Gauteng Province Of South Africa Research Articles

The role of open government data and information and communication technology in meeting the employment‐related information needs of unemployed South African youth

AbstractOpen government data (OGD) and information and communication technologies (ICT) are potential enablers in meeting information needs related to finding employment opportunities, but there is little evidence‐based theorization to guide this enablement and avoid the barriers that hinder its use. The potential economic contribution of OGD has been researched in depth, but the potential of OGD for human development, specifically in developing countries, has not been theorized substantially. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate “how the role of ICT and OGD in meeting the employment‐related information needs of unemployed South African youth can be understood better by the application of the Choice Framework”. The Choice Framework is Kleine's analytical tool for investigating ICTs for development toward a contextualized understanding of the relationships among the framework's elements, namely structure, agency, the dimension of choice and development outcomes. The research design was a single, exploratory case study; the data was collected in Alexandra Township of the Gauteng Province in South Africa using semi‐structured interviews. Data was collected from 34 participants (between the ages of 18 and 35) who were looking for employment. The data was analyzed thematically and then unpacked in terms of the constructors of the Choice Framework. The findings show that most participants had access to ICT but limited awareness of OGD, and several challenges in using OGD for finding employment‐related information were identified. The findings provide a theory‐based contextual understanding of the research space, including the challenges and recommendations for overcoming said challenges of finding information on employment opportunities.

DEMYSTIFYING DATA PROCESSING TEACHERS’ PROCEDURAL, FUNCTIONAL, PEDAGOGICAL, AND CONTENT KNOWLEDGE IN AN ICT-BASED CLASSROOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

The paper examines the level of Procedural, Functional, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (PFPCK) competency needed by Data Processing (DP) teachers to effectively use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools in ICT-based classrooms. A descriptive survey research design was used in the study. Three research questions were raised, and one hypothesis was formulated to guide the study. 130 DP teachers randomly selected from 11 Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in Gauteng province in South Africa formed the sample population. The instrument used in the study was a self-developed questionnaire titled Data Processing Teachers Competency of Procedural Functional Pedagogical Content Questionnaire (DPTCPFPCQ). Personal and observation checklists were also used in the study. The data were analyzed using mean scores and t-tests. The results showed that DP teachers possessed the necessary competency of PFPCK needed to use ICT tools in the digital classroom. It was also revealed that there was a significant difference in the level of competency and acquisition of skills between the pre-service and in-service DP teachers in the use of ICT in the class. It was therefore recommended that the management of TVET colleges and other similar institutions should help to improve DP teachers procedural, and functional knowledge in the use of ICT as a pedagogical tool in ICT-enhanced classrooms. KEYWORDS: ICT-based classrooms, Procedural, Functional Knowledge, DP teachers.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Anxiety Symptoms among Student Nurses in Gauteng Province of South Africa.

Background: Globally, mental disorders are common among nursing students; therefore, effective prevention and early detection are urgently needed. However, the prevalence rate of anxiety symptoms has not been investigated in South African nursing colleges. Aim: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and their sociodemographic risk factors among nursing students in Gauteng province, South Africa. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Chris Hani Baragwanath and SG Lourens nursing colleges in the first week of June 2022. A purposeful sampling technique selected the third- and fourth-year nursing students aged ≥ 18 years registered at the two nursing colleges. The seven-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale was used to assess anxiety symptoms. Results: The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 74.7% (95% confidence interval: 69.9-78.9). Being a student at nursing college B, being in the fourth academic year of study and use of substances were identified as predictors of anxiety symptoms in these nursing students. Conclusions: The prevalence of anxiety symptoms in this study is relatively high, with predictors of developing anxiety being a student at nursing college B, in the fourth academic year and current use of psychoactive substances were predictors of anxiety symptoms. These findings highlight the need to develop interventions and strategies to promote mental health assessments and management to prevent and reduce the problem of mental disorders among nursing students.

Comparing bird sightings between grassland and marsh habitats at a rehabilitated wetland in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Abstract. Botha J, Haussmann NS. 2023. Comparing bird sightings between grassland and marsh habitats at a rehabilitated wetland in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Biodiversitas 24: 3536-3542. Wetlands, including rehabilitated wetlands, form important feeding and nesting sites for a large range of bird species. The restoration of degraded wetlands is therefore important from a bird biodiversity perspective and bird surveys are needed in such systems. However, bird counts typically differ both spatially (e.g., between different habitats within the wetland) and temporally (e.g., between different seasons or times of the day). This study compared bird sightings at a rehabilitated wetland in the Gauteng Province of South Africa between marsh and grassland sections of the wetland and between morning and afternoon sessions. A total of 47 bird species were sighted at the wetland, including a number of species that have been listed as declining. Whereas more species were sighted in the marsh habitats of the wetland than the grassland habitats, differences in the number of sightings between habitats depended on the time of day. Thus, although there were no differences in the number of sightings between morning and afternoon sessions at the marshes, the number of sightings was higher in the afternoons than in the mornings at the grasslands. We therefore, first caution against comparing bird counts, in general, between studies conducted at different times of the day. More importantly, however, our results highlight the importance of not only conserving natural, pristine wetlands but also rehabilitated wetlands to create habitats for declining bird populations in transformed environments such as urban settings.

