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Item Analysing food access to improve food security in South Africa.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2023-10-01) Zola, Arius Fabio CiprianoThis study focuses on the level of food access in South Africa in order to improve food security in the country. South Africa, having been affected by the pandemic, left a significant number of people suffering from hunger as they were unable to access food, due to reductions of income. This research used many documents including sixteen (16) documents which presented quantitative data obtained from different online sources such as government surveys and international government organizations. The collected date was then examined using document analysis with the Ground Theoretical Framework. This framework allowed to compare the level of food access from 2017 to 2022 in South Africa with that of other parts of the world. Results of the study showed that South Africa is still food insecure considering the number of households that are moderately to severely food insecure. The households categorized as food insecure were affected by high unemployment rates, low sources of income, and a lack of agricultural activities. This study offers appropriate recommendations in order to address the socioeconomic issues affecting the country.Item Evaluating the feasibility of South Africa’s approach to just transitions.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2024-07-26) Nyoni, Gugulethu; Dr Rasigan MaharajhSince the dawn of democracy in 1994, South Africa's democratic government has been on a drive to foster economic growth, development and transformation (RSA, 2019). However, the prospect to attain these ideals has remained elusive as the country has been unable to substantively dismantle the triple threats of poverty, inequality and unemployment as evinced by high Gini Coefficient metric which casts South Africa as one of the most unequal societies in the world. The Gini coefficient is a metric which quantifies the amount of inequality that exists in a population, where zero (0) stands for equality and one (1) represents extreme inequality (OECD, 2017). South Africa recorded Gini Coefficients of 0.67 in 2006 and 0.65 in 2015 (Stas SA, 2020).Item An analysis of the community development workers programme in Tshwane since its inception in 2003 to 2022.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2023-09-13) Neuvhirwa, Marubini; Dr E. MakhethaThe Community Development Workers (CDWs) programme in Tshwane has been a subject of debate, with controversies surrounding its impact and relevance. This study aimed to address these concerns by examining the programme since its inception. The central research objective was to investigate the impact of the CDWs programme in Tshwane, with a focus on exploring functional outcomes, assessing the placement of CWDs in different wards and drawing conclusions regarding service delivery. Using a mixed-method research approach, this study collected data through interviews, focus groups and surveys. The data analysis involved the creation of concept maps and the categorisation of emerging themes using figures. The research sample included community development workers, ward councillors and community members. The impact on the Atteridgeville community of the community development work programme was evaluated in this research study. The methodology and approach used were borrowed and modified from literature. The findings shed light on the multifaceted impact of the CDWs programme, providing insights into its effectiveness, challenges and potential areas for improvement. By addressing the concerns raised by both proponents and critics, this research contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the programme's role in community development and service delivery in Tshwane. The study concludes with recommendations aimed at enhancing the programme's relevance to and impact on the community.Item Assessing the impact of small,medium and microenterprises (SMMEs) in creating jobs in the automotive sector in the Tshwane Region.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2024-07-24) Maluleke, Veronica; Professor Rasigan MaharajhOver a decade after apartheid ended and the economy reopened, South Africa's unemployment and poverty rates still remain high. The National Development Plan emphasizes that small, micro, and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) play a pivotal role in addressing the three key challenges of unemployment, poverty, and income inequality. Moreover, the plan anticipates that SMMEs will play a substantial part in stimulating the economic growth, targeting to contribute between 60% to 80% of the GDP by the year 2030.Additionally, these SMMEs are expected to play a fundamental role in creating 9,900,000 jobs as part of the government plan to generate a total of 11 million new jobs opportunities. The research aimed to assess how SMMEs contributed to job creation on Tshwane region automotive sector. SMMEs are more labour-intensive than large enterprises due to their high labour absorption capacity. The study contributes to the existing literature on the role of SMMEs and the automotive sector in South Africa and worldwide. For the analysis of the role of SMMEs in creating jobs in the Tshwane automotive sector, the researcher employed a combined methods approach, which incorporated a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. To address the qualitative analysis, existing literature was reviewed. Quantitative analysis was performed using a questionnaire developed for primary data collection from SMMEs within the automotive industry in Tshwane. The major finding that emerged from the research was that SMMEs played a crucial part in creating and stimulating employment opportunities in Tshwane automotive sector. The result of this study adds substantially to the existing pool of knowledge and have the potential to nurture the growth SMMEs not only in Tshwane but also in various other regions across South Africa. The research study concluded with recommendations based on the findings.Item The role of higher education in redressing unemployment: A comparison of three universities based in Tshwane.