https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/30861 2026-09-17T19:55:08Z 2026-09-17T19:55:08Z Magwentshu, Nontobeko Patience https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/33011 2026-08-25T15:01:21Z 2026-08-12T00:00:00Z

Assessing community attitudes towards gender-based violence in East London, South Africa Magwentshu, Nontobeko Patience Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a critical human rights and public health challenge in South Africa, with East London in the Eastern Cape exemplifying high levels of intimate partner violence and femicide driven by socio-economic inequalities and entrenched cultural norms. This qualitative study explored community perceptions and attitudes towards GBV in urban East London to inform culturally sensitive interventions. Guided by a constructivist paradigm, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 purposively sampled participants from Masimanyane Women Support Centre, Masithethe Counselling Services, and the broader community. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal GBV as deeply entrenched across townships and suburbs, with physical and emotional abuse most prevalent and exacerbated by poverty, unemployment, and alcohol abuse. Legal awareness remains fragmented, with superficial knowledge of the Domestic Violence Act (1998) and poor enforcement. Patriarchal norms such as male headship and lobola continue to normalise violence, although emerging resistance from churches and youth groups offers hope. Community attitudes are polarised, with strong support from women and younger participants contrasted by male and elder views of GBV as a private matter. The study recommends elder-church partnerships, male-inclusive campaigns, and strengthened NGO-SAPS collaboration under the NSP-GBVF. By centring local voices, this research contributes to context-specific strategies for GBV prevention in East London.; Ndzavisiso lowu wa xiyimo xa qualitative, lowu nga ni nhlokomhaka leyi nge Assessing Community Attitudes Towards Gender-Based Violence in East London, South Africa, wu kamburile maonelo na mavonelo ya vaaki mayelana na timhaka ta Gender-Based Violence (GBV) e East London. Ndzavisiso wu landzele paradigm ya constructivist, kutani wu endleke ti-interview ta semi-structured na vanhu va 15 lava hlawuriweke hi ndlela ya purposive, ku suka e Masimanyane Women Support Centre, Masithethe Counselling Services, na e ka vaaki va tiko. Data yi hlahluviwe hi ku tirhisa thematic analysis. Ndzavisiso wu kombise leswaku GBV yi tshembheka swinene e ka matiko ya ximfumo na e ka matiko ya le xiswini, laha ku xaniseka ka miri na ka mianakanyo swi nga swinene, swi susumetiwa hi vusweti, ku hlaya ka ntirho, na ku nwa byala. Vutivi bya milawu byi le ka xiyimo xo karhi, laha vutivi byi nga byi teki hi ndlela yo enta mayelana na Domestic Violence Act (1998) na ku va kona ka ku landzelerisa loku ka ha ri kona. Milawu ya patriarchal ku fana na vuhosi bya wanuna na lobola swi ya emahlweni swi endla leswaku madimoni ya GBV ma va ya tolovelekile, hambileswi ku va na ku hanana loku ku humaka e ka tikereke na mintlawa ya vafana. Maonelo ya vaaki ya hambana, laha vavasati na vantshwa va kombisa ku seketela loku ku tiyisile, kasi vavanuna na vakulukumba va vona GBV tanihi ntlhontlho wa ndyangu. Ndzavisiso wu kombisa leswaku ku fanele ku va na minongolo leyi nga ya ximfumo leyi fambisanaka na ndhavuko, ku katsa na ku hlangana ka vakulukumba na tikereke, minongolo leyi katsaka vavanuna, na ku tiyisa ku hlangana ka ma-NGO na SAPS ehansi ka NSP-GBVF. Hi ku veka maonelo ya vaaki va le kaya, ndzavisiso lowu wu nyika ndhawu e ka minongolo leyi fambisanaka na ndhawu ya kona ku sivela GBV East London.; Thuto ena ea boleng, e nang le sehlooho se reng Assessing Community Attitudes Towards Gender-Based Violence in East London, South Africa, e ile ea hlahloba maikutlo le maikutlo a sechaba mabapi le tlhekefetso ea bong (GBV) toropong ea East London. E tataisoa ke paradigm ea constructivist, thuto ena e sebelisitse lipuisano tse hlophisitsoeng hantle le barupeluoa ba 15 ba khethiloeng ka mokhoa oa purposive, ho tsoa Setsing sa Tšehetso sa Basali sa Masimanyane, Litšebeletso tsa Hlahlobo ea Masithethe, le sechabeng ka kakaretso. Lintlha li ile tsa hlahlojoa ka mokhoa oa thematic analysis. Liphetho li bontša hore GBV e metse ka metso metseng ea litoropo le litoropong, moo tlhekefetso ea ’mele le ea maikutlo e leng eona e atileng haholo, e susumetsoang haholo ke bofuma, ho hloka mosebetsi le tšebeliso ea joala. Tsebo ea molao e ntse e arohane, e tšoauoa ka tsebo e sa tebang ea Molao oa Tlhekefetso ea Lelapa (1998) le ts’ebetsong e fokolang. Litloaelo tsa bopatriarch tse kang bohlooho ba banna le lobola li tsoela pele ho etsa hore pefo e be ntho e tloaelehileng, le hoja ho na le khanyetso e ntseng e hlaha ho tsoa likerekeng le lihlopha tsa bacha e bontšang monyetla oa phetoho. Maikutlo a sechaba a arohane, basali le bacha ba bontša tšehetso e matla ea mehato, ha banna ba bangata le baholo ba talima GBV e le taba ea lelapa feela. Thuto ena e khothaletsa mehato e thehiloeng moetlong e kenyelletsang tšebelisano ’moho ea baholo le likereke, liphutuhelo tse kenyelletsang banna, le tšebelisano ’moho e matlafalitsoeng ea mekhatlo ea sechaba le SAPS tlas’a Leano la Sechaba la GBV le Femicide. Ka ho beha mantsoe a sechaba bohareng, thuto ena e kenya letsoho ho maano a ikhethileng a sebaka sa ho thibela GBV East London. Include abstracts in Tsonga and Sesotho

