scholarly journals Building Workers’ Education in the Context of the Struggle Against Racial Capitalism: The Role of Labour Support Organisations

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mondli Hlatshwayo

In South Africa, with few exceptions, scholarship on the modern labour movement which emerged after the Durban strikes of 1973 tends to focus on trade unions that constituted the labour movement, strikes, collective bargaining, and workplace changes. While all these topics covered by labour scholars are of great importance, there is less emphasis on the role played by labour support organisations (LSOs) which, in some cases, predate the formation of the major trade unions. Based on an analysis of historical writings, some archival and internet sources, this article critically discusses the contribution of LSOs and their use of workers’ education to build and strengthen trade unions, which became one of the critical forces in the struggles against racial capitalism in the 1980s. In particular, it critically examines the work of the Urban Training Project (UTP) and the South African Committee for Higher Education (SACHED) workers’ education programmes as a contribution to building the labour movement. The relationship between trade unions which had elaborated structures of accountability and LSOs which were staffed by a relatively small layer of activists also led to debates about accountability and mandates.

1998 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26
Author(s):  
N.P. du Preez ◽  
P. van Eldik ◽  
M. Möhr ◽  
H.H. van der Watt

In a two-part analysis (Part 2 follows on pp 27–31), the authors discuss the key results of a South African project conducted during 1996 which focused on the factors relating to the development and establishment of technology in a country. The study investigated through a detailed questionnaire survey and a literature survey the various factors that promote the development and establishment of technology by comparing their perceived importance with the actual role they currently play in South Africa. This paper, Part 1, concentrates on the role of higher education. The importance of academic institutions in supplying high-level human resources was rated very highly (90.47%) but the role it is currently playing in reality was rated at 52.8%. Closely connected with this, the availability of high-level skilled technological people was given an importance of 89% while the current reality was rated at only 43%. This clearly shows that the South African higher education system is performing poorly in addressing these vital needs. The availability of entrepreneurs with innovative and creative skills to participate in the development and diffusion of technology was given an importance rating of 84.3% against a current situation of 42.2%, again indicating South Africa's weak performance. The results of the survey and the consequent recommendations are important to all developing countries with newly industrial economies.


Parasitology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 144 (9) ◽  
pp. 1162-1178 ◽  
Author(s):  
MOETI O. TAIOE ◽  
MAKHOSAZANA Y. MOTLOANG ◽  
BONIFACE NAMANGALA ◽  
AMOS CHOTA ◽  
NTHATISI I. MOLEFE ◽  
...  

SUMMARYTabanids are haematophagous flies feeding on livestock and wildlife. In the absence of information on the relationship of tabanid flies and protozoan parasites in South Africa and Zambia, the current study was aimed at characterizing tabanid flies collected in these two countries as well as detecting protozoan parasites they are harbouring. A total of 527 tabanid flies were collected whereby 70·2% were from South Africa and 29·8% were from Zambia. Morphological analysis revealed a total of five different genera collected from the sampled areas namely:Ancala, Atylotus, Haematopota, PhilolicheandTabanus. DNA extracted from South AfricanTabanus parandTabanus taeniolatested positive for the presence ofTrypanosoma congolense(Savannah) andTrypanosoma theileriwhilst one member fromT. parwas positive forTrypanosoma bruceispecies. DNA extracted from Zambian tabanid flies tested positive for the presence ofBesnoitiaspecies at 1·27% (2/157),Babesia bigemina5·73% (9/157),Theileria parva30·11% (30/157) and 9·82% (14/157) forTrypanosoma evansi. This study is the first to report on relationship ofBabesiaandTheileriaparasites with tabanid flies. Further investigations are required to determine the role of tabanids in transmission of the detected protozoan parasites in livestock and wildlife in South Africa and Zambia.


