Browsing by Author "Sibanda, Gideon."

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"Better homes, better fields, better hearts" : a contextual interpretation of Bernard Huss' model of social transformation and its implications for the Missionaries of Marianhill today.
(2008) Sibanda, Gideon.; Haddad, Beverley Gail.
This paper argues that a contextual version of Bernard Huss' model of "Better homes, Better fields, Better hearts" can make a positive contribution to poverty alleviation in rural KwaZulu-Natal. The model addresses both the material and non-material aspects of poverty. It seeks to achieve integral human development by empowering the poor, especially women, to be self-reliant. Poverty eradication remains one of the greatest challenges facing South Africa, and analysts concur that it is largely a rural problem. Women who head the majority of rural households are the most affected by poverty which also exposes them to the risk of HIV infection and sexual violence due to their economic dependence on men. Gender equality is a critical aspect which the model seeks to address in order to counter particular cultural injustices which subject the majority of women to male subordination. The model is therefore interpreted in the context of poverty and underdevelopment in rural KwaZulu-Natal and it endeavours to confront the challenges of poverty and unemployment at the grassroots level. It is argued in this paper that women should become the main beneficiaries of the contextual version of the model and begin to participate fully in decision-making in respect of the strategies to alleviate poverty in rural areas. The model recognizes the agency of the poor as an imperative factor in the development praxis and discourse, for this reason it is a pro-poor approach. It is also argued in this paper that the Missionaries of Mariannhill should revive the model and use it in their mission work in rural communities of KwaZulu-Natal. The model has the capacity to broaden the scope of mission work and address both the material and non-material aspects of poverty. It provides a practical response to the Christian commitment to assist the poor in the endeavour to alleviate poverty and mitigate the impact of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in rural communities.
Implementation of rural development policies and public participation in the Mkhambathini local municipality in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)=Ukwenza kwenqubomgomo yokuthuthukiswa kwezindawo zasemakhaya nokubamba iqhaza komphakathi kumasipala wase Mkhambathini esifundazweni saKwazulu-Natal (Ningizimu Afrikha).
(2022) Sibanda, Gideon.; Rama, Sharmla.
This study aims to investigate why the phenomenon of rural poverty and underdevelopment persist despite the various policies, interventions, and programmes to redress problems of the past in South Africa post-1994. The study shows that, amongst others, the vagaries in policy implementation, the adoption of a top-down approach to implementation and inconsistent public participation contribute to the persistence of rural poverty and underdevelopment. The study also raises questions about the extent to which local governments facilitate and encourage public participation in their policymaking, prioritisation, and implementation processes. Public participation is foundational to the process of democratization of society, and sustainable rural development in South Africa cannot happen without the meaningful public participation of people living in rural areas. In addition, there is inadequate and limited analysis and critical review of the rural policy implementation processes and mechanisms of public participation, particularly at local government level. In this qualitative case study (located in Mkhambathini Local Municipality which is rural), in-depth face-to-face interviews were undertaken with seven ward councillors; and focus group discussions with seven-ward committees which consist of ten members each. The verbatim qualitative responses are analysed according to the themes. The findings highlight that the absence of developmentally oriented civil society organisations in rural areas contributes to poor service delivery. Other problems such as the issue of security of tenure, particularly in areas that fall under traditional authorities remain under-addressed. The study recommends that the Ingonyama Trust Act (Act No. 3KZ of 1994) be reviewed to incorporate the issue of land rights of rural people and security of ownership of land in rural KwaZulu-Natal. While this study cannot be conclusive on the issues of implementation of rural development policies and public participation at the local government level, it identifies issues of concern that need to be addressed. These include weak public participation structures, lack of monitoring and evaluation systems, poor coordination of the implementation of rural development programmes at the local government level. The study recommends the establishment of policy coordinating structures in the local rural municipalities