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2024-11) Babedi, Mantu Peter; Dr Rasigan MaharajhThe Republic of South Africa is known for having the most unequal society in the world with an economy that is characterised by obscene wealth and extreme poverty despite the economy being rooted in the Mineral energy complex and abundance of diverse range of wildlife. It then stands to reason that South Africa’s industrial deployment was characterised by the exclusion of an entire race of mainly persons of African descent in favour of the European counterparts to create isolated islands of opulence that is surrounded by a sea of misery even though it is one of the most industrialized countries in Africa, socioeconomic problems like poverty, unemployment, and social inequality still exist (Africa, 2021). The triple mandate of higher education institutions is widely recognized to include teaching and learning, research and development, and innovation in addition to community participation. This research adds to the body of knowledge already available about the function of universities in the fields of social, economic, political, and ecological studies. It examines how the three institutions located in the City of Tshwane work both independently and jointly to address the problems associated with unemployment in South Africa. This study identifies the distinctive elements in each HEI's approach to problem-solving by providing strategic insights into the ideas behind the three universities' approaches to a shared difficulty. This study evaluated the adequacy of the efforts made by the three Tshwane based institutions in addressing the clearly stated national concerns. The study focused on the three public universities in the City of Tshwane (TUT, Unisa, and UP) and examined how higher education institutions can lower unemployment. This may be examined by outlining distinct approaches and evaluating their adequacy in resolving the issue, a comparison of the three Higher Education Institutional approaches to and responses to unemployment, concerns may help address the more general challenges facing South Africa in the wake of apartheid.Item Public institutions and economic development in South Africa.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2023-11-01) Mutheiwana, Khuliso; Prof. M. ScerriThis dissertation critically examines the effect of public institutions on economic development in South Africa. It addresses this area of enquiry within the context of the structural issues and unequal distribution of resources hindering the country's economic development. The study provides insights into the transformation needed in South African governance institutions to realise sustainable economic development. It also debates the role of public institutions, juxtaposing the perspectives that advocate strong institutions as essential for economic growth against views that emphasise the inhibiting of excessive institutional focus. The dissertation explores the significant historical, political and social changes in South Africa, particularly during the post-apartheid era, and evaluates the performance of public institutions in this context. The study reveals that public institutions significantly influence the country's economic trajectory, while challenges such as corruption and misalignment between policies and institutional functions impede progress. It emphasises the need for stronger institutional frameworks, particularly in enforcing the rule of law and property rights, to foster a conducive environment for investment and equitable growth. The research also underscores the importance of addressing historical inequities rooted in the apartheid era, which continue to shape the policy and economic landscapes. Furthermore, it advocates enhanced accountability and transparency within public institutions and suggests a more inclusive approach to policymaking.Item Exploring the impact of large-scale retailers on yard-based spaza shops in Atteridgevillepost-apartheid.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2024-07-17) Muruba, Zwavhudi Solomon; Rasigan Maharajh, PhD.This study explored the impact of large-scale retailers on the livelihoods of spaza shop owners in South African townships. In recent years, large-scale retailers have been moving in on the township market economy as consumption increased, but where does that leave micro-enterprises that have been operating within the township economy? Large-scale retailers operate on economies of scale, while micro enterprises do not. Spaza shops are vital for the township economy and are part of the value chain that makes up the township economy. This research also looked into the role played by spaza shops in the township economy. The study applied a quantitative, to better understand this issue affecting spaza owners in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. Twenty respondents were asked to complete a semi-structured questionnaire.Item Evaluating the feasibility of South Africa’s approach to just transitions.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2024-07-26) Nyoni, Gugulethu; Dr Rasigan MaharajhSince the dawn of democracy in 1994, South Africa's democratic government has been on a drive to foster economic growth, development and transformation (RSA, 2019). However, the prospect to attain these ideals has remained elusive as the country has been unable to substantively dismantle the triple threats of poverty, inequality and unemployment as evinced by high Gini Coefficient metric which casts South Africa as one of the most unequal societies in the world. The Gini coefficient is a metric which quantifies the amount of inequality that exists in a population, where zero (0) stands for equality and one (1) represents extreme inequality (OECD, 2017). South Africa recorded Gini Coefficients of 0.67 in 2006 and 0.65 in 2015 (Stas SA, 2020).Item Local economic development: Lekwa Municipality.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2023-09-01) Molefe, Roseline; Dr E. MakhethaThe objective of the study was to investigate the local economic development (LED) in the Lekwa municipality in terms of its compliance with legal and policy guidelines; strategic aim; objectives; structures; resourcing; consultation processes; stakeholder participation; and the resultant outcomes. This entailed (i) establishing compliance with national LED guidelines and IDP formats; (ii) checking the goals and objectives of LED in Lekwa against LED national guidelines; (iii) investigating the processes used to develop the LED strategy with reference to the strategic guidelines provided for LED in the literature; (iv) identifying challenges in LED implementation in Lekwa municipality; (v) assessing the potential role of LED post-COVID-19 and how it could be used for the rebuilding of communities and economies in the Lekwa municipality and the district. The problem statement of the study addressed a gap identified in the literature, namely a lack of LED delivery, and sought to establish effective