scholarly journals Analysis of the Living Conditions at eZakheleni Informal Settlement of Durban: Implications for Community Revitalization in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2371
Author(s):  
Busisiwe Nkonki-Mandleni ◽  
Abiodun Olusola Omotayo ◽  
David Ikponmwosa Ighodaro ◽  
Samuel Babatunde Agbola

This study investigated the living conditions of the eZakheleni informal settlement, Durban metropolis of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. The utilized data were collected with the use of a well-structured questionnaire through a multistage sampling of 255 households. The descriptive results indicated low levels of educational attainment, large number of female headed households, high unemployment rates, inadequate sources of income, poor security and low government intervention programmes. The results of inferential analysis indicate that factors such as water accessibility, toilet accessibility, years of working experience, food security status, educational status and access to good health were the significant factors that were key to improving the living conditions of the residents in the study area. The study therefore concluded that education, basic housing services (water accessibility, toilet accessibility), food security, working experience, social connectivity and health are key contributors to households’ living condition in the study area and recommended several future research and policy directions which could improve the living conditions of the informal settlement.

Food Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-42
Author(s):  
I.B. Oluwatayo ◽  
M.I. Marutha ◽  
M.P. Modika

Food security is a serious issue topping the developmental agenda of most countries across the globe. This is one of the key issues highlighted in the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of which most countries are signatories to. South Africa, a developing country in Africa is not spared of the pang of food insecurity considering the number of inhabitants of the country that are food insecure especially in the rural communities of the country. This review paper, therefore, explores and correlates food security in South Africa to ascertain whether the drivers in the rural and urban areas are the same. Delineation of these correlates is considered to be pertinent for right targeting of the poor and highly vulnerable households and individual since national food security is not tantamount to food security at household and individual levels. The paper concludes that income and educational status of households are key determinants of food security and hence, the need to intensify efforts at enhancing the capacity of households in South Africa through education to translate for better jobs and increase income-earning opportunities.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-246
Author(s):  
Renu Singh ◽  
Shruti Khanduri ◽  
Sobaran Singh ◽  
Thugutla Maheswar ◽  
Sarada Ota

ABSTRACT Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has initiated various research-oriented health care programs, such as Tribal Health Care Research Program (THCRP) under Tribal Subplan, Ayurveda Mobile Health Care Program (AMHCP) under Scheduled Caste Subplan, and Swasthya Rakshan Program (SRP) linked with Swachh Bharat. The aim of these programs is to study the living condition of people, to make them aware about the importance of good health, knowledge about hygiene, awareness about cleanliness of domestic surrounding and environment, documentation of folk medicine and local health traditions, availability and use of common medicinal plants in that area, and to extend medical aid at their doorstep. Through peripheral institutes of CCRAS, THCRP is being executed in 14 states, AMHCP in 18 states, and SRP in 19 states. As an effective information generation tool for research-oriented health care programs, CCRAS has developed a comprehensive format for documentation of demographic data, living conditions and health status, etc. of population, which can be well utilized as a tool for uniform documentation of information by students, scientists, and researchers of various organizations involved in such type of research activities. How to cite this article Maheswar T, Singh S, Singh R, Khanduri S, Ota S, Srikanth N. Suggested Format for Documentation of Demographic Data, Living Conditions, and Health Status for Research-oriented Health Care Programs. J Drug Res Ayurvedic Sci 2017;2(3):241-246.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanusha Raniga ◽  
Barbara Simpson ◽  
Ntokozo Mthembu

In contemporary South Africa, partnerships between service providers in government, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and community based organisations have been identified as a means to strengthen communities and the sustainability of social services. However, the unequal power relations that exists between and within these organisations often leads to fragmentation, duplication, and lack of coordination of social services. Using Fowler’s (1998) conceptualisation of authentic partnerships, this qualitative phase of a larger study explored the challenges of building authentic partnerships in Bhambayi, a predominantly informal settlement in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Individual interviews and a focus group held with nine service providers revealed that intraorganisational challenges, cross-boundary and inter-organisational relations as well as political influences were obstacles to the development of authentic partnerships. The article suggests that open communication, clarity of roles and mutual trust between service providers is vital.


10.28945/4314 ◽  
2019 ◽  

Aim/Purpose: The goal of this study is to advance understanding of ICT utilization by SMMEs by checking access, ability (in terms of technological skills) and usage of ICT among some SMMEs entrepreneurs operating their businesses in an underdeveloped areas to enhance their business activities in order to utilizes the digital opportunities 21st century digital economies present. Background: In today’s world no nation or region is untouched by the forces of globalization and digital economy. One of the key pioneering forces of globalization is the advances of ICT like internet, social networks, etc. In the sphere of business, this pioneering force has also altered the way businesses and organizations communicate and interact with customers and society at large. Such alternation presents obvious opportunities for wealth creation and growth for businesses and organizations that are well-equipped to take advantages of them. But for those that are less-equipped, particularly SMMEs, globalization can easily lead to fore-closures and marginalization. It is a common knowledge that SMMEs entrepreneurs mostly rely on ICT gadgets like mobile phone, Laptops, Tablets to conduct their business activities as many of them don’t have enough capital to set up offices with necessary equipment. Therefore, using various ICT functions/programs on these ICT devices to enhance their business activities are critical to their businesses in the 21st century digital economies. Methodology: Purposeful sampling was used to approach fifty-four SMMEs entrepreneurs operating their businesses in underdeveloped areas locally called Townships in Buffalo City Metropolitan. Microsoft excel was used in the descriptive statistics. Contribution: This research will add to the growing knowledge ICT usage in SMMEs in the 21st century digital economies. Findings: The results indicate that the participating SMMEs entrepreneurs need to be educated, trained and supported in the use of the ICT applicable to enhance their business activities in order for them to take advantages of 21st century digital economies present. Recommendations for Practitioners: The agencies tasked with looking after SMMEs in South Africa needs to consider the lacked of utilisation of ICTs by SMMEs entrepreneurs operating their businesses in underdeveloped areas as one of the barrier to growing of their businesses and take necessary steps to address it. Recommendation for Researchers: Since age and gender have been proven to be key-moderating variables in many technology acceptance models. There is a need to explore in depth whether the factors of gender and age also act as barriers. Impact on Society: The research will assist stakeholders, policy makers and agencies tasked with looking after SMMEs to identify the barriers hindering SMMEs to grow and address them accordingly. Future Research: More work needs to be done to check whether gender, age of the SMMEs entrepreneurs have some effects on their attitude towards the integration of ICT into their business activities.


