ResearchSpace
ResearchSpace is the institutional repository of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, unlocking knowledge, empowering impact, and preserving UKZN's research legacy.
Communities in DSpace
Select a community to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
Investigating the role of traditional leadership in fostering gender relations in Jozini Local Municipality.
(2024) Ncengwa, Luyanda.; Thabethe, Nompumelelo Cynthia.
Historically, traditional leadership was a respected institution. Colonialism and apartheid transformed traditional leaders from community leaders to agents of colonial and apartheid regimes. The advent of democracy in South Africa aims to restore the status and authority of traditional leadership. This study investigates the role of traditional leadership in fostering gender relations in Jozini Local Municipality. A sample of 11 participants was purposely selected, comprising traditional leaders, members of traditional councils, and ordinary community members. The research investigated their perspectives on the role of traditional leadership in gender relations and strategies employed to address these issues. The Intersectionality perspective and Asset-Based Community Development were adopted as a theoretical framework for the study. Observations and interviews were employed to collect data.
The findings indicate that traditional leaders operate in a paradoxical space that requires them to balance traditional values and democratic principles. Balancing tradition and modernity poses challenges in a community in flux due to poverty and unemployment. In such contexts, the findings demonstrate how the prevailing socioeconomic context characterised by poverty, unemployment and the marginalisation of rural communities impacts gender relations.
Members rely on traditional leaders who act as the first line of defence against cases of abuse due to their proximity to the community. It also emerged that while the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act no. 41 of 2003 promotes the participation of women in traditional communities, factors such as cultural barriers, women's traditional roles and financial constraints prevent women from full participation. Financial support from the government intends to assist traditional leaders but limits their autonomy and impacts decisionmaking processes. The strategies that traditional leaders use to promote healthy gender relations comprise mediation in disputes, fining perpetrators, involving law enforcement agencies, raising awareness and implementing GBV programmes, enforcing government legislation and restoring traditional cultures and values.
The conclusion reiterates the strategic significance of traditional leaders in promoting healthy gender relations in Jozini. The study proposes an approach that values and builds on existing leadership structures and knowledge systems. Recommendations include reviewing and strengthening gender policies within traditional leadership structures to address socioeconomic challenges and gender disparities. Ultimately, it is fundamental to invest in education and awareness programmes to promote healthy gender relations and encourage the participation of both women and men in leadership roles.
An analysis of community perceptions on lobola payment in Delmas area, Nkangala district.
(2024) Tsiri, Nicholas.; Mbatha, Zilungile Pearl.
The payment of lobola has not proven to benefit the marriage or union in terms of socioeconomic activities. The indirect loss of capital by families from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly in the black middle class may be devastating. People especially males, do mundane jobs that are not paid very well to save for both lobola and activities related to the wedding celebration. The amount used to conduct weddings and for lobola is the money that can be used for necessities for the household since starting a new and independent living, start-up business and facilitation of future financially sustainable activities for the newlyweds. In contemporary South Africa, it is highly demanding to prepare for the future economically alongside the high price of education, soaring percentage of unemployment and lack of business start-ups funding and subsidization by both government and private sector. The payment of lobola is not only about the couple and the belief that will receive blessings from both the ancestors and the elders but also about unionizing both families. However, the upholding of the activity has not yielded any direct socio-economic investment or upliftment to the wedded couples directly. The total bulk money that is used by or between the newlyweds is also an intent to advance their commitment to one another. It is also for the fulfilment of their cultural mandate of a conventional marriage as bridewealth/lobola or dowry may not make financial sense in terms of investment and
economic development. The shifting of the “normal” way of requesting a hand in marriage by the groom’s family to the bride’s family. Instead the total bulk money benefits the newlyweds directly as a couple with an intent to start their lives in marriage with a good capital to balance their financial lives. The major focus is to move the newlyweds out of harm’s way of debt as they will be starting new lives. This will give the marrying couples a positive buying power as they will be embracing a change in terms of property and financial investments. The Department of Home Affairs provides a readily available service for people to receive a certificate of their union in marriage, making their union legal. The activity of planning for a wedding and saving for both lobola and wedding is an asset-based mechanism which may be redirected or have the purpose reviewed. The purposes of lobola should evolve as life evolves, contemporarily cost of living is unmanageable with the social media wooing people into lavish lifestyles which leaves many communities trapped in lack of financial development. Many communities within South Africa lack job opportunities and business start-ups, and they are expecting local municipalities and national government to aid their business activities. A fair financial start in marriage is likely not to lead people into being government liabilities when approaching old age. Most wedded couples get into their matrimonial engagements with a load of debts, especially from previous arrangements such as loans for university fees.
This study explores the possibility of a trade-off between bridewealth and investment and a start-up for small businesses, rather than marriage without financial stability. The economic stability of every community starts within its own nucleus being the family unit. In-depth semi-structured interviews were found to be the appropriate method for collecting data and the snowballing sampling technique has been used because of the sensitivity of the phenomena. The use of thick descriptions was also a necessity. The study has established that the involvement of parents in the lobola negotiation process surely varies from household to household. Commonly, the parent’s engagement will either break or mend the marriage of their children. Another establishment of the use of question studies that mimics the study objectives is that men in marriage are carrying a huge financial burden while their partners pay less attention. Husbands need more financial assistance but many times their male ego does not allow them to be seen as vulnerable and needy. Men feel that if there is any financial assistance from elsewhere, it would also cause their partners to lose respect for them.