ways to remedy this. The study methodology, the study applied the qualitative method. Qualitative method is used to study peoples believes, experiences, attitudes, behaviour, and interactions. It produces non-numerical data (Pathak et al., 2013). In this study questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. A total of 32 participants from Lekwa municipality participated in the study; with purposeful and snowballing sampling technique used to locate participants. The study key findings revealed that Lekwa municipality's LED targets complied with national requirements; nevertheless, greater precision and measurability were required to track progress effectively. The study identified challenges that hindered the successful implementation of LED initiatives, such as insufficient funding, skilled personnel, infrastructure and support from the national government. Despite these obstacles, the study found that LED success in Lekwa municipality could be enhanced, and the study recommends that greater collaboration among government, business and community stakeholders; invest in human capital; increased investment in infrastructure development; and identifying new opportunities for economic growth and development could play a major role in LED implementation success.Item Preservation of cultural heritage festivals and heritage sites as a tool for community development in Gauteng Province(Tshwane University of Technology, 2024-06-24) Tleane, Elizabeth M.; Dr Esther MakhethaThe goal of the study was to investigate the effect that the preservation of cultural heritage festivals and heritage sites as a tool for development could have on the development of the communities. The problem statement was extracted from the issue of government’s declining involvement in preserving the cultural heritage festivals and heritage sites in SA. There is also limited research on the effect that these cultural aspects, when used as a development tool, have on the development of communities. The main study objective was to investigate the effect that preserving cultural heritage festivals and heritage sites as a tool for development would have on the development of the communities, also considering the factors that contribute to the success of preservation. The secondary objectives were formulated as follows: 1) To examine whether the cultural heritage festivals are still taking place to clarify the preservation of their existence through government funding;2) To determine whether the cultural heritage sites are still standing and maintained for the purposes of developing the communities;3) To observe and assess the government’s involvement in preserving the cultural heritage festivals and heritage sites to help with the development of communities;4) To examine the participation of the community members on the cultural heritage related activities. The research questions that were addressed were as follows: 1) How might the preservation of cultural heritage festivals and heritage sites used as a tool for development affect the development of communities? 2) Which cultural heritage festivals are still happening within the communities? 3) Which condition is the heritage sites in currently and how many people visit them to learn about the country’s heritage and culture? 4) How involved is the government in assisting with the preservation of the cultural heritage festivals and heritage sites? 5) What is the participation rate of the community members in cultural heritage festivals and how many visit heritage sites? 6) What are the factors that could hinder the cultural heritage festivals and heritage sites from having a positive effect? The methodology and procedure for data collection employed in this study were constructed on the qualitative data. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with a total of 16 community members, with direct observation of cultural heritage festivals and heritage sites. The study revealed that there would be a positive effect on the development of communities when cultural heritage festivals and heritage sites were preserved as a tool for development. The study showed the importance of preserving these two cultural aspects for the development of the communities. The limitations of the study were that the study only focused on the cultural heritage festivals and heritage sites in Gauteng province. This study could contribute to a better understanding of the effects of the preservation of cultural activities, as manifested through cultural heritage festivals and heritage sites, on the development of the communities in the South African context. The study also addressed the issues of community participation, government involvement, the continuance of cultural heritage festivals and the maintenance of the heritage sites structures. Recommendations for future research were that future studies should examine the ability of the government to preserve the cultural heritage festivals and heritage sites. Another recommendation is that future studies should investigate these cultural aspects by including all the provinces and using more people to collect the data. It should also make use of focus groups of men and women of different cultural groups to explore their experience of their cultures. Community members should participate more often in these cultural events to see positive results.Item Unemployed graduates in Gauteng Province: Analysis of demographics and human capital characteristics.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2023-03-15) Leshabane, Mabina Ludwick; Prof. M.F Zerihun (PhD, DBA)Graduate unemployment has been topical over the recent decades as one of the key socio-economic challenges mostly in the developing world. When compared to other SADC countries, in South Africa graduate unemployment is lower. However, the number of graduates struggling to find employment continue growing in South Africa. The current study was focused in the analysis of graduate demographics and their human capital characteristics. To achieve the objectives of the study, a sample of 226 unemployed graduates and secondary sources that focused on the hurdles faced by graduates in their pursuit of employment opportunities. Primary data for quantitative analysis was collected in the Gauteng Province using an online questionnaire. Data was obtained from college graduates; traditional universities graduates and finally from universities of technology based in the Gauteng Province. Results from econometric estimations using binary logit regression analysis indicates that comparing graduates from traditional university and those from universities of technology, with