OpenUCT :: Browsing by Department "Department of Political Studies"

Browsing by Department "Department of Political Studies"

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Open Access
A battle for access to the streets of a "World-Class African City": Assessing the challenges facing the City of Johannesburg in the management of street trading in the inner-city
(University of Cape Town, 2020) Zulu, Nompumelelo; Cameron, Robert
The paper identifies the main challenges faced by the City of Johannesburg in the management of street trading in Johannesburg's inner-city. Street trading is very important as it constitutes a great proportion of the informal sector in South Africa, and it plays a great role in the alleviation of poverty and unemployment. Government acknowledges the significance of street trading but this does not translate into urban policy and practice. There is a need for government to be more supportive and developmental in the management of street trading in urban governance. The paper found that the 2013 Constitutional Court Judgement on Operation Clean Sweep has brought about a shift in the City of Johannesburg's approach and attitude towards street trading, however, key challenges remain. Firstly, the City of Johannesburg needs to establish a holistic, developmental and collaborative management model for street trading as the current one is fragmented and inconsistent. The mismanagement of street trading has left traders vulnerable to police harassment and corruption, and it has resulted in the "crime and grime" the City of Johannesburg so often blames street trading for. Secondly, the City of Johannesburg needs to balance its desire to attain world-class African city status with the needs of the poor and marginalized - economic development, urban renewal and investment should not take place at the expense of the poor. Thirdly, street traders need to be at the center of the management model, currently business and private interests are at the center of the model. Lastly, the City of Johannesburg needs to be more creative and lenient in accommodating the growing number of street traders in the inner-city. The City of Johannesburg needs to stop criminalizing street trading through the creation of scarcity. The findings of this paper have implications for urban management policy and practice. Research was conducted through interviews with the Department of Economic Development officials responsible for street trading; draft policy and government documents were used; and secondary sources were drawn upon.
Open Access
A critical assessment of the link between climate change and violent conflict in the context of sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Darfur
(2019) Roettinger, Julia; Lamb, Guy
Up until the beginning of this century climate change was mostly seen as an environmental issue, although, the issue of violent conflict has been linked to natural resources before. However, in the last decade the focus has increasingly shifted to connecting climate change with, in particular, human security. In contrast to previous debates, contemporary discussions put emphasis on the impacts that climate change has on human lives. Yet, it is not uncontroversial to what extent environmental degradation as well as carbon dioxide emission based economies play and have played an accelerating role. But even if 'climate change sceptics’ or 'climate change deniers’ question the credibility of climate change the reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) present a solid base for the international climate debate which is accepted and supported by the majority of academic experts. Nonetheless, there is significant ambiguity about what the negative consequences of climate change could pose on peaceful human co-existence. In 2007, specifically, it was brought to public attention that the effects of a warming climate, such as more intense storms, floods and droughts have severe impacts on the human-wellbeing, especially in more vulnerable areas of the globe. Experts even claimed that, in many parts of the world, climate change would cause dramatic impacts in the form of violent conflicts due to the decrease of drinking water, fertile soil as well as food. Entire states might be weakened and societies could collapse which might lead to severe consequences for conflict resolution institutions and mechanisms, human security as well as migration. However, findings regarding the impacts of climate change on violent conflict are highly controversial and sometimes even contradictory. One reason for that could be that the physical effects of climate change are limited to date. Furthermore, as studies from the 1990s on the consequences of environmental change have shown, it is difficult to disconnect the environmental factor from other societal and political influences that lead to conflict. This thesis explores the politically charged issue as well as academically controversial link between climate change, as one of the environmental changes, and violent conflict by providing a conceptual assessment of the two different bodies of literature, namely the literature on violent conflict and the climate change literature, before examining available literature on the connection of the two phenomena. Finally, the case study of Darfur is analysed with regards to the often misused term climate war in order to conclude that violent conflicts are caused by multiple factors which should not be oversimplified and therefore cannot be traced back to purely environmental reasons. Therefore, the central research questions addressed in this thesis are: what do scholars say about the connection between climate change and violent conflict? Can climate change and its repercussions be seen as a threat multiplier in unstable and therefore vulnerable societies? And can the Darfur conflict be described as one of the first climate wars?