The impact of the business acquisition to eliminate factors resulting in employee disengagement at 4Packaging.
(2022) Zungu, Boniwe Akhona Mandisa.; Ngwenya, Charles Tony Simphiwe.; Mashau, Pfano.
Organisations exist in Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA). Hence there is a modest expectation that employees will naturally remain engaged without the organisation strategically implementing interventions. More especially in an organisation where there have been recurrent changes in leadership, organisational structure, and organisational culture in a period of fewer than six years such as 4Packaging Africa Durban. These changes could positively or negatively impact employees’ perceptions, behaviour, and performance. Since the previous acquisition, the researcher had observed a growing pattern of disengaged workers before 4Packaging Africa Durban took over the business. With all these changes, there is a need to ascertain whether this behaviour is aggravated by the acquisitions, what factors drive it, and what effects does it have on employees’ level of engagement? Factors identified in the study, which harm employee engagement include lack of communication, consultation, management, unequal treatment, disregarding employees, machines, remuneration, and trust. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact during the acquisition to recommend strategies aimed at eliminating factors that result in employee disengagement. The key assumption of this study is that effective communication during a business acquisition can eliminate factors that result in employee disengagement at 4Packaging Africa Durban. Literature pertinent to employee disengagement and employee engagement was consulted to develop a greater understanding of the theories underpinning employee disengagement concerning a business acquisition. A formal qualitative research approach underpinned by a research tool, in-depth interviews, was employed in this study. As the researcher sought in-depth information from the 4Packaging Africa Durban employees, on the investigated topic. This methodology was appropriate for the research study as a real-world situation was being explored as it unfolds naturally. Data collected from open-ended and repeated in-depth interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The key findings indicate that 4Packaging Africa Durban employees are disengaged, they value communication during the process of a business acquisition, and they were negatively impacted by the business acquisition. The research findings are critical for eliminating factors that result in employee disengagement during a business acquisition at 4Packaging Africa Durban.
Exploring the role of transformational leadership in overcoming post-coronavirus challenges and building resilience in tourism SMMEs in eThekwini Municipality.
(2025) Maduna, Welcome.; Chummun, Bibi Zaheenah.
This study explores the role of transformational leadership in overcoming postcoronavirus challenges and building resilience in tourism SMMEs in eThekwini Municipality. It aims to understand the role of transformational leadership and resilience in navigating these challenges, focusing on how leadership styles can empower diverse workforce groups and foster organisational resilience. Using a qualitative approach, the research incorporated demographic insights through semistructured interviews with eighteen participants who included SMME leaders, managers, and employees who were purposively sampled. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse interview transcripts and document data. The findings revealed that demographic diversity, structural inequities, and a competitive digital landscape significantly impact SMMEs' operations. The study highlights that adaptive leadership is crucial for empowering teams and enabling them to withstand external pressures, emphasising the importance of tailored support mechanisms for diverse employee needs. Thus, this study recommends that policymakers should enhance financial support for tourism SMMEs. SMME leaders are encouraged to adopt transformational leadership practices that foster adaptability and team cohesion, promote resilience through community partnerships, and implement tailored communication strategies for their diverse workforce. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of digital transformation, the role of inclusive policy frameworks for black-led SMMEs and longitudinal studies to evaluate the effectiveness of resilience-building measures.
Analyzing leadership and management competencies required by management at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
(2024) Sichela, Thobile Penelope.; Chummum, Bibi Zaheenah.
The institutions of Higher Learning find themselves battling several challenges, and the reduced funding from the government due to the global economic crisis has affected these institutions. Higher Learning institutions were also affected by the global pandemic, which meant that the institutions of higher learning had to transform their teaching methods from in-person teaching to online teaching, which has an impact way of teaching going forward. The institutions had to deal with constant student protests, which sometimes resulted in violence. Amongst all these challenges, the institution of learning, University of KwaZulu-Natal, has to find ways to deal with these challenges and remain relevant on the global stage and maintain its ranking status, and reputation. The University of KwaZulu-Natal has been through major changes in the past ten years and is undergoing yet another transformation. This study aims to explore the state of leadership and management competencies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in the context of change and challenges that emerge in the Institute of Higher Learning. A quantitative study was conducted, and six objectives were employed to test whether the institution has suitable leaders and managers to lead the institution to meet its vision, mission, and goals. The study has a population size of 106, with an 84-sample size. The quantitative study was conducted using a descriptive and correlational design, and a random sampling technique was employed in this study. The questionnaire with 43 open-ended questions was posted on the UKZN notice to the University employees. 60 of the leadership and management employees, both academic and professional, participated in this study, resulting in a 71% response rate, with 20% academic management and the other 80% support staff management. The theoretical review was conducted in terms of theories, models, and frameworks to find new theories, gaps, and future studies. SPSS ANOVA statically instrument was used to analyze data, by analyzing the variables’ means, standard deviation, regression, and graphs. The hypotheses were tested through testing t-values and confidence levels to test managers’ competencies through managers' leadership style, trainingand development, management experience and educational background, management barriers, andtechnology leadership. There is a strong positive correlation between the institution leaders' and managers'skills, abilities, and competencies to lead the institution. The study has found that UKZN managers andleaders have the competencies required to manage the institution effectively. The study found gaps inwhether leaders’ and managers' team members found their respective leaders and managers to havecompetitive skills and the ability to manage the institution effectively. The future study recommendationis to test whether the leaders and managers team managers believe their team managers have thecompetencies, skills, and abilities to manage the teams.