College of Humanities

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A qualitative study exploring the experiences of unemployed youth in Chatsworth, South Africa.
(2023) Husain, Mahomed Shuaib.; Mntambo, Ntokozo.
Unemployment among the youth is a common occurrence in today’s times. Most places of occupation seek employees with at least three years of experience. As a result, fresh graduates find themselves in a position of despair and hopelessness. In an attempt to help the youth to find suitable jobs, the government must provide the youth with viable job opportunities. This study aimed to investigate how unemployment affects the lives of the youth. This research report has been compiled based on six unemployed youth living in the Chatsworth area in South Africa. The research study was conducted using a qualitative approach through structured interviews. The results revealed that most unemployed youth had been miserable and felt as if they had no purpose in life due to being unemployed. The implications of the findings of this study are important and helpful to both job seekers and prospective employers.
Architecture as a response to informal trade in urban environments. Towards a new SMME business hub in the Point precinct, Durban, CBD.
(2023) Biggar, Aaron Michael.; Govender, Viloshin.
This study is meant to empower and create a sustainable life for Small, Micro, and Medium Enterprises (SMME’s), as at present there is a cultural discrepancy in the globalisation movement in the development of all cities. Corporations need to play an enabling role to create a new model of black enterprises. However, one of the biggest problems in South African cities is globalisation and apartheid city planning. This did not only structure but also relocated people to the outer parts of the cities, which made cities non-diverse, semi-functional zones and lacked major support for SMME”s. (Eatough, 2015; Rogerson, 2000 p, 673-695 ) “The reconstruction initiatives of the post-apartheid South Africa, promoting and supporting the development of small, medium and micro-enterprises sector, including the informal economy, have been of major policy significance.” (Rogerson, 2000, p, 673-695) Architecture could assist SMME’s by making a more responsive space servicing the needs of the users. The argument is for a more sustained reform of the city to examine its cultural expression as an engine for empowering multi-diverse and small businesses. The Point Development is one of the key catalysts to redeveloping the entire inner city. The point development however has resulted in gentrification and the loss of small informal businesses within the point developments. (Lumby, 1991, p.121-133) Durban is a multiplicity of cultures and architectural styles, but the city can be challenged to create more spaces for opportunity, inclusivity, and diversity. The goal is to promote and empower SMME’s in communities to use lost space, which will integrate, connect and diversify technology and culture by creating an economically empowered city with the use of Architecture and at the same time stitching the Point to the rest of the city.
Complexities surrounding unpaid internships for historically disadvantaged students on Westville Campus, University of KwaZulu Natal.
(2020) Dlamini, Abahle Samkelisiwe.; Vawda, Mohammed Yacoob.
The primary aim of this study is to investigate the complexities surrounding internships among UKZN Westville students. This includes knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and behaviors towards internships (especially unpaid internships). To limit the scope of the relevant data and strengthen the study, this study draws from the employment relationship framework – under the larger umbrella of labour relations. This theoretical framework was instrumental in the entire study in terms of using the right research methods to better answer the research’s questions. The theoretical framework also limits generalisations by identifying the key elements and connections that inform the study’s direction. The framework is structured around four (4) elements or sub-theories: the unitarist, pluralist, Marxist and radical. This study adopted an explorative qualitative research approach for collecting the required data and the analysis thereof. In this qualitative research both semi-structured and in-depth interviews were used to evaluate the complexities surrounding internships among UKZN Westville students. A non-probability sampling method was used to recruit a total sample size of 15 participants. The findings from this study revealed that there are various factors influencing the complex relationship between unpaid internships and graduate employment within the studied population. Here, the results found that lack of compensation, social class, discrimination, favouritism, nepotisms, and lack of paid internships are some of the factors that impact on the complexities surrounding internships among UKZN Westville students. The results from this study further highlight that difficulties to get paid internships or work experience programmes is a challenge which restrict the potential for under-privileged groups to secure their first employment. In other words, the difficulties to find paid internships or work experience programme for under-privileged groups is related to the lack of work experience itself since they do not have the luxury of working for free while still taking care of their financial needs. In conclusion, the results from this study present a direct evaluation of the association between social class and graduates’ internships, and ultimately employability. The role of legal frameworks and stakeholders (such as government, higher institutions and employers) ultimately has the potentials to improving youths and/or graduates’ employability through the promotion of paid internships.
Evaluating critical success factors of remote work for bank employees, in Gauteng, South Africa.
(2023) Hadebe, Pearl Mbali.; Naidoo, Karunagaran.