Author(s):  
Musimuni Dowelani ◽  
Faith Dowelani

The function and main goal of higher education has evolved over time; studies show that there is a shift in focus from pure intellectual exploration to job preparation. Curriculum development literature argues that the collaboration between universities and industries is critical for skills development and provides alignment between skills required in the workplace and skills transferred through higher education. This desk study aimed to synthesis the role of professional bodies as representatives of industry in curriculum development in the South African context. Observations show that a significant number of professional bodies mandate curriculum, by accrediting qualifications offered by universities. Not all programs require professional body accreditation or approval, however approximately 60% of all university programmes in South Africa are subject to the accreditation of professional associations. Without the accreditation from professional bodies, universities would not be able to offer qualifications in certain disciplines such as health and engineering. There is evidence that professional body involvement in curriculum development ascertains a level of quality. 


Author(s):  
Winnie Dlamini ◽  
Intaher M. Ambe

The relationship between public procurement policies and procurement best practices (PBPs) in higher education institutions is inevitable. Higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa play a crucial role in contributing to the economic, social and environmental development of the country. Hence the implementation of PBPs has a key role in creating a competitive advantage for higher education. The purpose of this article is to determine the influence of public procurement policies on the implementation of PBPs in the public HEIs in South Africa. The article employs a theoretical review of related literature on public procurement and PBPs. The article articulates that public procurement policies influence the implementation of PBPs in public HEIs in South Africa.


1998 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicoli Nattrass

This article explores the nature and history of organized business in South Africa. It describes the major racial, sectoral and other fault-lines which fracture the business community, and indicates that many of these are the legacy of apartheid. It points out that the relationship between business and the state was ambiguous, varied between the economic sectors, and changed radically over time. The latter sections of the article discuss the role of business in South Africa's transition (and the collective action problems which were experienced), and charts the developments which lead up to the creation of the mega federation Business South Africa (BSA). It is argued that BSA represents an important, yet fragile, step towards unity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 48-56
Author(s):  
Wynand Greffrath ◽  
Theuns Eloff

Die doel van hierdie artikel is die identifisering en analitiese omskrywing van die mees prominente politieke tendense wat tans die Suid-Afrikaanse universiteitswese beïnvloed, met spesifieke verwysing na Afrikaanse universiteite en hoër onderwys. Die bydrae neem as vertrekpunt die teoretiese beginsel van transformasie, en die spesifieke en eiesoortige ideologiese toepassing van dié konstruk in Suid-Afrika sedert 1994. Die ingrypende invloed van hierdie ideologiese transformasiebeskouing op openbare instellings in Suid-Afrika word bespreek, insluitend die institusionele en sosio-politiese impak op universiteite. Teen hierdie teoretiese agtergrond word sleutelkwessies bespreek wat betrekking het op die Suid-Afrikaanse universiteitswese en die plek en rol van Afrikaans in besonder, insluitend in ʼn bestekopname van die posisie van Afrikaans in die hoër onderwyssektor; ʼn evaluering van die transformasie van die hoër onderwyssektor; die rasionele argumente en gronde vir die behoud en bevordering van Afrikaans in die sektor; en die reaksie vanuit die Afrikaanssprekende gemeenskap teenoor die marginalisering van die taal by universiteite ʼn Evaluerende toekomsperspektief word gebied waarin die behoud van Afrikaans oorweeg word, met inbegrip van aktivisme, geregtelike strategieë en die uitbouing van Afrikaans deur middel van ʼn privaat hoër onderwysinstelling. The purpose of this article is the identification and analytical description of the most prominent political trends which are at present exerting an influence on the South African university sector, with specific reference to Afrikaans universities in the contect of higher education. The contribution has as its point of departure the theoretical concept of transformation, and the specific ideological application of this construct as it has become current in South Africa since 1994. The radical influence of this ideological vision of transformation on public institutions in South Africa is discussed, as well as the institutional and sociopolitical impact of this on universities. Against this theoretical background key issues are discussed which have an impact on the place and role of the South African university scene and the place and role of Afrikaans more particularly, including a survey of the position of Afrikaans in the higher education sector, an evaluation of the transformation of the higher education sector, the rational arguments and grounds for the retention and promotion of Afrikaans in the sector, and the reaction from the Afrikaans-speaking community to the marginalization of the language at universities. An evaluative future perspective is offered in which the retention of Afrikaans should be considered, with the inclusion of a consideration of activism, legal strategies and the promotion of Afrikaans by means of a private higher education institution.


