Repository logo
 

Open Scholar is the institutional repository of Durban University of Technology. As far as possible, it provides open access to the academic output of the University.

 
 

Some publishers do not permit the archiving of your article in institutional repositories if they have published it:

BASE is one of the world's most voluminous search engines especially for academic web resources:

 
 
 

Recent Submissions

Item
Closures of theological institutions in Zimbabwe and what Organisational Memory (OM) could contribute to promote institutional sustainability
(2025-05) Siziba, Inock; Schauffer, Dennis
The closures of many theological institutions is of growing concern among theological educators and the Church at large, in Zimbabwe. Despite government efforts, such as establishing the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZimCHE) to regulate higher education providers by registering and accrediting them, closures of theological institutions continue to be on the increase. This study focuses on the closures of many theological institutions in Zimbabwe, in order to recommend interventions so as to promote sustainability of the remaining institutions. The dissertation achieved its aim by conducting an extensive study of relevant literature. A case-study was carried out at two theological institutions in Zimbabwe, with a sample size of six respondents. In addition, a focus group discussion was held with six members at the third site and investigated the participants’ views in relation to the research focus. Participants consisted of core employees at various managerial levels and some students, at three theological institutions in Zimbabwe. As a result, 12 respondents represented both the semi-structured interviews and the focus group discussion. The study produced the following four key findings: non-compliance with regulatory requirements was the main cause of the closures of theological institutions in Zimbabwe; closures of theological institutions in were not only a national (Zimbabwean) problem but also an International problem, as the closures were spread throughout the globe; closures of theological institutions had both positive and negative impacts; organisational memory (OM) had the potential to contribute to the achievement of institutional sustainability, by influencing institutional decision-making processes, as well as by helping organisations to avoid repeating past mistakes. The main conclusions drawn from this study were that: current approaches to curb the problem of the closures of theological institutions will be deficient as long as theological institutions fail to take into account the significance of OM in their decision-making processes. The recurring closures of theological institutions in Zimbabwe was partly due to the fact that, institutions were not learning from their past, or the past of their sister institutions, hence continually repeating past mistakes. Therefore, this study recommends that: theological institutions need to comply with policy guidelines; policy enforcers should intensify their efforts and raise public awareness about the need for institutions to comply with national policy guidelines as well as the consequences of non-compliance. Based on the usefulness of OM in supporting institutional decision-making processes as well as in helping organisations to avoid repeating past mistakes; the final recommendation of the study pointed towards the need for theological institutions to consider OM as an important knowledge-based strategy, for their continuity
Item
Social development role of churches in South Africa : insights from KwaZulu-Natal province
(2025-05) Haripersad, Premishwar; Morgan, R.
This study was undertaken to determine the extent to which churches, registered as non-profit organisations with the Department of Social Development within the eThekwini Municipality, respond to the role of being a social development partner with the State, the challenges that are experienced in that regard and what interventions are required to remedy any shortcomings. Being actively involved in church administration for a number of years, I can attest to the fact that churches have for many years provided humanitarian aid and assistance to marginalised and poor communities within the areas in which such organisations are located. A number of these churches utilised their own financial and human resources to provide for the upliftment of these communities such as for example, feeding schemes, establishment of crèches, accommodating the homeless to name but a few initiatives in this regard. I was rather intrigued when I came to the realisation that the enactment of the Non-Profit Act of 1997 paved the way for a number of churches to apply for registration as non-profit organisations to formally undertake various social development services on a structured and sustainable basis. My interest in this subject was aroused, after having read a publication on the outcome of an investigation that was conducted by the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission), entitled. “Report of the Hearings on the Commercialisation of Religion and Abuse of People’s Beliefs Systems”. I was rather perturbed that the report of this Commission made generalised statements to the effect that religious organisations, the churches included, were deliberately exploiting the poor and vulnerable. Whilst the CRL Rights Commission did establish from media reports, that some church leaders were conducting themselves unethically, I could not agree to the assertion that such a finding can be made applicable to all churches. Hence I was motivated to delve into this subject by undertaking a study on the social development