scholarly journals Decolonizing the reading landscape: A conversation with Kgauhelo Dube

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-135
Author(s):  
Corinne Sandwith ◽  
Khulukazi Soldati-Kahimbaara ◽  
Rebecca Fasselt

Reading and literacy projects in South Africa have a long and fascinating history. In this conversation, Kgauhelo Dube talks about a contemporary Pretoria-based initiative which seeks to promote reading and literacy through the showcasing of African authors and texts. The discussion explores some of the social and material dynamics which inform the post-apartheid reading project, including the lack of reading and library facilities in township settings and the ongoing alienation experienced by black students and scholars in white-dominated institutions. It points to the importance of the contemporary revival of the discourse of decoloniality as a means of framing the project, and as a route to understanding the broader contexts in which African literature is produced and consumed. The discussion also engages with the importance of the short story form for the public reading event and considers some of the ways in which the written text is subsequently reshaped as a dynamic and mobile digital product.

Author(s):  
Foluke C. Olaniyi ◽  
Jason S. Ogola ◽  
Takalani G. Tshitangano

Waste generated form healthcare facilities is a potential source of health risks to the public, if it is not properly handled from the point of generation to disposal. This study was conducted to assess the efficiency of healthcare risk waste (HCRW) management in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Fifteen healthcare facilities were selected in Vhembe District for this study. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, observation and pictures. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed, while the quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 25. In all the healthcare facilities; mismanagement of HCRW was noted at different points along the management chain. Poor segregation, overfilling of waste bins, inappropriate transportation and storage of waste in substandard storage rooms were observed in the facilities. All the waste from the district are transported to a private-owned treatment facility outside the district, where they are mainly incinerated. Enforcement of healthcare risk waste guidelines, provision of standardized equipment for temporary storage, empowerment of each healthcare facility to treat at least some of the waste, and employment of non-burn techniques for treatment of waste are recommended for more efficient management of healthcare risk waste in Vhembe District.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
Fajrul Falah

This study aims to express the trust and hegemony in the "Broker" short story by Sri Lima R.N. This research is motivated by the idea that language in fiction or short stories is meaningful and indicated not to be neutral.  The language in the short story, became the media for sending message content to the author as a reflection of the social community referred to. The approach used in this study is the sociology of literature, specific to the study of Gramsci hegemony. The research method used is descriptive qualitative.  Research data obtained from text, words, phrases, sentences, contained in short stories related to trust and hegemony. The research data is then described and expressed based on the approach used. The results of the study show that there was a change in the characteristics of Handoko's character as a broker who was initially good, become opportunist. Brokerage profession is used as a tool to hegemony the public to get profits. Community trust in brokers and people who are considered smart also grow. However, Handoko's figure was eventually protested by people who had used their services and failed. Handoko or brokers run away from the protests and demands of the people.


2002 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-366
Author(s):  
ELIZABETH LE ROUX

ABSTRACT This essay examines both media reports on South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and the TRC's final report, to determine the reasons why women are portrayed in the media — when they are portrayed at all — almost exclusively as victims. This author examines media reports which deal with the testimony of women who lived through the period of social conflict (1960 to 1994) covered by the TRC. Building on theories that argue that media can create as well as reflect reality, the authors shows that women were not adequately represented in the media reports on the TRC, and thus in the public mind, in spite of efforts to include them in the TRC process. Thus, although the TRC process may have been helpful to individual women, it can be argued that it has had little impact on how people view women's role in South Africa, and more generally in armed conflict and social unrest world-wide.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Suantoko Suantoko

The Seno Gumira Ajidarma short story collected in the Penembak Misterius trilogy is very interesting to read. In addition, as a social document, the collection of short stories can be identified a social setting that actually became a place of social events occurred, the social setting of the Penembak Misterius that occurred during the New Order era in the 1980s. More precisely the social setting created at the party meeting officials in a hotel, the shootings through the night, and the violence of the state apparatus. The social context referred to by Seno Gumira Ajidarma is a mysterious shooting incident known as "petrus" during the New Order period. It is intended to denounce the practice of legal violence from the action of "petrus." As a social document or even a social critique of the New Order rule, the Penembak Misterius trilogy comes as a social relation of literary works to social reality. That is because, the silence of the conscience is very interesting shown by the assassin. When the issue of "Petrus" is about to be removed from the memory of society, this trilogy is present in the public. The presence of the "Petrus" trilogy depicted in not only be seen as a social document but also a lawsuit against social reality in the New Order era.