to spearhead the rural development agenda. Iqoqa: Lolu cwaningo beluhlose ukucubungula ukuthi kungani inkinga yobubha nokungathuthuki ezindaweni zasemaphandleni iqhubeka ngisho emva kuka-1994 lapha eNingizimu-Afrikha nakuba kukhona izinqubomgomo eziningi nokungenelela okunhlobonhlobo kanye nezinhlelo ezahlukene zokulwa nale nkinga eyadalwa yisimo sombuso wobandlululo. Lolu cwaningo luveza, phakathi kwezinye izinto, izinguquko ezithize ekufezeni izinhloso zezinqubomgomo, ukuthatha izinqumo zisuka phezulu ziya phansi ekufezeni izinhloso zezinqubomgomo kanye nokungazibandakanyi ngokugcwele kwamalungu omphakathi, konke okuba nomthelela ebukhoneni bobubha nokuntuleka kwentuthuko ezindaweni zasemaphandleni. Lolu cwaningo luphinde luvuse imibuzo ebalulekile mayelana nebanga elihanjwa ngohulumeni basekhaya ukulawula nokugqugquzela ukuzibandakanya komphakathi ekwakhiweni kwezinqubomgomo, ukuqhakambisa nokufeza izinhloso zayo. Ukuzibandakanya komphakathi kuwumgogodla wentuthuko yomphakathi obuswa yintando yeningi kanti futhi ukuzimela nokuthuthuka kwezindawo zasemaphandleni aseNingizimu-Afrikha ngeke kwenzeke uma umphakathi ungalibambi iqhaza ngokwanele ezinhlelweni zentuthuko ezindaweni ohlala kuzona. Ukwengeza kulokhu, kukhona ukuhlaziya okungagculisi nokuntengayo mayelana nokufezwa kwezinhloso zezinqubomqomo nokuzibandakanya komphakathi, ikakhulukazi ezingeni likahulumeni wasekhaya. Kulolu cwaningo oluyikhwalithethivu (olugxile kuMasipala wasemaphandleni aseMkhambathini), kwabanjwa izingxoxo ezisakuhleleka zobuso nobuso namakhansela ayisikhombisa nezingxoxo zamaqembu namakomiti amawadi ayisikhombisa ayenamalungu ayishumi iwadi ngayinye. Izimpendulo ezanikezwa ngabahlanganyeli zacashunwa zinjalo zase zihlaziywa ngokwezindikimba. Imiphumela iveze ukuthi ukuntuleka kwezinhlaka zomphakathi ezibhekelene nentuthuko kuletha ukugqoza kwezidingo zomphakathi ezindaweni zasemaphandleni. Ezinye izinkinga ukungabi negunya labahlali lokuba ngabanikazi bomhlaba, okuyinto ebukeka ingasukunyelwa phezulu ezindaweni ezisalawulwa ngamakhosi. Lolu cwaningo luphakamisa ukuba umthetho obhekelele ukubuswa kwezindawo zasemakhaya, i-Ingonyama Trust Act (Umthetho we-3KZ ka-1994) uke ucutshungulwe kabusha ukuze ufake ilungelo labantu lokuba nomhlaba othi bona nokuzobanikeza igunya eliphelele lobunikazi bomhlaba ezindaweni zasemaphandleni, KwaZulu-Natali. Nakuba lolu cwaningo lungeke lukuqinisekise ngokuphelele ukufezwa kwezinhloso zezinqubomgomo kanye nokuzibandakanya komphakathi emazingeni ohulumeni basekhaya, lukwazile ukuveza izinto okusamele zisukunyelwe. Lezi zinto zibala ukugqoza kokuzibandakanya komphakathi ezinhlakeni zentuthuko, ukuntuleka kwezindlela zokuqapha isimo nokusihlaziya nokungaqhutshwa ngokufanele izinhlelo zentuthuko ezingeni likahulumeni wasekhaya. Lolu cwaningo luphakamisa ukuba kusungulwe izinhlaka ezizobhekelela ukufezwa kwezinhloso zezinqubomgomo komasipala ezindaweni zasemaphandleni ukuze kube khona intuthuko kulezi zindawo.
Street-level bureaucracy : a case study of the implementation of the Adult Basic Education and Training Policy in the Pinetown Education District of KwaZulu-Natal.
(2011) Sibanda, Gideon.; Stanton, Anne Sylvie.
This research focuses on the challenges of policy implementation. Specifically, the research identifies the challenges that ABET Centre Managers encounter when trying to implement the ABET Policy in the Pinetown Education District of KwaZulu-Natal. The research identifies inadequacy of key resources such as finances, teaching material, time factor as well as lack of commitment and political will from the Department of Education in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal as the major challenges impeding effective implementation of the ABET Policy. In addition, the complexity and dynamic nature of the policy implementation process is delineated. By using Lipsky’s theory of street-level bureaucracy as a framework, the researcher argues that, ABET Centre Managers, despite the multifaceted problems that they encounter, use their discretionary power and autonomy to find ways to perform their functions. In this respect, the Centre Managers use their discretion and autonomy to assist learners, not to further their own self interests. Furthermore, the findings of this study seem to authenticate Lipsky’s theory of street-level bureaucracy which takes into account the critical role played by street-level bureaucrats in policy implementation. As such, the researcher argues that the experiences and suggestions of Centre Managers who are the key implementers of the ABET Policy can provide vital information for the further development of the ABET Policy in South Africa. In the final analysis, the research hinges on one of Lipsky’s key argument that, the rational top-down model to policy implementation is inadequate to achieve effective policy implementation, but that the actions and decisions of street-level bureaucrats (in this case, the ABET Centre Managers in the Pinetown Education District), bear consequences for the policy’s intended beneficiaries, the illiterate people.