reference to human capital characteristics of the participants, graduates from universities of technology were almost three times more likely to spend more than two years unemployed. In addition, graduates with a degree had almost two and half times the odds of spending more than two years unemployed as compared to graduates with a national diploma or diploma. However, the years spent unemployed did not differ by previous work experience, skills gained, academic performance and family’s monthly income level. Moreover, gender, geographic location of birth, type of qualification, previous work experience, skills gained, academic performance and family’s monthly income did not predict years spent unemployed, but age and highest qualification obtained did. Old graduates had higher odds of being unemployed for more years as compared to young graduates. Graduates with a degree or post-graduate qualification were more than four times more likely to spend more than the two years unemployed than those with diplomas. Furthermore, the study finds that despite positive school results, graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds face additional challenges while trying to find work. Thus, there is need for better integration of qualifications with practical work experience so that graduates are equipped with both theory and work experience when they graduate. Secondly, this study also found that accessible support for jobseekers can mitigate some challenges that are faced by graduates when they look for work.Item The impact of coronavirus on the livelihoods of households in the Gauteng Province of South Africa.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2024-06-28) Tseke, M. Joy; Dr Esther MakhethaThe Sustainable Livelihood Approach is defined as an approach used to address poverty. This is done by focusing on sustaining livelihood assets, opportunities, and constraints in order to help better the lives of the poor. If used effectively, the Sustainable Livelihood Approach can not only better the lives of the poor but also help to develop and build the local economy. The study is desktop-based research, and its main aim is to assess how the Covid-19 pandemic affected the lives of poor and vulnerable households in Gauteng Province, South Africa. This has been done by looking at the livelihoods of such households before, during and after the pandemic. Recommendations are made as to how different bodies, both private and government, can help poor people to sustain their lives and prepare for future events such as pandemics. One of the main findings of the study is loss of income and employment in most households of Gauteng during the pandemic. Hence, starting small businesses with the R350 from the government in order to generate income and employment was recommended.Item Regional integration and economic development: The Case of Southern Africa.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2023-03-01) Tjatji, Jappie S.; Dr. Esther MakhethaThe remarkable success of trans-boundary cooperation that occurred in Europe after World War Two served as an inspiration for the emergence of regional integration into the world (Asiwaju, 2007: 97). The 1960s represent the earliest evidence of regional integration in Africa (Uzodike, 2009:26). Regional integration in Africa is widely accepted as a key instrument for economic advancement (a phrase that is used in place of the concept of economic development throughout the dissertation) (Aworaro, 2015:6). The research project had three objectives. Investigating empirically how regional integration influences the economic advancement of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) SADC member nations was the main objective. Testing the hypothesis that regional integration has a beneficial influence on the economic advancement of SADC member nations was the secondary objective. Finding the major hurdles that render regional integration under SADC ineffective towards economic advancement was the study's final objective. The limitation of the study is that it has a small sample size. This study adds to the body of literature on regional integration by investigating the connection between regional integration and economic growth, and more especially the impact of regional integration on economic advancement in SADC. The economic integration theory is the theory that provided guidance in this study, in which analyses made in the research were based on this theory of regional integration. The research methodology used a quantitative research approach, a positivist philosophical paradigm, a longitudinal research design (specifically a time series analysis), and quantitative secondary data (which was analysed using E-views 12). The study’s hypothesis was that SADC member nation’s economic advancement is positively influenced by regional integration. Using the Wald test, the study found this hypothesis to be true. Based on the findings that regional integration leads to economic advancement, the study recommends that SADC member countries need to address blocks to effective regional integration (such as Surrendering sovereignty) in order for SADC member countries to economically benefit from regional integration. This can be accomplished for example, by implementing measures to encourage ceding of sovereignty to a supranational body.Item Analysing food access to improve food security in South Africa.(Tshwane University of Technology, 2023-10-01) Zola, Arius Fabio Cipriano; Dr. Esther MakhethaThis study focuses on the level of food access in South Africa in order to improve food security in the country. South Africa, having been affected by the pandemic, left a significant number of people suffering from hunger as they were unable to access food, due to reductions of income. This research used many documents including sixteen (16) documents which presented quantitative data obtained from different online sources such as government surveys and international government organizations. The collected date was then examined using document analysis with the Ground Theoretical Framework. This framework allowed to compare the level of food access from 2017 to 2022 in South Africa with that of other parts of the world. Results of the study showed that South Africa is still food insecure considering the number of households that are moderately to severely food insecure. The households categorized as food insecure were affected by high unemployment rates, low sources of income, and a lack of agricultural activities. This study offers appropriate recommendations in order to address the socioeconomic issues affecting the country.