10.29007/jlq6 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thabang Mofokeng

The technology devices introduced in recent years are not only vulnerable to Internet risks but are also unable to elevate the growth of B2C e-commerce. These concerns are particularly relevant today, as the world transitions into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To date, existing research has largely focused on obstacles to customer loyalty. Studies have tested e-commerce models guided by the establishment of trusting, satisfied and loyal consumers in various international contexts. In South Africa, however, as an emerging market, there has been limited research on the success factors of online shopping.This study examines the influence of security and privacy on trust, seen as a moderator of customer satisfaction, which in turn, has an effect on loyalty towards websites. Based on an exhaustive review of literature, a conceptual model is proposed on the relationships between security and privacy on the one hand, and customer trust, satisfaction and loyalty on the other. A total of 250 structured, self-administered questionnaires was distributed to a purposively selected sample of respondents using face-to-face surveys in Johannesburg, South Africa. A multivariate data analysis technique was used to draw inferences from the data. With an 80.1% response rate, the findings showed that privacy and security do influence customer trust; security strongly influences customer trust and weakly influences satisfaction. In South Africa, customer loyalty towards websites is strongly determined by satisfaction and weakly determined by trust. Trust significantly moderates the effect of customer satisfaction on loyalty. The study implications and limitations are presented and future research directions are suggested.


2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (1-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lungisani Moyo

ABSTRACT This paper used qualitative methodology to explore the South African government communication and land expropriation without compensation and its effects on food security using Alice town located in the Eastern Cape Province South Africa as its case study. This was done to allow the participants to give their perceptions on the role of government communication on land expropriation without compensation and its effects on South African food security. In this paper, a total population of 30 comprising of 26 small scale farmers in rural Alice and 4 employees from the Department of Agriculture (Alice), Eastern Cape, South Africa were interviewed to get their perception and views on government communications and land expropriation without compensation and its effects on South African food security. The findings of this paper revealed that the agricultural sector plays a vital role in the South African economy hence there is a great need to speed up transformation in the sector.


2021 ◽  
pp. 104420732110275
Author(s):  
Alex Nester Jiya ◽  
Maxwell Peprah Opoku ◽  
William Nketsia ◽  
Joslin Alexei Dogbe ◽  
Josephine Nkrumah Adusei

Deplorable living conditions among persons with disabilities and the need to improve their living conditions cannot be overemphasized. This has triggered international discussion on the need for deliberate social policies to bridge the poverty gap between persons with and without disabilities. In Malawi, expansion of financial services has been identified as an essential tool to accelerate economic and inclusive development. However, empirical studies are yet to explore the preparedness of financial institutions to extend their services to persons with disabilities. In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers from commercial banks in Malawi to understand their perspectives on extending financial services to persons with disabilities. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and a descriptive thematic analysis was performed. Although participants reiterated the need to provide persons with disabilities with financial services to improve their well-being, few initiatives have been undertaken to improve their participation. Particularly, participants stated that barriers, such as a lack of financial literacy and adaptive technologies, communication barriers, and high rates of unemployment, explained the reluctance of commercial banks to extend financial services to persons with disabilities. The limitations, recommendations for future research, and implications of the study for policymaking have been highlighted.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Sarah H Kehoe ◽  
Stephanie V Wrottesley ◽  
Lisa Ware ◽  
Alessandra Prioreschi ◽  
Catherine Draper ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: To determine whether food security, diet diversity and diet quality are associated with anthropometric measurements and body composition among women of reproductive age. The association between food security and anaemia prevalence was also tested. Design: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) study. Food security and dietary data were collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Hb levels were measured using a HemoCue, and anaemia was classified as an altitude-adjusted haemoglobin level < 12·5 g/dl. Body size and composition were assessed using anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Setting: The urban township of Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. Participants: Non-pregnant women aged 18–25 years (n 1534). Results: Almost half of the women were overweight or obese (44 %), and 9 % were underweight. Almost a third of women were anaemic (30 %). The prevalence rates of anaemia and food insecurity were similar across BMI categories. Food insecure women had the least diverse diets, and food security was negatively associated with diet quality (food security category v. diet quality score: B = –0·35, 95 % CI –0·70, –0·01, P = 0·049). Significant univariate associations were observed between food security and total lean mass. However, there were no associations between food security and body size or composition variables in multivariate models. Conclusions: Our data indicate that food security is an important determinant of diet quality in this urban-poor, highly transitioned setting. Interventions to improve maternal and child nutrition should recognise both food security and the food environment as critical elements within their developmental phases.


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