1979 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 93-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. Wagenaar

Business in South Africa is becoming increasingly involved in the solution of the social problems of the country, and business managers face growing demands concerning the corporate social responsibility of the private sector. The author investigated the nature and scope of corporate social responsibility in South Africa, considering both the viewpoint of business managers, and the expectations of the public. Both questionnaires and interviews were used in the investigation. The attitudes of managers and the expectations of society are set out in detail, and are then compared, showing that society is significantly more in favour of corporate social responsibility than the business community. There is, however, also a growing social awareness among South African business leaders.Sake-ondernemings in Suid-Afrika word toenemend betrek by die oplossing van die sosiale probleme van die land, en bestuurders is blootgestel aan toenemende eise wat betref die sosiale verantwoordelikheid van die private onderneming. Die skrywer het die aard en trefwydte van die sosiale verantwoordelikheid van Suid-Afrikaanse ondernemings ondersoek, met inagneming van sowel die standpunt van sakebestuurders as die verwagtings van die publiek. Vraelyste en personlike onderhoude is in die ondersoek gebruik. Die houdings van bestuurders en die verwagtings van die gemeenskap word volledig uiteengesit, en word dan vergelyk. Dit blyk dat die gemeenskap betekenisvol meer ten gunste is van sosiaal-verantwoordelike optrede deur ondernemings, as die sakelui. Daar is egter ook 'n groeiende bewustheid van sosiale verantwoordelikheid onder Suid-Afrikaanse sakeleiers.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-528
Author(s):  
Maxwell Agabu Phiri ◽  
Degracia Khumalo

This study was aimed at investigating the effectiveness of the social marketing goal in the implementation of Operation Gcin’amanzi (OGM) in Mofolo North, Soweto, South Africa. The paper is based on a quantitative in nature, although qualitative data was collected to confirm and clarify issues identified in the survey questionnaire. A process-based research approach was pursued in order to measure the impact of social marketing as a phenomenon that has been explored in changing consumer behaviour for the public good. Due to unsuccessful telephone calls to the Johannesburg Water’s communication centre (JW) there is a lack of information from them on specific studies or surveys conducted specifically on OGM since its inception. It is anticipated that the findings from this study will add value to the knowledge in the public sector by elevating the significant role of social marketing in the delivery of basic services projects. These projects are complex in nature as issues of equity, access and the impact on development have to be considered, unlike in traditional marketing approaches where it is the benefit and satisfaction of an individual consumer that is key.


Author(s):  
AR Brunsdon

Public theology takes on many forms, generally seeking some public good by interpreting Scripture, trying to reveal the social relevance of the theological truth concerned. In this framework the Belhar Confession can arguably be deemed a public theological tour de force as it spoke out against, amongst others, social injustices based on wrongful Biblical exegesis. Speaking to different “publics” over the last three decades, the good resulting from this confession, ironically, seems extremely limited – especially in the Reformed Church family (public) of its native land, South Africa. It would even be safe to allege that this confession has had a polarizing effect, rather than a unifying one. As public theology is regarded as an intra-disciplinary venture, this article will reflect critically on the limited good of this confession and will ponder the notion of enhancing its good as a form of public theology by means of a public-theological reflection. It is suspected that several possibilities reside within a public-theological reading whereby the good this confession is capable of can be enhanced.


2002 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Baker

Though policing is widely regarded as an inherently public good, in reality non-state policing is widespread in South Africa, doing everything that the public police force does. The paper examines the extent, nature and attitudes towards non-state policing in South Africa in its different forms, that is, autonomous citizen responses, ‘responsible’ citizen responses and commercial private security. The paper concludes by assessing the social and political implications of non-state policing.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 777-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athena Moodley ◽  
Ashraf Kagee

We interviewed 15 HIV test seekers to understand how social support acted either as a facilitator or barrier to HIV testing. Participants were recruited at community outreach testing sites in South Africa and participated in qualitative interviews which were then analysed using thematic analysis. We identified three main themes, namely, the social phenomenon of perceived risk as a facilitator to HIV testing, social support as a way of managing distress and the public health service as a supportive environment, which all played a role in test-seeking among participants. The results are integrated with the current debates on HIV testing in South Africa.


2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zorodzai Dube

Why do people in South Africa fight over statues – even to the extent of tying themselves to a mere bust? Using insights, especially from Jan Assmann, the study develops the argument that material culture (such as images and statues) provides the social energy that drives the manner in which history is told, that is, historiography; they provide the ‘silent objects’ with the power to control the public discourse and collective identity. Statues encapsulate all we need to know, inversely, concerning public discourse, particularly, concerning issues pertaining to control, power and class. From this perspective, those who vandalise them may be regarded as contesting public discourse identity and historiography. Insights from this discussion provide parallel discussions, especially, in Galatians where Paul contrasts the image of Abraham with that of Moses – choosing Abraham as the public image that best represents the identity complexity, cosmopolitan and heterogeneous nature that characterises the Hellenistic context.


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