Relationship between prior entrepreneurship exposure and entrepreneurial intention among secondary school learners in Gauteng, South Africa

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of prior entrepreneurship exposure on entrepreneurial intention and its antecedents. Data were collected from 349 secondary school learners in Mamelodi, Gauteng province of South Africa using a cross-sectional survey. Data were analysed using SPSS by means of regression analysis and descriptive statistics. The results revealed that prior entrepreneurship exposure in the form of current business ownership, entrepreneurial role models in the family, among friends, and knowing other entrepreneurs have no significant effect on entrepreneurial intention and its antecedents. Prior start-up experience, knowledge of successful entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurship education had a significant positive relationship with entrepreneurial intention. Prior start-up experience and knowledge of successful entrepreneurs were positively related to attitude towards entrepreneurship and subjective norms. Knowledge of successful entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship education had a significant positive relationship with perceived behavioural control. Additionally, a significant positive relationship was found between entrepreneurship education and subjective norms.

The Influence of Market Orientation, Risk Taking and Innovative Performance on New Product Performance: A Case of Gauteng Province in South Africa

The Influence of Market Orientation, Risk Taking and Innovative Performance on New Product Performance: A Case of Gauteng Province in South Africa

A pre-experimental design evaluation of brief harm reduction interventions to improve coping self-efficacy of carers of people with substance use disorder

BackgroundGlobally, the rise in the number of people living with a substance use disorder (SUD) carries a multitude of individual and social health implications for carers and their families, often impacting negatively on their quality of life. Considered from a harm reduction approach, SUD is understood as a chronic protracted, complex health and social condition. From the extant literature, there is no evidence of the harm reduction approach being applied to address the needs of carers/family members who carry the burden of SUD care. This study preliminarily evaluated the Care4Carers Programme. It is a purposively designed set of brief interventions to improve the coping self-efficacy of carers of people with SUD (PwSUD carers) by equipping them to think about ways to exert control over their motivation, behaviours and social environment.MethodsA pre-experimental, one group pretest–posttest design was implemented with 15 purposively selected participants in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The intervention was conducted by the lead researcher, a registered social worker. Eight brief intervention sessions were held, over 5–6 weeks at research sites where the participants were identified. The coping self-efficacy scale was completed before and directly after exposure to the programme. Results were analysed using paired t-tests.ResultsThere were statistically significant (p < .05) improvements in carers’ coping self-efficacy, both overall and in respect of each of its constituent components: problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping and social support strategies.ConclusionsThe Care4Carers Programme improved the coping self-efficacy of carers of people living with SUDs. The application of this programmatic harm reduction intervention to support PwSUD carers should be tested on a larger scale across South Africa.

Green Innovation Sustainability &amp; Green Practice Behaviours in Tourism &amp; Hospitality

This study aimed to examine the sustainability of green innovation concerning green practices in city-based hotels. As a result of climate change in the global atmosphere, unpredictable weather patterns, and deforestation, the hospitality sector faces new challenges. The hospitality sector has demonstrated efficiency, gaining a competitive advantage through sustainability and gross domestic product (GDP). Travellers and tourists experience quality service delivery, food and beverage, entertainment, and transportation. Extras such as amusement parks, inns, and hotels. This study used a positivist philosophy and deductively tested hypotheses using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and random sampling. A sample size of N=250 was from the top team management and employees of the travel and tourism sector in Gauteng province in South Africa. Based on the path model, the best model fit was determined. Several research constructs were examined, including green branding, pricing, environmental sustainability, green innovation, green growth, &amp; green practice. Green innovation and green practices have a correlation coefficient of 0.358, indicating a strong link between green growth and green practices. A p-estimation of 0.001 indicates a 0.05 certainty level, meaning speculation must be maintained. As a result, travel and tourism companies that practice green business strategies showed more significant support for sustainability strategies. It is recommended that tourism &amp; hospitality companies employ green innovation strategies that support their business objectives, enabling them to assess and improve business growth, make contributions to policy within the industry, raise awareness about climate change while in business and improve current strategic relationships while maintaining a high level of preservation of the environment. Keywords: green innovation, sustainability, tourism &amp; hospitality, green growth strategy, green branding

