ResearchSpace
ResearchSpace is the institutional repository of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, unlocking knowledge, empowering impact, and preserving UKZN's research legacy.
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Government initiatives and learner perceptions influencing agriculture as a career choice in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2025) Qwabe, Xolani Mduduzi.; Salisbury, Roger Hans Theodore.
The participation of young people in farming has been one of the key issues for the South African government. For this reason, the government has implemented several important policies and strategies to inspire the youth to participate in agriculture. Strategies include programs that promote and support smallholder agricultural businesses, particularly those owned by the youth. National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) was established with one of the objectives being to assist young people of this country to establish their own farming businesses. furthermore, the National Empowerment Fund has provided financial support to the youth with the intention of promoting their full participation in farming. Youth participation in agriculture and the promotion of agripreneurship are vital for food security and the achievement of SA economic goals, yet government efforts do not seem to have resulted in the expected outcome.
This study sought to investigate government initiatives and learner perceptions that influence the selection of agriculture as a career choice in KwaZulu-Natal. A quantitative methodology was employed with 140 questionnaires distributed by hand to the students of uMfolozi TVET Colleges (Nkandla, Eshowe, and Bhambanana/Jozini) in Kwazulu-Natal province. The findings indicate that students perceive that the agricultural industry does not provide clean jobs and that agricultural professions in general are not attractive. Students consider that resources are limited, and they lack the knowledge to utilise those that are available. The study proposes possible strategies to attract youth to careers in agriculture.
The impact of communication barriers at Majuba Technical and Vocational Education and Training college.
(2025) Ntshangase, Thulile Winfridah.; Naidoo, Vannie.
Every organisation engages in communication, which is a concept that is quite frequent in dayto-day life. Tasks cannot be completed if there are no efficient means of communication. Barriers and difficulties both that can be avoided and that cannot be avoided do arise during the communication process. To effectively surmount communication obstacles, a person must internalise all the necessary skills and dispositions. Examining the effects of communication obstacles that lecturers and management at Majuba Technical and Vocational Education and Training College encounter is the study's objective, as well as the factors that prevent effective communication and solutions to these issues. The primary aim is to pinpoint various barriers to successful communication at Majuba Technical and Vocational Education and Training College and suggest possible solutions for their communication system. Qualitative research methodology was used for this study. Data was collected through interviews using content analysis to organise collected information and to analyse the recorded data from the interviews with participants from Majuba Technical Vocational Education and Training College. The participants who took part in my study are employees employed by the College, which includes Lecturers and Senior Lecturers, and this research took place at Majuba Technical Vocational Education and Training College, which is based at Majuba and UmziNyathi Districts, which provides different programs. Employees at the College received a list of interview questions that had been created. The participants who took part in this study were 10 lecturers. The goal was accomplished using information gathered through interviews, and the study's conclusions can assist management in becoming aware of the difficulties and formulating plans to address them so that both lecturers and management can function in a favorable atmosphere. This study has covered a wide range of significant topics, including the various types of obstacles to effective communication within an organisation, as well as strategies for overcoming communication barriers and addressing psychological, physical, cultural, and linguistic barriers to effective communication.
Understanding the influences in personal name-giving of firstborn children born within the amaZulu nation in 1990-1994. a case of the uMkhambathini community.
(2025) Sibisi, Thandi Nomzamo.; Ngcobo, Tholakele Ruth.; Dlamini, Phindile Dorothy.
The study is grounded in Social Identity Theory and Social Constructionism, which together provide a framework for understanding how names contribute to identity formation and how meanings attached to names are socially and culturally constructed. Naming practices are examined as both reflective and constitutive of social identities, collective memory, and cultural continuity. The research highlights how naming is influenced by collective memory, ancestral reverence and significance, and sociopolitical history, particularly the lingering effects of colonialism and apartheid, which have disrupted and reshaped indigenous cultural practices. It further reveals the coexistence and tension between traditional naming systems and Western ideologies, including the incorporation of Christian and modern influences in naming conventions. Findings also indicate that naming reflects familial expectations, gendered roles, and patriarchal authority, while simultaneously serving as a medium for expressing resistance, hope, and social commentary. Grounded in an interpretivist paradigm, the study adopts a qualitative research design to provide in-depth, context-rich insights. Data were gathered through purposive and snowball sampling, which were appropriate for accessing participants with specific cultural knowledge and lived experiences of naming practices within the community. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to capture participants' lived experiences, and thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns and meanings in the data. Findings reveal that naming firstborn children is not merely a familial act but a cultural responsibility imbued with symbolic, spiritual, and social meanings. Names function as carriers of identity, markers of historical continuity, and expressions of cultural resilience in a changing sociocultural landscape. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how personal naming among the AmaZulu reflects broader cultural narratives, identity formation, and the preservation of indigenous knowledge systems.
An evaluation of leadership and management influence on audit outcomes : a case study of uMshwathi Municipality.
(2025) Mathenjwa, Theoreen Thulile.; Nzimakwe, Thokozani Ian.