Tempo Social ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-136
Author(s):  
Bridget Kenny

This paper reviews the state of the South African labour movement. It discusses trade unions within the context of national political dynamics, including the Tripartite Alliance and neoliberalism, as well as growing precarianization of work within South Africa. It examines splits within the major federation and explores debates around union renewal and new worker organizations. It argues that the political terrain is fragmented and shifting, but workers’ collective labour politics abides.


2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gideon J.P. Maas ◽  
Mike Herrington

For decades, entrepreneurs have been identified as critical change agents in socio-economic development. It is probably safe to say that some countries have had more success than others in the promotion of entrepreneurship; and in that context it can be argued that South Africa's successes are not yet clear. The promotion of entrepreneurship through the involvement of higher education institutions (HEIs) is by no means an easy task, but they have an important role to play. Although South African HEIs are focusing on various elements of entrepreneurship promotion, there is no clear evidence of an integrated effort from HEIs to develop entrepreneurial skills and activity. The authors argue that without such an integrated effort entrepreneurship development in South Africa is likely to be constrained.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 177-189
Author(s):  
Susan Levine

This reading of Inxeba (2017) foregrounds the relationship between the #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall movements in South Africa with the theme of wounding as an enduring social affliction in a country caught up in the midst of redefining itself after apartheid. Overtly narrated in the telling of Inxeba (2017) is the striking, amplified distinction between tradition and modernity among isiXhosa. Indeed, the polarized reception of the film among South African audiences shone a light on the slow burn of this most enduring trope. At universities across the country, Black students called for an end to the symbols of imperialist and colonialist White domination, as well as the desire to decolonize higher education by redressing Eurocentric canons of knowledge production. On the heels of the #Fallist movements, a White director makes a film about Xhosa initiation, and folds into this story a tale of homoerotic love. Notwithstanding the film’s official entry for best foreign language film at the Oscars, multiple forms of wounding came quick and heated upon the showcasing of the film’s trailer on social media. Film: Inxeba (English: The Wound): 2017 South African drama Director: John Trengove Language: Xhosa Cast: Niza Jay Ncoyini as Kwanda Nakhane Touré as Xolani Bongile Mantsai as Vija


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 516-520
Author(s):  
Robert Walter Dumisani Zondo

The role of educators in education is indispensable. Hence, students continuously search for a business education that can equip them with the necessary entrepreneurial knowledge and skills to succeed in running businesses. Consequently, this study evaluates the perception of Academic Managers in the private Higher Education Institutions (HEI) of South Africa (SA) on the significance of entrepreneurship education. It explores the reasons for offering such an education in the private HEIs in SA. There were 78 private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in SA that were identified for participation in this study. These institutions are registered in terms section 54 (1) (c) of the South African Act (SAQA, 2012). For the study to achieve its objectives, the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) provided a sample frame of all the private HEIs in SA. From the 78 HEIs identified, 22 offered the pastoral courses and were excluded from the study. As a result, a target population of 56 HEIs participated in the study. This research has two objectives. That is, examining the perception of Academic Managers on entrepreneurship education, and the reasons for offering such education in the private HEIs in SA. This study uncovers the need for entrepreneurship education in private HEIs of SA. The results present the value of entrepreneurship education as a practice that develops students into cross functional innovative thinkers. It provides valuable data relating to the significance of entrepreneurship education for developing students into business minded individuals.


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