scholarly journals “For better or worse”? A frame analysis of BRICS activities by digital journalists in South Africa

Lumina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-19
Author(s):  
Tshuma Lungile Augustine
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
South African ◽  
Frame Analysis ◽  
Constant Power ◽  
Good Opportunity ◽  
Unemployment Rates ◽  
High Unemployment ◽  
Trade Relations ◽  
News Websites

This paper seeks to examine the discourse on BRICS that are framed by digital journalists in South Africa. South Africa has been going through an uneasy economic path characterised by high unemployment rates, constant power cuts, and their economy relegated into a ‘junk status’. Against this background, BRICS presents a good opportunity for the country to negotiate and address some of its challenges/problems with other economic super-powers within the economic block. This paper comes against a background of silent research on BRICS yet the block has developed into an economic hub which other developing countries benefiting from it for the development of their economies. I therefore argue that South African digital journalists from the country’s leading news websites, News24 and Daily Maverick, are framing BRICS in a manner in which it reflects the socio-economic and political problems affecting the country.  Hence, the study had sought to find out the images of BRICS among the journalist and also information, events, and activities that are being prioritized in reference to South Africa’s challenges. Findings have shown that BRICS is benefiting South Africa. The benefit is seen through trade relations that are framed as having been improved while there are also other potential areas of cooperation that should be utilised.

Deproletarianization in the Peri-Urban Interface: Transforming Labor Relations in Polokwane, South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 44-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Smith
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Labor Relations ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Unemployment Rates ◽  
High Unemployment ◽  
Surplus Labor ◽  
Job Opportunities ◽  
Persistent Unemployment

High unemployment rates and the search for job opportunities are defining characteristics of the modern day South African economy. As apartheid era labor and land controls continue to break down, many households find themselves searching for work in an economy characterized by surplus labor. Examining high unemployment rates through the theoretical lens of deproletarianization provides an explanation of persistent unemployment and poverty more complex and complete than others. Research conducted in Polokwane, South Africa demonstrates increasing peri-urbanization as a physical manifestation of these changing labor relations. 1In an era dominated by global capitalism, theoretical engagements help explain household poverty, the failure of South Africa's economy to absorb excess labor, and how persistent unemployment contributes to a recon-figuration of space in South Africa's urban and peri-urban areas. The research team used a combination of qualitative semi-structured interviews and quantitative surveys to gain insight into household livelihoods and individual experiences. The deproletarianization argument applied here asserts that labor has become unfree in South Africa and represents a new form of labor discipline. Through the deproletarianization thesis, the labor market can be better understood to inform future unemployment and poverty research in South Africa.

scholarly journals Comparative Study of Competitive Intelligence Practices between Two Retail Banks in Brazil and South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. A. Du Toit
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
South African ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Competitive Intelligence ◽  
Regulatory Requirements ◽  
Operational Risks ◽  
Retail Banks ◽  
E Mail

Using competitive intelligence (CI) can help developing countries to increase their competitiveness. This paper compares the CI activities between two retail banks in Brazil and South Africa. An e-mail survey in a sample of 2550 employees in a retail bank in Brazil and 847 employees in a retail bank in South Africa was carried out in which CI practices were measured. Respondents in both countries were not very effective to conduct effective CI analysis. Respondents from Brazil consider information on operational risks as the most important while for South African respondents the most important information was on changing regulatory requirements. Although there is a culture of competitiveness in both organizations, it is recommended that if they want to compete effectively in the global economy, they should create CI awareness by organizing CI training sessions for employees.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Impact of International Monetary Fund Programs on Economic Performance of Kenya

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 159
Author(s):  
Henry Kerich
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
International Monetary Fund ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Structural Adjustment ◽  
Balance Of Payments ◽  
Unemployment Rates ◽  
High Unemployment ◽  
Structural Adjustment Programs ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Adjustment Programs

<p>Like most other countries in developing countries, Kenya faces economic challenges as it tries to stabilize its balance of payments, reduce external debts and curb high unemployment rates.  Structural adjustment programs (SAPs) are defined as economic programs mainly set for developing countries supported by the Bretton Woods institutions since the beginning of 1980s. As a result of prolonged balance of payments deficits, high unemployment rates and high debts, brought about by poor economic performance, the country has turned to International Monetary Fund for credit assistance. This research sought to examine if there was a relationship between structural adjustment programs and economic performance in Kenya. The results in this study revealed a significant correlation between IMF structural adjustment programs and economic performance in Kenya. The findings showed that the three dependent variables analyzed notably, balance of payments, debts, and unemployment showed a strong correlation with IMF structural adjustment programs.</p>

scholarly journals Accelerating the implementation of the clean development mechanism in South African industry

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Little ◽  
T Maxwell ◽  
M Sutherland
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
South African ◽  
Kyoto Protocol ◽  
Clean Development Mechanism ◽  
Implementation Strategy ◽  
Development Mechanism

One of the responses to the threat of global warming is the Kyoto Protocol and the associated Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to reduce greenhouse gases. South Africa is an ideal country for the implementation of industrial CDM projects, yet lags behind many other countries. This qualitative research determines the factors that cause South Africa to lag other developing countries in the implementation of industrial CDM projects and the interventions that will have the most impact on accelerating implementation. The research involved interviews with 30 experts involved in the South African CDM process. The results identify the factors perceived to be facilitating and inhibiting the use of CDM opportunities and a framework for CDM practitioners to develop an implementation strategy within South African industry is established. 

scholarly journals Software piracy – Some aspects for South African managers to keep in mind