Remote working occurs when employees conduct work outside the traditional office location of the employer. This practice has been steadily increasing over the years due to technological enablers and globalization. However, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated remote working in the past few years because of government social distancing regulations, that were enforced to circumvent the spread of the virus. The regulations influenced many organizations to unexpectedly adopt remote work policies. This was due to their required adherence to COVID-19 restrictions and sustained business continuity, during the global health crisis. Even though literature provides numerous studies on remote work, they are often not in the context of South Africa and the COVID-19 period. The focus of this research was to determine predictors of remote work success in a South African context, considering the pre- and post-COVID periods. This research was undertaken to evaluate critical success factors of remote work for bank employees in Gauteng, South Africa to provide conclusive evidence of the most important predictors of remote work success. This will facilitate, decision making for organizations that continue with telecommuting beyond the pandemic period. In this study, remote work success is defined as the ability of an organization tomeet or exceed its business objectives whilst working remotely. A conceptual framework was defined to frame the study and it included organizational, people, Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), location and environmental factors. Then a quantitative post-positivism research methodology was applied to further analyze each of the proposed critical success factors of telework. This study was conducted in the field of Information Systems and Technology, and it sought to understand the social phenomenon of employee perceptions of what they considered critical success factors of remote work. Therefore, the selected structured quantitative research approach was deemed suitable. The data collection for the study was conducted using a closed-ended electronic questionnaire. The sample population of this study consisted of 150 remote-working bank employees. Empirical evidence from statistical tests confirmed that all the proposed critical success factors suggested in the conceptual framework of this research were significant predictors of successful remote working except for organizational factors. The people factors were identified as the greatest predictor of remote working success. The research outcomes also indicated that even though the surveyed respondents had a great preference for remote work, they sometimes wanted to work from the office location. Despite the research outcomes demonstrating that employees perceived remote work as more successful and productive than working from the office. There were slight differences in significant agreements across the sample population demographics such as gender, marital status, ethnicity, and age. In conclusion, the research found that the most critical success factor of remote working was employees of the organization. The research outcomes demonstrated that people factors were instrumental to the success of remote working organizations. Provided the people felt empowered with adequate telecommuting IT tools, remote work policies and management support.
Exploring the experiences of foreign nationals living and working in Durban, South Africa.
(2021) Okumu, Sarah Adhiambo.; Mtwentula-Ndlovu, Ntombekhaya Antoinette.
Globalization has led to increased international mobility, with many people living and working outside their countries of origin. Migration is an extremely complex process that has social, and psychological implications on the individuals or groups undergoing the process. The success of expatriates, that is migrants sent typically by a multinational organization to work in another country, has previously been measured by their organizational outcomes and completion of their assignment. Some losses and damage that result from expatriate failure include: loss of business and productivity, damage to relationships with other employees or customers, as well as the financial and emotional and psychological costs borne by the expatriate and their family. Understanding an individual’s experiences during an expatriate assignment can facilitate positive adjustment and increase coping strategies as they work and live away from their home country. Research on expatriates shows the main factors that influence adjustment or contribute to stress are the new culture in the work and social settings, family adjustment in the new country, distance from home and lack of preparation. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of expatriates and any coping mechanisms used to adjustment living and working in Durban. This current work followed a qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with 10 participants. The findings of the present study were generally consistent with previous similar studies. Expatriates reported that factors that made their adjustment challenging, and caused stress, included distance from their home country, family adjustment, uncertainty, and cultural differences. Support systems, previous expatriate experience and personally seeking diverse experiences facilitated adjustment. Unique contributions included how the challenging process of visa application negatively affected adjustment and expatriate’s experiences in Durban. The outcomes of this study may contribute towards developing interventions or programs that adequately prepare expatriates and increase the level of psychological support made available to them and their families.
Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on collective bargaining and workers' livelihoods: the case of NEHAWU in Durban.
(2022) Mathonsi, Mbuyiseni Simon.; Tshishonga, Ndwakhulu Stephen.