role of churches. This study enabled me to establish from different race groups who are either members or leaders of the participating churches, what type of social services are provided within their own resources to poor and marginalised people in their communities and the challenges that are encountered in this regard. During my field work, I visited a number of churches that are registered to provide social services to the communities in many impoverished areas within the eThekwini Municipality. Whilst some of these churches are housed in modern buildings, I was taken aback by those that are located in rural and semi-rural areas. Notwithstanding the fact that some of these churches operate from tents and wood and iron buildings erected on land that they do not own, it was indeed gratifying to know that the leaders of such churches, together with their congregants, finance various activities and social services from their own resources. Taking consideration of the current high unemployment rate within the municipality, the levels of income in churches have steadily declined and as a result, churches are faced with the prospect of scaling down the social services they provide. The researcher is of the view that appropriate interventions by the Department of Social Development, to assist church-based NPOs financially and otherwise, will ensure that such organisations can continue to provide essential services, especially to the poor and marginalised, failing which, there could well be an unprecedented rise in crime and other social evils prevailing in communities. The key findings of this study are indicated hereunder: • That non-compliant of the NPO Act by church-based NPOs can be attributed to a lack of awareness within the organisation and coupled by the lack of finances to engage the services of professional expertise to audit financial and other records for submission the Department of Social Development; • That church-based NPOs are indeed actively involved in the rendition of social development services to the community; an • That church-based NPOs which participated in this study do not share any collaborative programmes with the state and neither is a collaborative partnership with such organistaions in existence to provide social development services on a shared basis.
Item
Rehabilitation of child inmates in North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
(2025-05) Mwana-Nteba, Alexandre Mukendi; Kiyala, Kimbuku Jean Chrysostome; Harris, Geoffrey Thomas
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the rare cases of extreme human rights violation in all spheres of life, the penitentiary facilities of the country are no exception. Inmates languish in pain and oftentimes remain without justice, dignity and respect of their rights. This study investigates the conditions of detention of child inmates in Munzenze Prison, and the extent to which introducing peace education in that correctional service could help transform those young offenders. It appears that child offenders come from communities where they have committed crimes and are in a situation where the relationships between them and these communities have been broken. The prison conditions where they find themselves are not conducive to preparing inmates to be reinserted within their respective communities. The study explores peace education programmes for juvenile inmates and their effectiveness to prepare inamates for better future life after prison life. The study was conducted in North Kivu province where data was collected from different stakeholders. The major aim of the study was to investigate life conditions behind bars and the needs that arise under those conditions. Two trends emerged as ways of dealing with criminal behaviours of youths and their delinquency in the DRC; those are incarceration and the National Service (NS) programme. While many youths and children are imprisoned in normal penitentiary facilities while others are sent to Kanyama Kasese NS where they receive vocational training to become productive in active life after their release. This second strategy appears to be the best alternative to imprisonment. The absence of a given educational scheme for child inmates in the Democratic Republic of Congo can compromise the smooth return of children into their communities and recuce recidivism. Three theories were used in this study: (1) peace education, (2) restorative justice and (3) the theory of change. These theories helped to understand the context of children’s delinquency and incarceration. They also demonstrate the extent to which they can serve as pathways to the rehabilitation and re-integration of child inmates into their communities while preparing them to become law-abiding citizens. Such programmes can inspire change in incarcerated children and prepare them for a bright future. The theoretical frameworks were evaluated as interventions within a qualitative participatory action research design. The research findings revealed that the main causes of children’s incarceration and being sent to prison are sexual abuse, stealing and murder. The results also unravel a critical lack of rehabilitation and reeducation programmes in correctional institutions in the DRC. Furthermore, the findings reveal that peace education mechanisms are needed in the prison’s settings, especially in the country. After the implementation of a suggested peace education programme and evaluation of its short-term evaluation, this thesis recommends and advocates the use of restorative justice, peace education and noational service as instruments of child inmates’ transformation and their social reinsertion. It is imperative to vulgarise these programmes across the country and substitute the inhumate incerceral conditions of children with reeducation services such as the national service.
