Alice Town Research Articles

Breaking New Ground: Perceptions of RDP house beneficiaries of the Mavuso settlement in Alice, South Africa

Background: The South African democratic governments adopted the provision of low-income housing as one of the ways to redress the injustices of the past Apartheid government. Thus, the development of housing legislations and programmes initiated, such as the reconstruction and development programme (RDP) and the Breaking New Ground (BNG).Aim: This study sought to investigate the perceptions of low-cost housing beneficiaries of the new BNG housing programme in Mavuso settlement.Setting: The study is conducted in Alice Town Mavuso location under Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, Eastern Cape province.Methods: A qualitative approach using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.Results: The findings of the study reveal that beneficiaries of low-cost housing in Mavuso are not satisfied with the quality as many of the houses were left incomplete.Conclusion: As per the findings of the study, housing challenges in South Africa stretch beyond the BNG programme which was implemented by the Department of Human Settlements to improve housing delivery. The findings highlight the lack of monitoring and evaluation together with corruption as the major contributor to the challenges of housing delivery.Contribution: Thus, this study seeks to present the voices of beneficiaries and raise awareness to the Department of Human Settlements on the challenges experienced by beneficiaries and the need for monitoring and evaluation. The study seeks to contribute to the body of knowledge on BNG and settlement development.

Perceptions of stakeholders on drivers of stigma subjected to People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Alice town, Eastern Cape: Implications for human rights and social service professions

Despite global HIV/AIDS stigma going down significantly, South Africa continues to experience both internal and external stigma that is believed to derail people’s rights to prevention and response. It is therefore important to establish the drivers of stigma and the human rights deficit they pose to the PLWHA and to social workers. The article, through informal community engagements, sought to tap the insights of selected stakeholders on the drivers of stigma in Alice town and its environs. The study comprised thirty-three participants, eight of whom were engaged in in-depth interviews while 25 of them were involved in four focus group discussions. Coding facilitated the selection and establishment of themes. Findings established that stigma was driven by ignorance pertaining to the AIDS aetiology and epidemiology; weaker campaign infrastructure in the rural areas; poverty of the people; denialism and myths. The article has used the philosophy of Ubuntu to suggest how to tackle HIV/AIDS stigma. The article recommends more research on drivers of stigma. Collaboration, as well as a synergy between different stakeholders in the HIV/AIDS arena, is recommended.
 Journal website:
 https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net 
 How to reference using ASWNet style:
 Kangethe S. (2023). Perceptions of stakeholders on drivers of stigma subjected to People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Alice town, Eastern Cape: Implications for human rights and social service professions. African Journal of Social Work, 13(1), 30-38. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i1.4

Covid-19 Pandemic in South Africa: An Exploration on Citizen Adherence to Protocols and Communication

This paper sought to explore the general public’s response to the national communications about COVID-19 in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A qualitative research strategy was utilised to conduct fieldwork in Scenery Park Phase 1 and 2 locations in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in King Williams town CBD, and Alice town CBD in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa to understand the context of the participants. Exploratory and descriptive approaches were used in this study. Data collection was cross-sectional as information was gathered once through face-to-face interviews with purposively selected 30 community members and leaders, 10 from each location. The findings indicated that, dissemination of information about COVID-19 was ineffective and inadequate for little was done to address the illiterate population. The study recommends the training and development of crisis leadership competencies as a proactive measure. The study also recommends spirited awareness campaigns ahead of an impending disaster to fully educate and empower the masses.

Exploring the South African Government Communication on Land Expropriation without Compensation

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.

Garden ownership as a solution to food insecurity in urban areas of South Africa: case of food gardens in Alice Town, Eastern Cape province

Programs like Siyazondla Homestead Gardens, Siyakhula and Massive Food Production Program were introduced by the provincial government of the Eastern Cape province with the aim of improving household food production, nutrition and food security. However, full ownership of food gardens by households has been a challenge. Thus, this paper investigates the factors influencing the ownership of home gardens by Alice Town households. Households in Alice Town, Eastern Cape province were purposively selected for data collection, and a structured questionnaire was employed. A binary logistic regression model was adopted to determine the factors that influence food gardens ownership among the sampled households. Results show that three variables that influenced food gardens ownership were location, land access and education level. These variables had a significance level of 5%. The paper concludes that having access to food gardens by city dwellers can help improve their food security status. However, owning a garden is a challenge due to the variables highlighted. Thus, it is important to promote associations in urban areas and provide training and workshops that can improve the productivity of home garden owners. This is how access to better nutrition and safe, rich and fresh vegetables can be achieved.

Challenges Faced by Foreign Entrepreneurs, a Stumbling Block in Running Their Businesses in South Africa?: Case Study of Alice Town, Eastern Cape, South Africa

ABSTRACTIn developing countries, small and medium enterprises are important for economic growth and development. Entrepreneurship supports the process of economic development, fosters economic grow...