Collective bargaining is often associated with higher earnings, greater security for employees, and greater earnings equality. During the collective bargaining financial circles of 2019/2020, 2020/2021, 2021/2022 South African collective bargaining could not meet this protective function. Protective function means ensuring adequate pay, deciding on limits on daily or weekly working hours, and regulating other working conditions. The failure of wage negotiations during the above collective bargaining circles had hampered the South African government’s plan to reduce the levels of race and gender inequality, and it has also had a negative impact on the country’s economic growth. This study investigates the impact of COVID 19 on collective bargaining and workers’ livelihoods, using the case of NEHAWU in Durban. The National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) is one of the largest trade unions in South Africa, which organizes both in the public and private sectors (especially with regard to state-owned entities). A qualitative research approach was adopted together with an exploratory research design to conduct an in-depth exploration of the phenomenon under study. Semi-structured interviews (both face-to-face and online) were employed for data collection among the leaders and members of NEHAWU in Durban. Thematic analysis was used to code the qualitative data and identify the emerging themes and subthemes. Meanwhile a non-probability sampling method was employed, and a purposive sampling technique was used to identify a sample of 10 (ten) participants for the study. “Collective bargaining: a veritable tool for resolving conflict”, the theory of collective bargaining by Kolatikan (2014) as well as three theoretical perspectives in industrial relations (the Unitary, the Radical and Pluralistic perspectives) combined to form the framework that underpin this study. The research study revealed that the failure of collective bargaining during 2019/2020, 2020/2021, and 2021/2022 collective bargaining circles as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic did not only disrupted workers’ livelihoods but it also reversed workers’ level of life and deepened gender, race, and class inequalities. The study also revealed that the salary freeze experienced during the above collective bargaining circles, coupled with the rise in food and petrol prizes, drove some workers into hard-core poverty, a level of the working poor, with workers occupying the lowest rungs of the payment system bearing the most brunt. The study recommends that collective bargaining needs to be strengthened and protected, especially during disasters such as COVID-19. It also recommends the up skilling of the low-paid workers so that they can move up the salary rungs. It further recommends that collective bargaining should prioritize workers who are in the lowest rungs of the salary payment system.
Social media entrepreneurship as an employment creation strategy: a case study of students in Durban, South Africa.
(2022) Mdluli, Thobelani Ntokozo.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
The study was motivated primarily by the realisation that the issue of youth unemployment, which has long perplexed both developed and developing countries, has reached new heights, particularly in South Africa. Nevertheless, it was acknowledged that there appears to be a much-needed shift in how young people use social media to combat this issue. The overall aim of the study is to shed insight into the youth’s social media usage as an employment creation strategy in Durban, South Africa. The study aimed to explore social media usage as an employment creation strategy among students in Durban, while ascertaining student’s perspectives and experiences of social media as an employment creation strategy. It also wanted to explore the opportunities and barriers of using social networking as an employment creation strategy. The study asked how social media is used as an employment strategy among students. This study collected data using telephonic interviews with 20 participants, who were students in various higher education institutions in Durban. The study found that the social media entrepreneurs interviewed, did not make money through being online like how bloggers, social media personalities do but they used social media for advertising their businesses. The study also found that the ‘studentrepreneurs’ utilised social media because it is cheaper than the traditional way of advertising. Despite the numerous advantages found, such as helping entrepreneurs to collaborate with other small business owners, time efficiency and target market availability, social media was also found to possess its own disadvantages. A few of those disadvantages included finance, COVID-19, the fast paced and forever changing customer interest and many others mentioned. It was reported in the study that each time the participants conducted business online, they stood a chance of being victims to hackers, fraudsters, perverts and bullies. The study recommended that youth entrepreneurs should employ various social media sites to cater to various consumers. This was recommended to be done after noting the different participants' complaints of being victims of cyber-crimes. The study also suggested that whenever a corporation has implemented social media entrepreneurship, those who are in charge must devote enough time to it and should be willing to participate in social media to improve interaction between the company and its customers as this would help with relationship building. The study also recommended a collaboration between the government and the private sector or the private sector and NGOs, which would connect the youth to the preconceptions of the private sector.
The role of sustainable tourism in improving local communities' livelihoods in South Beach area, Durban.
(2022) Masuku, Xolani Rian.; Ndlovu, Joram.
The purpose of the study was to examine the role of sustainable tourism in improving local communities’ livelihoods in the South Beach area in Durban. The study sought to analyse the complexities of interactions and relationships that exist between host communities, local government, and tourism businesses (private sector). The aim was to understand the stakeholders’ capability to enhance the livelihoods of local communities. Since tourism-related businesses are predominant in the South Beach area, the study focused on the level of support given to local communities by tourism businesses. A qualitative research was employed in this study to investigate how organisations work, and understand how conversations shape these relationships, as well as the perceived context of sustainable tourism. A total of fourteen (14) people participated in the study. The results show that the South Beach tourism sector has contributed immensely towards improving the livelihoods of local communities by enhancing local community’s equilibrium, fostering healthy attitudes and behaviours towards nature, and increased public environmental consciousness. Tourism has contributed towards lasting local economic development and created permanent jobs for local people. Furthermore, sustainable tourism has promoted the sustainable consumption and production of goods and services. Other contributions include the provision of socio-economic benefits for communities who live in and around the South Beach area. The study further revealed that tourism has enhanced conservation of marine heritage and created authentic experiences for both tourists and local communities. The study concludes that cooperation between the private sector and local government is essential to ensure the sustainability of coastal tourism. Additionally, NGOs need greater support financially to improve the quality of life for nearby deprived communities.

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