Open Access
A Critical Examination of Zambia's Democratic Performance since 1991
(2021) Banda, Mabvuto; Akokpari, John
A qualitative research approach and the reliance to a large extent on existing literature are used in this study to demonstrate Zambia's stagnant position in becoming a true democracy. While the country is seen as a beacon of peace in Africa, reflected in the peaceful transfer of power after elections, police brutality is rampant. Those with divergent views are not spared and suffer at the hands of police using the Public Order Act in instances of ‘breach of peace' and as an excuse for maintaining ‘public order'. Zambia continues to have a poor human rights record, reflected in the perpetration of violence against its citizenry with impunity by government officials and the political elites. Alleged cases of corruption rarely end in convictions despite overwhelming evidence of illegal practices. The Electoral Commission of Zambia and the judiciary are often accused of being biased towards the political establishment. A failure to appear autonomous has not only negatively affected their operations but has created negative perceptions and a loss of public confidence in these critical institutions. This, in turn, has resulted in the further undermining of democracy, as these important agencies are seemingly ineffective in ensuring that Zambia becomes a true democracy.
Open Access
A discursive historical approach (DHA) to understanding South Africa's leadership aspirations in Africa: state exceptionalism and foreign policy under Mandela and Mbeki
(2022) Maposa, Siseko Kwalunga; Akokpari, John
Since the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, the state has maintained a “South African Africa destiny” which sees itself as a modernizing and civilizing force in, and the rightful leaders of Africa. What has also been evident, throughout various political leaderships, has been a strong presence of South African exceptionalism which forms a core characteristic of its' national identity (Vale & Maseko, 2002; Mamdani, 1998; Breckenridge, 2004). Leadership foreign policy dispositions and state exceptionalism have persisted through the democratization of the state, forming a core component of post-apartheid state identity and foreign policy in Africa. But how can one understand the relationship between South African exceptionalism and its' continued leadership dispositions in the region? By employing a Discursive Historical Approach (DHA), the thesis investigates the influence of South African exceptionalism on its' foreign policy in Africa under the presidencies of Mandela (1994-1999) and Mbeki (1999-2008). Analysis will identify the discursive origins of South African exceptionalism, assess discursive diachronic changes and (re)productions within the post-apartheid state before drawing upon theoretical in-sight to investigate the impact of state exceptionalism on South African foreign policy in Africa. The thesis finds that firstly, the origins of South African exceptionalism can be discursively traced back to the pronouncements by British political leaders in the South African Union of 1910. Initially, South Africa was argued to be exceptional because of its' geography and in the manner it exercised colonial governance over its' African subjects. Secondly, several post-apartheid discourses of exceptionalism are identified, traced back to the workmanship of new right-intellectuals of the 1990s and their ideas of a multicultural new South Africa. Post-apartheid discourses of exceptionalism relate to: 1) the South African miracle, 2) South Africa: the rainbow people of God, 3) South Africa: the cradle of mankind and 4) South Africa: the gateway to Africa. These discourses construct a South African identity possessing the inter-subjective view that the states' politics, economy and society are more advanced than that of its' neighbouring nations. Lastly, the paper finds that South African exceptionalism must be understood as 1) a discursive construction of South African identity, 2) a role-creator articulating South Africa as leaders and teachers in the region and 3) a framework articulating the nations' model of political and economic organization as something worth exporting elsewhere. At often times, this influences the states' actions in Africa by creating a leadership-orientated foreign policy demeanour.