Exploring Factors Contributing to Crime and Violence in South African High Schools: The Case of 2008 Study on Nzululwazi High School in Alice Town, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Exploring Factors Contributing to Crime and Violence in South African High Schools: The Case of 2008 Study on Nzululwazi High School in Alice Town, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Women Handling of Domestic Violence in Rural Township of Alice in South Africa

A quantitative survey was conducted in Eastern Cape in South Africa to explore the use and effectiveness of strategies used to address domestic violence. Fifty women who lived in Golf Course Community, in Alice town were administered questionnaires. The findings of the study highlighted that the women were aware of several strategies used to address domestic violence which included women's rights organizations, reporting perpetrators to the police and use of the Domestic Violence Act (DVA). Even though reporting to the police was the most strategy used, it was proven to be less effective because the police lacked vigilance and therefore this led to domestic violence cases to be left unreported. Additionally, it emerged that the strategies were to a greater extent less effective. Recommendations are proposed to find the best way of combating domestic violence. Language: en

Influence of Child Support Grants on Increased Birth Rate among Women of Childbearing Age in Alice Town, South Africa

This paper investigates the influence of the Child Support Grant (CSG) on increased birth rate among women of childbearing age. A qualitative research method was employed and data was collected fro...

An Analysis of Institutional Factors Influencing Vegetable Production amongst Small-Scale Farmers in Six Vegetable Projects of the Nkonkobe Local Municipality

The specific roles of institutions in mediating production and marketing within the smallholder sector have not been fully investigated and understood especially in the parts of South Africa designated independent homelands prior to the end of Apartheid. This paper investigated institutional factors influencing vegetable production in six small-scale vegetable projects in Alice town in the Nkonkobe Municipality of Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Amidst worsening poverty in the wider society it was the intention to know how vegetable production can contribute to enhancing food security and if it is in a position to do so. Seeking some insights on effectiveness of the agrarian reforms on smallholder farmers in South Africa, the objectives of the study were to identify and explore institutional factors that influence vegetable production. The data were drawn from all the 62 farmers in the projects investigated. Descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression were employed to analyze the data and explain the patterns of interactions among the identified institutional factors influencing vegetable production. The study results revealed that some institutional factors need to be addressed to enhance vegetable production. The binary logistic results show that formal rules and informal norms are important in vegetable production. The most significant institutional variables revealed by the analysis were attributes of the formation and organizational structure of the projects, land tenure, extension service, collective action in production and marketing. The findings suggest that institutional changes in respect to aforementioned variables and other complementary institutions such as contract farming and credit access can significantly contribute to increased, efficient and sustainable vegetable production.

Exploring the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) Residents’ Perceptions of Housing Allocation Malpractices in Golf Course, Alice Town, Eastern Cape, South Africa

AbstractThe present paper attempts to explore residents’ perceptions of malpractices such as corruption, nepotism and favoritism and maladministration in the allocation of public housing, in an estate meant for people of low-socio-economic standing in the province of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches and used a case study and a mini survey designs respectively, with the qualitative approach being the dominant approach while the quantitative was less dominant. The qualitative sample included 22 beneficiaries of RDP houses; one social worker; one RDP housing administrator (who were purposively selected by the principle researcher) and 50 respondents for the mini survey. Findings indicate that most participants were not happy as they felt that allocation of houses was fraught with various aspects of malpractices such as bribery to facilitate fast allocation, nepotism and favoritism and allocating those who least deserved the allocation.The researchers...

Examining the Extent to Which the Effects of HIV/AIDS Is Addressed in Low Cost Housing Projects in South Africa: The Case of RDP Golf Course Housing Project in Alice Town, Eastern

Examining the Extent to Which the Effects of HIV/AIDS Is Addressed in Low Cost Housing Projects in South Africa: The Case of RDP Golf Course Housing Project in Alice Town, Eastern

Examining the Extent to Which the Effects of HIV/AIDS Is Addressed in Low Cost Housing Projects in South Africa: The Case of RDP Golf Course Housing Project in Alice Town, Eastern

Examining the Extent to Which the Effects of HIV/AIDS Is Addressed in Low Cost Housing Projects in South Africa: The Case of RDP Golf Course Housing Project in Alice Town, Eastern

Examining the Extent to Which the Effects of HIV/AIDS Is Addressed in Low Cost Housing Projects in South Africa: The Case of RDP Golf Course Housing Project in Alice Town, Eastern

Examining the Extent to Which the Effects of HIV/AIDS Is Addressed in Low Cost Housing Projects in South Africa: The Case of RDP Golf Course Housing Project in Alice Town, Eastern

Examining the Extent to Which the Effects of HIV/AIDS Is Addressed in Low Cost Housing Projects in South Africa: The Case of RDP Golf Course Housing Project in Alice Town, Eastern

Examining the Extent to Which the Effects of HIV/AIDS Is Addressed in Low Cost Housing Projects in South Africa: The Case of RDP Golf Course Housing Project in Alice Town, Eastern

The informal sector as a source of household income: The case of Alice town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

The role of entrepreneurship in economic development has been extensively studied in the richer Western (i.e. first world) countries, but it could be argued that entrepreneurship is even more vital in developing countries. The informal sector in developing countries not only makes a significant contribution towards gross domestic product, but is a major potential source of entrepreneurship, hence a source of income too especially for the less educated and less skilled. This study explores the impact of the informal sector in the lives of the people of Alice town and attempts to suggest ways of making this sector an even better source of income for them. Through the study, the attempt is to prove that the promotion of informal sector activities or at least the elimination of regulations and stifling restrictions could open up a source of income which the poor urban households such as those in the town of Alice can use to escape poverty. The paper further highlights all the different types of challenges faced by the traders within this sector and ends by making a number of possible policies that could be used to overcome these challenges and make the sector an important source of livelihood. Key words: Informal sector, income generation, poor urban households, economic development, employment creation.