The study aimed to examine challenges facing leadership in municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal that negatively impact the audit outcomes, with a specific focus on the uMshwathi Municipality. It further provided a comparison of audit outcomes for the past three financial years, (2018/19; 2019/20 and 2020/21) and a provincial outlook, highlighting the root causes and recommendations to improve the situation. In addition, the study examined whether there is a need to amend legislation to address some of the root causes and outlined the type of leadership needed to change the situation. This study utilised qualitative research since it permits in-depth engagement with municipal leadership to comprehend their concerns and how they may secure favourable audit outcomes. Due to the qualitative nature of the study, appropriate data collection techniques such as interviews, focus groups, and observation were
used. The data was gathered through semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed using the thematic analysis approach. The study's key findings are structured around leadership skills, audit regression factors, leadership impacts, financial management, governance effects, and improvement strategies. Deficiencies in strategic planning suited to ecological shifts, financial acumen and accountability, and political leadership’s disengagement from fiduciary consciousness emerged. On the other hand, an appetite for participative envisioning emerged.
The study recommended that leadership nurture suggested participative planning, control digitisation, communication democratisation policies suiting ecological uncertainty, household mobility yearnings, and social transparency. There is also a willingness to adopt participative planning, fiscal visualisation, specialised skills fusion, and scaled control digitalisation. Thereafter, clean audits manifest co-accountability and require embedding collaborative social contracts fulfilling household aspirations. Tailored competency acceleration also holds potential alongside communication democratisation for turning clean audits into embedded social contracts fulfilling intergenerational mobility aspirations if leaders urgently champion suggested policies. Further research is recommended to investigate participation toolkits, blended administrator-community exchanges, and interface democratisation techniques that dissolve psychological distances.
Diversification of neglected legumes into cropping systems of South Africa.
(2025) Vilakazi , Busisiwe.; Mafongoya, Paramu.; Odindo, Alfred Oduor.
Neglected legumes (Bambara groundnut, cowpea, pigeon pea) are fundamental to global food
systems, contributing to agricultural sustainability, enhancing food security and strengthening
the resilience of smallholder farming systems. However, they remain underutilized and have
historically received limited attention in terms of cultivation, research, and market
development, despite their significant nutritional, agronomic and environmental potential.
Therefore, this study's objectives were (1) to assess the socioeconomic factors influencing crop
diversification among smallholder farmers in Bergville, South Africa; (2) to investigate the
socioeconomic factors influencing smallholder farmers' willingness to cultivate neglected
legumes and their selection of suitable planting dates; (3) to determine the effect of planting
date on agronomic performance of neglected legumes under rainfed conditions; and (4) to
evaluate the effect of cropping systems on the adaptability of neglected legumes in rainfed
conditions. The first study on the socioeconomic factors influencing crop diversification among
smallholder farmers in Bergville, South Africa, revealed that farmers in the study area practice
crop diversification. However, the findings indicated that, socioeconomic factors play a crucial
role in shaping diversification decisions within smallholder farming systems. This study
confirms that, limited access to land, water availability, market access, and education level
constrain farmers’ ability to diversify their crop choices. The second study findings indicate the
vital role of socioeconomic factors in shaping adoption decisions and integrating these crops
into existing cropping systems. Limited access to land, water availability, market access, and
marital status influence farmers' willingness to cultivate neglected legumes. Household size,
participation in legume-related training, and access to irrigation water influenced the selection
of suitable planting dates. The limited cultivation and adoption of neglected legumes were not
primarily due to resource constraints but rather a lack of awareness and knowledge regarding
their nutritional and health benefits. The third study on the effect of planting date on agronomic
performance of neglected legumes under rainfed conditions indicated a significant variation in
agronomic performance across planting dates, with early planting generally associated with
improved emergence, timely flowering, and higher yield potential while the fourth study
demonstrated that cropping systems significantly influenced the adaptability of neglected
legumes under rainfed conditions. Intercropping systems, particularly those involving cereallegume
combinations, have enhanced the growth performance, yield, and resource use
efficiency of neglected legumes compared to sole cropping. The improved adaptability
observed under intercropping is attributed to the complementary utilisation of resources and
microclimatic benefits that mitigate water stress.
The contribution of neglected legumes to food and nutrition security remains limited due to the
socio-economic challenges faced by farmers, which contribute to the underutilization of these
legumes. Integrating neglected legumes into cropping systems would broaden the basket of
options, and the net effect would be increasing resilience. Crop diversification is a vital strategy
for achieving sustainable agriculture and food security; however, its adoption rates remain low.