Open Access
A Review of Critical Factors Impacting the Implementation of E-government in Developing Countries
(2021) Mogale, Boitumelo Hlengiwe; Cameron, Robert
A key challenge facing developing countries is the high failure rate of electronic government (e-government) programmes. Since its inception, e-government has been implemented globally with the aim that it will enhance the quality-of-service delivery, transform government's internal and external processes and make the public sector more effective and efficient. However, the majority of e-government initiatives have failed to meet their objectives, particularly in developing countries. Therefore, this research considers the factors facilitating and inhibiting the successful implementation of e-government in developing countries. The methodology adopted for the thesis was a qualitative research approach. Secondary data was collected through a literature review of various sources, namely government publications, annual reports compiled by international development agencies and relevant books. To address the research question, I identified literature from journal articles with expertise in information systems such as the Electronic Journal for E-government. The research findings indicate that e-government in developing countries is impacted by various infrastructural, financial, political, socio-economic, organisational and human related aspects. Some of these include the digital divide, resistance to change, limited ICT skills and a lack of robust regulatory frameworks. The study concludes that successful e-government does not solely rest on technology. Instead, developing countries need to understand the impact of the various local contextual factors. These are the fundamental aspects that must be considered during the strategic design of e-government initiatives to ensure they are appropriate for and relevant to local conditions.
Open Access
A study of state-based social assistance provision and its influence on the developmental character of the South African State: the case of the child support grant
(2006) Chagunda, Chance Arisitaliko; Taylor, Vivienne
This thesis aims at examining the extent to which state-based social assistance provision, in the form of Child Support Grant (CSG), influences the character of a developmental state. Social assistance provision is understood to be part of a developmental state response to the needs of its citizens. I have argued in this thesis that CSG influences the characteristics of a developmental state in as far as it is available to all needy children who pass the means-test regardless of race. I hold the view that the developmental approach to social policy should be of great assistance in a country such as South Africa where there is mass poverty by meeting people's needs in a short to medium term but also enabling them to depend on themselves in a long term. The history of the policy context in South Africa and three approaches to social policy have been examined. These are residual, institutional and normative approaches. My emphasis has been on the approach that best suits the developmental state. I argue that the developmental state that applies a normative approach will address issues related to the eradication of poverty, poor economic opportunities as well as social deprivation and promotes self-reliance. South Africa's conceptualisation of social policy and social welfare is in keeping with a developmental state. The problem however, is the implementation of social policy and social welfare provision. In this thesis I have focused on four research questions and these are: • Can the CSG illustrate an appropriate social policy intervention of a developmental state in the context of mass poverty? • Is South Africa's conceptualisation of social policy and social welfare in keeping with a developmental state? • What impact does social assistance provision, in the form of a CSG, have on poor households? • Can such impact together with other policy interventions contribute to lifting people out of poverty and building their developmental capacity? I have used both qualitative and quantitative to examine these questions. My findings show that social assistance in the form of CSG is consistent with the developmental approach to social welfare.
Open Access
A theory of corporate planning applied to the Cape Provincial Administration
(1981) Sides, Denis Barton; Beekman, Jan F
Open Access
Achieving sustainable peace in Worcester
(2013) Snyman, Deon; Scanlon, Helen
Open Access
Activist memorialization : bearing witness at St. George's Cathedral
(2011) Van Mill, Sarah; Field, Sean
The purpose of this thesis is to address the question: how can memorialization contribute to social transformation? Specifically, in what ways is memorialization activist? To answer this question I worked with St. Georgeâ€™s Cathedralâ€™s Crypt Memory and Witness Centre on their Bearing Witness exhibit, conducted primary and secondary literature surveys (namely academic articles and books, and periodicals from 1980-1986), story-telling focus groups and individual interviews. The exhibit group consisted of 17 former South African squatters who fasted at St. Georgeâ€™s Cathedral in 1982, demanding rights to live and work in Cape Town. Of the group of 17, I conducted personal interviews with seven women and three men.
Open Access
Advocacy-orientated, advocacy-related and scholarly literature on the Rwandan genocide of 1994 : assessing whether the main points of concern, criticism or dispute about the literature arise from the basic facts and empirical evidence presented or from the interpretive frameworks employed to analyse them
(2011) Motlafi, Nompumelelo; Simons, Mary; Du Toit, André
This literature review is written as a response to Timothy Longman's general suggestion that much of the literature on the "Rwandan genocide of 1994" was based on empirically poor secondary analyses instead of "rigorous" original empirical research. The study was further alerted by Longman's indication that there had been "myths and inaccuracies" circulating in the literature.