2026-08-12T00:00:00Z Hadebe, Athandile Slindile https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32952 2026-08-17T13:12:43Z 2026-03-03T00:00:00Z

Elucidating the association between historical injustices and ‘black tax’ : narratives of black female professionals Hadebe, Athandile Slindile ‘Black tax’ is a legacy of South African historical injustices. The study’s aim is to examine the financial and psychological impact of ‘black tax’ on Black female professionals in South Africa. Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and Facebook were utilised to gather information from Black female professionals across the country. Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Critical Feminism Theory (CRF) were used as a lens to explore the intersectionality of race, class, and gender and how it impacts Black women. The study was located within the pragmatic paradigm employing a mixed-methods approach where data collection was conducted in two phases with a sample of 200 participants for the quantitative phase and 10 participants for the qualitative phase. Cross sectional and hermeneutic phenomenological designs were implemented for both phases. During the first phase, participants completed an online survey comprising of nominal, ordinal, and Likert scale questions and the data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The second phase utilised semi-structured interviews to collect data. Thematic analysis was used to make sense of data. Participants were selected by method of nonprobability sampling by making use of purposeful criteria such as accessibility. The results reveal that ‘black tax’ has negatively impacted Black professionals financially and emotionally, thus producing an integrated gendered analysis of financial-psychological nexus particularly affecting these Black women. Although this impact may cause some Black professionals to resent paying ‘black tax’, others have taken pride in assisting their immediate and extended family members. The study recommends introduction of new policies that can alleviate the financial burden of ‘black tax’ on Black professionals. These policies may include non-transferable vouchers which have never been implemented in South Africa.

2026-03-03T00:00:00Z Muleya, Abgirl Mavhandu-Mudzusi, Azwihangwisi Helen Adekola, Ayobami Precious Matakanye, Hulisani Tshivhase, Livhuwani https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32837 2026-08-03T12:44:45Z 2026-06-12T00:00:00Z

Breaking the silence: examining the prevalence, causes and consequences of sexual abuse of learners by educators in South African schools Muleya, Abgirl; Mavhandu-Mudzusi, Azwihangwisi Helen; Adekola, Ayobami Precious; Matakanye, Hulisani; Tshivhase, Livhuwani Introduction: The sexual abuse of learners by educators remains a significant issue in the South African educational system, compromising the learners' well-being and the veracity of institutions. Despite having solid or robust policy structures in place, incidents keep emerging, often hushed by stigma, power dynamics, and insufficient institutional retorts. The ongoing challenges of sexual exploitation in educational environments stipulate cavernous structural and cultural encounters that are not yet fully comprehended. This study rigorously explores the incidences and effects of sexual abuse committed by educators in selected government public South African schools, specifically concentrating on the Soutpansberg North Circuit in Limpopo Province. Methods: A qualitative cyclical longitudinal ethnographic design was used to gain in-depth insights into the experiences of 16 trained Life Orientation (L.O.) educators selected using purposive sampling techniques. This study was conducted in the rural area of Southpansberg North Circuit of Messina, located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Data was collected through ethnographic group discussions and participant observation. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze data. Results: The findings disclosed that sexual abuse frequently arises from a power imbalance between educators and learners. The participants expressed fear and hesitancy in reporting cases of sexual abuse. Furthermore, the finding reflects how the insensitivity of police and the lack of confidentiality dissuade victims from reporting. The study also highlighted the normalisation of learner - educator relationships within communities. Discussion: Together, the findings reveal a complex crisis rooted in gender disparities, power imbalances, and institutional fragility. The patriarchal system perpetuates uneven power relations and normalizes gendered dominance, especially between male teachers and female learners. In light of the findings and implications, it is recommended that the Department of Basic Education establish more stringent regulations and monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance with the South African School-based Child Protection Committees.

2026-06-12T00:00:00Z Erasmus, Megan https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32812 2026-07-30T10:48:12Z 2026-01-26T00:00:00Z

Exploring vital aesthetics through feminine principles in biodigital art Erasmus, Megan In an era shaped by artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and intensifying ecological crises, this thesis investigates how contemporary artistic practice can reawaken ethical imagination. Centred on BioDigital art at the intersection of biological and high-technology systems, it examines how hybrid artistic forms unsettle inherited distinctions between human and nonhuman, natural and artificial, and creator and creation. Rather than resolving these entanglements, the study approaches them as fertile sites for ethical sensitivity and relational awareness. Drawing on John Ruskin’s concept of Vital Aesthetics and the feminine principle, the thesis reframes BioDigital art as an ethical-aesthetic practice grounded in attentiveness, care, and embodied responsiveness. The feminine principle is framed not as gendered identity, but as archetypal receptivity, vulnerability, and sensuous responsibility through which ethics are felt and cultivated. A lifecycle framework places BioDigital analysis in dialogue with the practice-led investigation titled The Chrysalis Code: Unfolding the BioDigital Feminine. This creative work translates ethical conditions into material and experiential processes through BioDigital image-making, projection, and exhibition design. Grounded in embodied ways of sensing the natural world, the practice is situated within reworked South African landscapes embedded in the visual language of Western art history. Rather than seeking ethical resolution, it engages ethical questions through sensuous encounter, temporal unfolding, and environmental responsiveness. The thesis advances a sensuous framework for BioDigital art practice in which aesthetics serve as an ethical orientation, articulating an alternative vision of coexistence grounded in empathy, vulnerability, and relational attunement at the edges of the vital.

2026-01-26T00:00:00Z