This study first objective examined the socioeconomic factors influencing crop diversification
among smallholder farmers. A two-stage sampling procedure was employed to collect data
from 161 farmers who specialised solely in crop production. A structured questionnaire was
used to collect data, analysed using descriptive statistics. The multiple linear regression and
multivariate probit regression models were applied to assess the socioeconomic factors
influencing diversification. The results revealed that smallholders primarily focused on
vegetable cultivation (87%), followed by cereals (56%) and legumes (43%). Education level,
household size, market access, and the perceived benefits of diversification significantly
influenced diversification decisions (p < 0.05). Also, sources of irrigation water, age, marital
status, and farm size were key factors in vegetable diversification, while farming experience,
farm size, and perceived benefits influenced legume diversification. Only marital status and
farming experience were positively linked to cereal crop diversification. Furthermore, 48.4%
of farmers practice intercropping, integrating maize with pumpkins or sugar beans, while
33.5% still rely on monoculture, predominantly maize, due to limited resources. These findings
underscore the need for policies and extension support to address socioeconomic barriers and
promote the wider adoption of crop diversification strategies. The second objective of the study
was to assess socioeconomic factors influencing farmers’ willingness to cultivate neglected
legumes and their selection of suitable planting dates in Bergville, South Africa. A simple
random sampling procedure was used to collect data from 150 farmers who specialised
exclusively in crop production. An action research design was implemented, comprising
structured training sessions on neglected legumes and trial demonstrations. Data were collected
through a structured survey questionnaire, focus group discussions, and key informant
interviews. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis, and a multivariate probit model was
employed to determine the socioeconomic factors influencing farmers' willingness to cultivate
neglected legumes including Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea), cowpea (Vigna
unguiculata), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and their
selection of suitable planting dates. Findings confirmed that, the majority of smallholder
farmers primarily focus on vegetable cultivation, followed by cereals, while a smaller
proportion engage in legume farming. The results also revealed that, limited knowledge and
resources, along with the lack of training programs and extension services, specifically
targeting neglected legumes, are significant barriers hindering their adoption and cultivation in
the region. Furthermore, the study revealed that a majority of smallholder farmers had never
received training in legume production. Additionally, marital status, farm size, market access,
and water sources for irrigation were significant socioeconomic factors influencing farmers'
willingness to cultivate neglected legumes, while household size, participation in legume
training, and water sources for irrigation had a significant effect on farmers' selection of
suitable planting dates. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, including
tailored training programs, improved access to resources, and enhanced extension services, to
overcome these barriers and promote the adoption of neglected legumes into smallholder
farmers' cropping systems.
The third objective examined the effect of planting date on the agronomic performance of the
selected neglected legume crops. Field trials were conducted over two consecutive summer
growing seasons (2022/23 and 2023/24) using a split-plot randomized complete block design
with three replications. Phenological traits (emergence, flowering, podding, and senescence)
and yield components (pod mass, and grain yield) were recorded and analysed using GenStat®
and principal component analysis. Significant effects of planting date, legume species, season,
and their two- and three-way interactions (P ≤ 0.05) were observed for all measured traits. Early
planting demonstrated enhanced crop establishment and vegetative development, while
reproductive traits were strongly influenced by the synchronization of phenological stages with
prevailing climatic conditions. Cowpea and Bambara groundnut demonstrated stable
phenological and reproductive performance across planting dates and seasons, with high
emergence rates of 90.2% and 85.63%, respectively, suggesting strong resilience under climate
variability. Pigeon pea showed greater sensitivity, particularly to delayed planting. Delayed
sowing increased grain yield in common bean, cowpea, and Bambara groundnut, whereas
pigeon pea showed a decline. These findings underscore the importance of aligning planting
dates with species- specific phenological responses to optimize the productivity and resilience
of neglected legumes in rainfed systems.
The fourth objective evaluated the effects of cropping systems on the adaptability of neglected
legumes in rainfed environments. Field trials were conducted over two consecutive summer
growing seasons (2022/23 and 2023/24) using a split-plot randomized complete block design
with three replications. Phenological traits (emergence, flowering, podding, and senescence),
yield components (pods per plant, seeds per pod, pod mass, 100-seed weight and grain yield (t
ha⁻¹)), and land equivalent ratios (LER) were recorded and analyzed using GenStat® and
principal component analysis. Significant effects of cropping system, cultivar, season, and their
two- and three-way interactions (P ≤ 0.05) were observed for all measured traits, confirming
that legume-based intercropping systems significantly influenced the adaptability and
productivity of neglected legumes under rainfed conditions. Intercropping enhanced early
emergence and accelerated reproductive development in legumes such as Bambara groundnut,
cowpea, and common bean, while pigeon pea showed reduced establishment under sole
cropping due to competitive suppression. Pod production, pod mass, seed number per pod, 100-
seed weight and grain yield consistently increased under intercropping. Cowpea and Bambara
groundnut exhibited stable responses across seasons, whereas common bean and pigeon pea
showed greater variability, highlighting the importance of genotype and species-specific
compatibility with intercrop designs. Land equivalent ratios (LER) consistently exceeded 1.0
under intercropping confirming the superior land-use efficiency and yield potential of
intercropping in smallholder agroecosystems. These findings underscore the importance of
strategic selection of legume species with complementary phenology, growth dynamics, and
resource requirements to optimize interspecific interactions and enhance system productivity.
Keywords: Smallholder farmers; socioeconomic attributes; rainfed agriculture; legumes
adoption; intercropping; agronomic performance; optimal planting date; multivariate probit
regression model; PCA