementation analysis of the Zibambele Road Maintenance Programme in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport.
(2011) Ngubane, Batha Olivia Sindiswa.; Rieker, Mark Ivan.
The primary aim of the research study was to analyse the implementation of the Zibambele Road Maintenance Programme within the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport. The Zibambele Programme is one of South African government attempts to respond to social problems of poverty and unemployment. The Zibambele Programme identifies with the principles of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The research study identifies and discusses the obstacles to and challenges of the implementation of the Zibambele Road Maintenance Programme. Programme monitoring or process evaluation is used as an analytical framework of the study. The study employs Rossi and Freemans (1989) approach by examining the admission of the contractors into the programme, their progression and exit strategies. In order to best accomplish the objectives of the study and to provide an informed and critical analysis on the implementation of the Zibambele Programme, the study used both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies i.e. triangulation. For the quantitative method data was collected using in depth interview questions (i.e. face-to-face interviews) with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport officials. The officials that were interviewed fall under the development directorate within the Department and they are directly responsible for the implementation of the Zibambele Programme. Four officials participated in the interviews and purposive sampling was used. For the quantitative method, the survey data collection method was employed to collect data from the Zibambele contractors. The contractors were randomly collected from the Pietermaritzburg and Empangeni regions. The results of the interviews were not generalised to all Zibambele contractors. However, the findings collected were useful as far as the implementation process of the Zibambele Programme is concerned. Content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data and descriptive statistics using the SPSS programme was used to analyse the quantitative data.