Browsing by Author "Howell, Simon"

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    A pot of gold at the end of the rainbow: Subsistence cannabis cultivation in the changing legislative context in South Africa
    (2021) Fortune, Kelly; Howell, Simon; Hübschle, Annette
    Cannabis cultivation is documented as a long-standing practice in Africa and Southern Africa specifically (Paterson 2009, Crampton 2015, Duvall 2019, Khan 2015, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2019). The growing of cannabis is concentrated in three African regions; Pondoland in South Africa, the Mokhotlong district in Lesotho and the Hhohho district in Swaziland, with the majority of farmers growing the crop for subsistence (Crampton 2015:57). Cannabis thus holds significant value in supplementing incomes and sustaining livelihoods, especially of cultivators. Considering their geographic and economic positions, the contribution of cannabis to the livelihoods of those who live in the poorest parts of the country is great, yet has been largely ignored (Kepe 2003:605) despite the changing legislative context of cannabis law in South Africa. Moreover, as changes to the legislative framework emerge and the cannabis legalisation debate deepens, one is challenged in locating the voices of the rural farmers who have cultivated cannabis for generations. As an important source of information, they appear to be left out. What are their views? Are they for or against legalisation and why? What are the perceived impacts of legalisation on their continued production of cannabis? In an attempt to garner and understand their views, needs and concerns, this thesis aims to showcase these, and further open up a small window of opportunity to relay the voices of the seemingly voiceless. It emphasises that, without their voices, a nuanced legalisation debate and support for a holistic, progressive, informed, sustainable legislative framework will be tainted.
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    The economic behaviour of poly-drug users in the Western Cape: an analysis of pathways, prices, location and gender
    (2017) Melis, Monique; Van Walbeek, Corne; Howell, Simon
    The use of illicit substances in South Africa has implications for the health and well-being of both the user and society at large. Improved data on the markets for illicit psychostimulants are imperative for supporting policy efforts to manage their use and provide support structures for those affected. This thesis is one of the few detailed studies on the South African drug market using quantitative methods. It expands on what is known about illicit substance markets by addressing aspects of the following questions: (1) What is known about the nature and scope of the methamphetamine, methaqualone and heroin markets? (2) What is known about the characteristics of poly-substance consumers? (3) What does the sequential pattern of substance initiation look like? (4) Why do poly-substance consumers report different inter- and intra-regional drug prices? (5) What issues need further research? As a first step towards answering these questions, a dataset of 337 poly-substance users from the Western Cape was analysed. Survey participants were sampled using a respondent-driven sampling technique – an approach useful for sampling hidden populations and efficiently, adjusting for associated sampling bias. The study found that methamphetamine prices tend to fluctuate across a heterogeneous consumer base, with a significant discount paid by females who were observed, on average, to pay 25% less for this substance. Methaqualone has less variation across consumers but showed significant price dissimilarities between the two sites included in the analysis, with respondents from Greenpoint paying, on average, 18% higher prices. This indicates a lack of pricing information being shared between the two sites. Heroin showed variation across consumers, although the data on this substance were limited. Furthermore, the results show that substance markets operate differently across intra-city locations. The key rationale for this include high transit costs incurred by suppliers (as drugs cannot be transported openly), high search costs incurred by consumers and the prevalence of information asymmetries between regions. This study brings light and understanding to a traditionally hidden market and highly dangerous market; however, far more data on the South African and African drug market is needed.
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    An explorative study of Congolese "bouncers" in Cape Town: constructing masculine identities in liminal spaces
    (2017) Harris, Kirsten; Howell, Simon; Shaw, Mark
    The intended purpose of the following thesis was to explore and attempt to understand how Congolese Bouncers, specifically in Cape Town, construct their own masculine identities in liminal spaces. This exploration entailed examining the complexities and connections between immigrants, immigrant bouncers and masculine identities; within those areas, encompassing a multitude of periphery factors. The literature reviewed for this thesis then encompassed research on immigrants in South Africa, masculinities and masculine identities, bouncers, and illegal substances; individually as well as the correlations between and amongst the different areas. Thus, the following thesis consists of five chapters, with three, identified, key themes set out in individual chapters. A Foucauldian framework was used as a means of synthesising the often divergent areas of thought, as, at their core, they share concerns with knowledge, power, violence (in various forms) and identity. In the attempt to understand the subjective experiences and realities of these Congolese bouncers, the methodology employed for the collection of data was entirely qualitative in nature; specifically, that of phenomenological research. This method was situated within the (social) constructivist paradigm, used to guide the researcher in understanding "a phenomenon from the perspective of those experiencing it" (Constantino, 2008:119); using participant observation and interviewing as the primary forms of data collection. Upon listening to the individual "stories" and lived realities of the research participants, one of the key understandings in the conclusion of this thesis is that the "immigrant bouncer", in a South African context, exists in different realities. His identity, and more specifically his construction of masculinity, is divided by necessity between day and night. An identity that is constantly shifted and adapted to unfixed social structures. Through this research the hope is to create space for an alternative discussion which disrupts current conceptions around both immigrants and bouncers.
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    Using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit illegal poly-substance users in Cape Town, South Africa: implications and future directions
    (BioMed Central, 2016-09-01) Burnhams, Nadine Harker; Laubscher, Ria; Howell, Simon; Shaw, Mark; Erasmus, Jodilee; Townsend, Loraine
    Background: South Africa continues to witness an increase in illicit poly-substance use, although a precise measurement continues to be compounded by difficulties in accessing users. In a pilot attempt to use respondent-driven sampling (RDS)—a chain referral sampling method used to access populations of individuals who are ‘hard-to-reach’—this article documents the feasibility of the method as recorded in a simultaneously run, multisite, poly-substance study in Cape Town. Here we aim to a) document the piloting of RDS among poly-substance users in the three socio-economic disparate communities targeted; b) briefly document the results; and c) review the utility of RDS as a research tool. Methods: Three cross-sectional surveys using standard RDS procedures were used to recruit active poly-substance users and were concurrently deployed in three sites. Formative research was initially conducted to assess the feasibility of the survey. To determine whether RDS could be used to successfully recruit poly-substance users, social network characteristics, such as network size was determined. Results: A 42.5 % coupon return rate was recorded in total from 12 initial seeds. There were vast differences in the recruitment chains of individual seeds—two generated more than 90 recruits, and 2 of the 10 recruitment chains showing a length of more than 10 waves. Findings include evidence of the use of 3 or more substances in all three sites, high levels of unemployment among users, with more than a third of participants in two sites reporting arrest for drug use in the past 12 months. Conclusions: Our results indicate that RDS was a feasible and acceptable sampling method for recruiting participants who may not otherwise be accessible. Future studies can use RDS to recruit such cohorts, and the method could form part of broader efforts to document vulnerable populations.