Item
Citizen perceptions on solid waste collection services : a case of uMhlathuze Local Municipality
(2025-05) Gumede, Thokozani Emmanuel; Murwirapachena, Genius
South African municipalities face serious solid waste collection challenges in undertaking solid waste collection. The literature identifies several reasons for municipalities not performing optimally regarding the provision of solid waste collection services. Public service delivery protests are among the consequences of poor solid waste collection services in South Africa. This study aimed to examine citizen perceptions towards solid waste collection services at the uMhlathuze Local Municipality, a municipality with ongoing solid waste collection challenges. A crosssectional research design was used where quantitative data collected from 385 residents from the municipal were analysed using the factor analysis technique. Results showed that residents are aware of the health hazards associated with poor solid waste collection within the municipality and reported the view that solid waste management policies and strategies should be reviewed. Therefore, the study recommends possible solutions towards improved solid waste management at the uMhlathuze Local Municipality.
Item
Overcrowding of short-term offenders and remand detainees in South Africa : evidence from Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
(2025-05) Carries, Natasha Alona; Lombo, Sipho
This study aimed to highlight the effects of prison overcrowding in Pietermaritzburg Management Area in KwaZulu Natal by acquiring knowledge about and seeking alternatives to imprisonment for the two categories of offenders in this study. The study endeavoured to address, implement and redress in relation to the overcrowding experienced in correctional centres. It presented a complete evaluation of research on the causes and consequences of overcrowding, drew conclusions, and proposed solutions. It is unfortunate that the correctional system is unable to keep up with the influx of new offenders, leading to a number of other challenges within the system. Overall, the study argues the need to put into effect innovative options to address the circumstances which lead to overcrowding, such as providing access to redirection programmes and public protection, whilst promoting restorative justice. Prison overcrowding is a significant problem in South Africa, which has amongst the highest numbers of incarceration in the world. This is not a new problem in South Africa as it has been recurring for several decades. In this study, overcrowding refers to a situation when the total number of offenders in a correctional centre exceeds the capability to conveniently accommodate prisoners, whilst ensuring their security at the same time. number of people being sent to correctional centres has drastically increased, leading to prison overcrowding. The comments and the outcry from the populace indicate that government is not doing enough to curb the underlying increase in the crime rate, which will lessen overcrowding. Alternatives to imprisonment are necessary, and the Justice Department needs to refer to the sentencing guidelines in South Africa when a term of imprisonment is the only option in order for sentencing to be fair and not biased in any way. According to Statistics South Africa, the numbers are increasing with a yearly growth rate of an increase in the prison population and the lack of adequate facilities to house offenders, both remand detainees and sentenced offenders, is a major contributing factor. This in turn affects the safety, human rights and health of offenders, officials, the community at large, as well as the effectiveness of the justice system in fulfilling its purpose of rehabilitation. The phenomenon becomes a burden on the taxpayers as there are insufficient finances to provide for offenders' needs whilst incarcerated. Another major problem causing overcrowding in prisons in South Africa is the high crime rate, especially of violent crimes. Due to this high crime rate, the The research study also highlighted the importance of the reduction of offenders and remand detainees in prison by offering alternatives such as making use of the free bail for remand detainees and offering alternatives to imprisonment for the category of short-term offenders who are incarcerated for economic crimes, which are considered to be less violent or serious. Furthermore, the study examined the causes and solutions to overcrowding, which include the impact thereof on offenders, officials and the community at large. Addressing overcrowding is critical as it will ensure that offenders' human rights are upheld, which is necessary to prepare them for release back into society. Over the past years, various approaches have been taken into consideration to deal with overcrowding. Many amnesties have been granted by various successive Presidents of the country, but to no avail. Overcrowding remains an issue which is a threat to the Justice system of South Africa. The situation needs the Government of the day to join forces with the two Departments, namely the Department of Justice and the Department of Correctional Services, along with the involvement of communities. This research study collected data through a qualitative method using interview schedules. Officials directly affected by the overcrowding from both the Department of Correctional Services and the Department of Justice in the Pietermaritzburg area, formed part of the focus group of individuals who offered insight and possible solutions to the overcrowding currently being experienced.