2003 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 785-801
Author(s):  
D De Kock ◽  
S Lubbe ◽  
W Kritzinger
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
South African ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Software Piracy ◽  
Survey Instrument ◽  
Significant Issue

Software piracy is a significant issue for managers of organisations, especially in  developing countries. There are several factors which contribute to software  piracy, and which are investigated in this study. This study consists of a  literature review, and reports on empirical research, which was conducted using  a survey instrument to determine if software piracy is prevalent in South Africa.  The findings confirm the results of previous studies. The conclusion is made  that software piracy will always exist and that stricter measures are needed to  prevent its occurrence.

scholarly journals Financial accounting and reporting in developing countries: A South African perspective

1999 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Oberholster
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
South African ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Accounting System ◽  
Social Fabric ◽  
African Perspective

South Africa is currently going through major changes in political, social and other arenas. It is therefore appropriate to consider the effect of these developments on financial reporting in a changing environment. This paper explores the origins of the current South African accounting system, given its status as a developing country, and endeavours to show that financial reporting needs to be amended to reflect the changing face of the South Africa's social fabric, its status as a developing country, as well as the emergence of new users of financial statements. Certain recommendations are made to address these issues.

Unemployment in South Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 134-156
Author(s):  
James Heintz ◽  
Karmen Naidoo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Employment Outcomes ◽  
Institutional Factors ◽  
Trade Policies ◽  
Macroeconomic Policies ◽  
Employment Opportunities ◽  
Unemployment Rates ◽  
High Unemployment ◽  
Policy Choices

South Africa has exhibited sustained high rates of open unemployment since the end of apartheid, when reliable statistical measurements became available. The lack of decent employment opportunities contributes to ongoing social and economic inequalities. This chapter examines the reasons behind the country’s high unemployment rates. After a brief analysis of unemployment trends and patterns, it discusses alternative explanations of South Africa’s employment problems, with a focus on structural causes arising from historical and institutional factors. The chapter also examines how policy choices post-apartheid have affected employment outcomes, including macroeconomic policies, trade policies, and labour market policies.

Intimate crimes: heroin and the rise of amaphara in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-79
Author(s):  
Mark Hunter
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
Drug Policy ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Public Culture ◽  
National Context ◽  
Heroin Users ◽  
Unemployment Rates

ABSTRACTThe term ‘amaphara’, possibly derived from ‘parasites’, burst into South African public culture in the 2010s to refer to petty thieves addicted to a heroin-based drug locally called whoonga/nyaope. Drawing on ethnography and media sources to interrogate the rise of ‘amaphara’, this paper argues that South Africa's heroin epidemic magnifies the attention – criticism but also sympathy – directed toward marginalised black men who have few prospects for social mobility. It locates amaphara in the national context where drug policy is largely punitive and youth unemployment rates are painfully high, but gives particular attention to families’ and communities’ experiences with intimate crimes, especially petty thefts. It further shows that amaphara is a contested term: heroin users are brothers, sons and grandchildren and they gain most of their income not from crime but by undertaking useful piece work in communities.

scholarly journals Tax Instruments Applied In Selected Developing Countries To Reduce Emissions From Electricity Generation Recommendations For South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 485
Author(s):  
Mareli Dippenaar
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
South African ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Tax Incentives ◽  
South African Government ◽  
African Government ◽  
Brics Countries ◽  
Reduction Of Emissions ◽  
Reduce Emissions

The objective of the study was to compare the tax instruments (both incentives and disincentives) applied in selected developing countries (four BRICS countries, namely South Africa, China, Brazil and India) to reduce their emissions from electricity generation, in an attempt to identify areas for possible improvement or expansion in South Africa. Increased renewable energy, energy efficiency and research and development relating to these fields can contribute to the reduction of emissions resulting from electricity generation. A number of similar tax incentives were identified in the countries, the majority of which appear to be more beneficial in the comparative countries than in South Africa. It could be worth considering improving some of the existing incentives in South Africa to be more beneficial to taxpayers. In addition, a number of tax instruments that are applied in some of the comparative countries, were identified and suggested for consideration by the South African government.

scholarly journals South Africa-Russia Trade Relations in the Mbeki-Putin Years, 1999-2008 - Ideological Minimalism and Growing Commercial Flows

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhaso Ndzendze
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Slow Growth ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Trade Relations ◽  
Political Interaction ◽  
Economic Relationship ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Thabo Mbeki

With both leaders focused on integration (or re-integration) with their respective regions, between South Africa and Russia under the coinciding presidencies of Thabo Mbeki and Vladimir Putin (1999 to 2008) distal ties would appear to have been a peripheral consideration, albeit one pursued with relative consistency. These years were un-ideological, having followed the collapse of the USSR but preceding the emergence of the intermittently ideological BRICS project. I use trade data from multiple sources to assess the two countries' economic relationship under these leaders. Upon noting the continued but slow growth in political interaction under the two leaders, the article documents the effects of political interaction on trade, which was encouraged by both leaders as they sought deeper south-south cooperation (SSC) and lessened dependency on the West (with which both countries were nevertheless growingly intertwined). Trade responded favourably on both sides after the 2006 mutual visits by the two presidents (as seen by 2007 trade volumes). Overall, under the Mbeki-Putin years, we observe Russian products forming a higher share of South African imports than the other way around, whilst growth in access to each other's markets saw mostly new access for South Africa (giving it a favourable surplus of over US$25-million, which grew to over US$2-billion under the Zuma years), thereby complicating our understanding of the relationship and the nature of the asymmetry which defines it.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document