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Affirmative Action in South Africa: From Targets to Empowerment
(South African Association of Public Administration and Management, 2009-04) Milne, Chantal
Representative bureaucracy, together with addressing inequalities, is the foundation of the public service reform of affirmative action policies in South Africa. Currently, affirmative action policies focus on passive representation and targets. However, the discourse on affirmative action appears to be concerned with the language of empowerment and therefore diverges from the original policy language. This article analyses the Personnel and Salary Information System (PERSAL) data from 1995 to 2008 to assess where the public service of South African stands in attaining the targets set in affirmative action policy. The article concludes that the language of representative bureaucracy underpins the policies. However, the spirit of these affirmative action policies, which could in terms of the discourse on affirmative action, can be seen to be the move to empowerment, perhaps through active participation.
Open Access
Affirming women in the South African public service a study of provincial government 2000 - 2007
(2012) Meyer, Tamlynn; Cameron, Robert
Since 1994 a strong legal and policy framework has been in place to ensure that women are adequately represented and treated as equals to their male counterparts. Affirmative action is the official programme used by the government to ensure that, among other things, women are fast tracked into the public service. This thesis examines the extent to which women are represented in provincial government and the possible barriers, if any, confronting them in their career advancement. A mixed-method approach incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data is used in this study.
Open Access
Africa returning East : can the China development model travel to Africa?
(2005) Hawn, Josh
Africa is returning to the strategic agenda of both old and new powers. A number of new opportunities and alarming missteps will be possible in the coming decades. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the neo-liberal agenda has been unchallenged allowing little ﬂexibility for developing countries to alter their macroeconomic policies and closely coupled development agenda. However, the successes of economies to the east of Africa are providing an alternative to following the prescriptions and rules set by the 'Western' economies. Because of these geopolitical changes and Africa's continued socio-economic problems, the policies of China and the surrounding economies are gaining attention. Africa is no longer completely reliant on trade and aid from the predominant powers and the rise of the Indian Ocean and Asian economies is loosening the grip and associated consequences of following (or not following) predetermined economic policies. These changes in the international order lead to the central purpose of this thesis, which is to explore the inﬂuence of China's development model in Africa. This thesis will argue that African governments are beginning to challenge the 'Washington Consensus' by shifting towards a model based on China's development gains. However, the political economy of African countries does not support a complete adoption of China's socialist, state-centric model. The null would suggest African governments are committed to a 'Washington Consensus' deﬁned development model, however the evidence suggest the contrary.
Open Access
Africa's growth dividend? Lived poverty drops across much of the continent
(2016-01) Mattes, Robert; Dulani, Boniface; Gyimah-Boadi, E
Though Africa has recorded high levels of economic growth over the past decade, previous Afrobarometer surveys of citizens found little evidence that this growth had reduced levels of poverty in any consistent way (Dulani, Mattes, & Logan, 2013). However, new data from Afrobarometer Round 6, collected across 35 African countries, suggest a very different picture. While “lived poverty” remains pervasive across much of the continent, especially in Central and West Africa, we now see evidence that the decade of economic growth seems to have finally delivered broad-based reductions in poverty. “Lived poverty” (an index that measures the frequency with which people experience shortages of basic necessities) retreated across a broad range of countries. In the roughly three-year period between Round 5 (2011/2013) and Round 6 (2014/2015) surveys, our data suggest that “lived poverty” fell in 22 of 33 countries surveyed in both rounds. However, these changes show no systematic relation to recent rates of economic growth. While growing economies are undoubtedly important, what appears to be more important in improving the lives of ordinary people is the extent to which national governments and their donor partners put in place the type of development infrastructure that enables people to build better lives.
Open Access
Africa's recent oil boom : are the same mistakes being made again? Investigating the effect of the recent surge in oil prices upon the prospects of long term development in Sub-Saharan Africa
(2009) Rhodes, Anton; Mattes, Robert
There has been as yet no empirical study that has undertaken to identify how Sub-Saharan African (SSA) states have allocated the wealth generated from the 21st century oil boom. The answer to this question may well determine whether Africa has any prospect of sustainable resource led development in the near future. This work is an empirical study into how oil states have allocated their wealth in the modern era, and whether there has been a divergence from the past. The main goal is to revise the common view (based as it is on the experiences of the 1970's and early 1980's) that increased levels of oil wealth serve only to undermine the prospect of long term economic growth within developing countries. I argue that improvements in the political environment have increased the possibility that the 21st century price rise has been used more productively than was the case thirty years ago. Thus the focus of this paper is to identify how oil states have improved their use of oil wealth in the recent era, and the factors that have brought this about. To achieve this end, I have created a set of variables that identifies the amount of oil wealth that has accrued to African governments (during the 21st century price rise) and the areas in which these funds have been allocated. I have also measured levels of political and social freedom to determine whether the political environment is one that has improved from the previous price hike period. My empirical findings display two clear results. Firstly, the political environment has improved significantly from the previous era, and secondly, the pattern of resource allocation has changed dramatically, to one that holds out a much greater prospect of positive long term economic growth. Based upon these results, it appears that SSA oil states have broken away from the negative effects associated with the resource curse and the previous oil bonanza.
Open Access
African democracy at a crossroads : structural adjustment, economic crisis and political turbulence in Zimbabwe
(2007) Nyoni, Shuvai Busuman; Akokpari, John
Word processed copy. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-76).
Open Access
African development : the historical context of NEPAD
(2004) Gould, Kate; Schrire, Robert
Includes bibliographical references.
Open Access
African legislatures active in the budget process?! Emerging trends and consequences for legislative identity
(2019) Heim, Kristen; Mattes, Bob
Legislatures in the Southern Africa have made recent signals that they are becoming active in the budget process through the establishment of Budget Committees, Parliamentary Budget Offices, and Constituency Development Funds. These developments are surprising given the Westminster heritage of these institutions and periods of executive dominance that precluded such involvement from independence. If these legislatures are, indeed, modifying their involvement in budgetary matters, this could pointto a fundamental shiftin their overall function and identity. This study thus asks: Are changes really unfolding? And, if so, why? The research employs data collected on the basis of extensive fieldwork in five parliaments in Southern Africa with similar historical attributes. This includes semi-structured interviews with over 160 MPs and staff, focus group discussions, and archival analysis in the Parliaments of Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. The results of the study find support for the initial hypothesis: public signals are, indeed, indicative of more extensive changes in legislative budgetary engagement, though to varying degrees within each. Formal legal authority was found to be a poor predictor of legislative change, as were emerging technical abilities. A final congruence test found that a combination of external donor influence and regional peer-to peer legislative exchange are best able to account for the developments underway. The results of this exploratory study serve as an orientation for parliaments presently undergoing institutional change in budgetary matters as well as a basis for further research.
Open Access
African legislatures and HIV/AIDS : an exploratory analysis
(2011) Searle, Alexandra; Mattes, Robert; Strand Per
Since 1981 AIDS has killed more than 25 million people world-wide, the majority of whom lived within developing countries. The worst affected region, Sub Saharan Africa, currently has 3.5% of the world’s population yet 37% of the world’s people living with HIV. In light of the magnitude of the pandemic in the region it has been increasingly acknowledged that not only are HIV and AIDS health issues but also pervasive development issues due to the impact they have on national socioeconomic development. Unsurprisingly a disease of ‘sex and drugs’4 is a highly controversial and politicized issue. An effective response represents a serious challenge for national governance institutions, particularly within the unique and complex socio political environments of the region. The need for ‘democratic governance’ and a ‘multi-sectoral’ approach within the HIV & AIDS response highlights the critical role of national legislatures. Due to the severity and scope of the pandemic there is an assumption that elected representatives would be in the forefront of the response. Effective legislatures are the sine qua non of a representative democracy, and arguably an important vehicle through which to drive the HIV national response. Legislatures represent a cross section of society and play a central role in the coordination and implementation of national responses. Further understanding and explanation of legislative responses around HIV & AIDS speak to issues of democratic governance and the need to improve overall accountability and transparency within these institutions.
Open Access
African solutions to African problems : learning from ECOMOG s experiences in Liberia and Sierra Leone
(2008) Mwandumba, Judith Victoria; Akokpari, John