An empirical approach on national exporter development programme (Nedp) on emerging exporters in Gauteng province South Africa

The current intensive global competition compels exporters to adapt to innovative ways of doing business to remain competitive. Many exporters are unable to meet international regulatory requirements to service their exports. South African government has implemented growth-enhancing reforms that aim at igniting economic activity while promoting industrialisation and transformation to broadening the exporter base of the country. This article sought to find out the effects of the National Exporter Development Programme (NEDP) on South African emerging exporters within Gauteng Province. The NEDP as well as the Provincial Investment and Promotion Agencies are very critical in supporting emerging exporters in the Gauteng province.

Assessing the influence of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation phase on rainfall variability in the Gauteng province of South Africa

South Africa is subject to large rainfall variability, with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) being the most important driver across the summer rainfall region. The aim of this study was to relate ENSO phase to historical rainfall variability over the densely populated and economically important Gauteng province of South Africa. Monthly rainfall totals for the period 1960–2021 were used to calculate Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) values at different timescales for five stations. The Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) was used to classify seasons according to ENSO phase. For each station, the number of wet, near-normal or dry seasons falling in a particular ENSO phase was tallied and used to calculate probabilities of occurrence. Results revealed spatial inhomogeneities despite the study area being relatively small. Analysis of 3- and 6-month periods revealed that dry conditions occur more frequently during spring and autumn El Niño events, but are very unlikely during summer and autumn La Niña events. Analysis of 12-month periods revealed that near-normal conditions occur most frequently regardless of ENSO phase, with an increased chance of experiencing wet as opposed to dry conditions under La Niña. This information can aid various decision-makers to make better use of seasonal climate predictions.

“You Are Essentially Just a Number”: Discourse Elaboration and Devaluation among Natural Science Students

This article analyzes first-year natural science students’ experiences of discourse and devaluation as new members of the Natural and Agricultural Sciences Faculty at the University of Pretoria (UP). This study aims to highlight students’ perspectives on navigating digital learning during COVID-19. Second, the analysis aims to highlight how intersections between languages, digital learning tools, and students’ identities intersect in an academic literacy module. Lastly, the investigation aims to formulate methodical propositions that academic literacy facilitators can apply to generate experiences of discourse elaboration as opposed to devaluation. This study was conducted at the Hatfield campus of the University of Pretoria, Gauteng province in South Africa among first-year natural science scholars. To unearth students’ experiences, this analysis employed a qualitative and phenomenological line of inquiry. Accordingly, the researchers interviewed 17 students in 2021 as part of a pilot project for a master’s degree project. All structured interviews were conducted via live video transmission using Zoom. The results of the study indicated that most of the participants missed face-to-face interactions with peers and academic staff. The majority of participants indicated that the sole utilization of eLearning induced discourse devaluation. Simultaneously, participants expressed discourse elaboration through interacting with digital literacies in the LST 110 module. Key variables that shaped students’ diverse experiences of discourse elaboration and devaluation are languages, identity, culture, and digital learning tools.

Nursing profession in Africa: A study on work engagement and talent management practices in South Africa

AbstractBackgroundThe global shortage of nurses, intensified by nurses migrating to richer countries, creates a health crisis in developing countries. This study investigates how strategic talent management practices can improve the work engagement of professional nurses in public hospitals in South Africa.MethodsA cross‐sectional, self‐administered survey was conducted among professional nurses employed in three large public hospitals in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. We measured: (1) management commitment, (2) talent review, (3) workforce planning, (4) staffing, (5) talent acquisition, (6) talent development, (7) talent commitment and (8) talent retention. The sub‐dimensions of work engagement that were measured included: (1) vigour, (2) absorption and (3) dedication. Descriptive and inferential (multiple regression) analyses were performed. The gap analysis calculated the difference between the current and desired status means talent management item.ResultsThe gap analysis revealed the biggest discrepancies between the value nurses attach to and the current status of management commitment and the talent review and staffing processes. Multiple regression analyses confirmed that current status‐rating talent acquisition impacts dedication and absorption combined (r = 0.112, p‐value = 0.012 &lt; 0.05) and management commitment impacts absorption and vigour combined (r = 0.26, p‐value = 0.026 &lt; 0.05). The importance‐rating revealed talent development and commitment combined influences dedication and absorption combined (r = 0.092, p‐value = 0.038 &lt; 0.05), and talent review and planning impacts absorption and vigour combined (r = 0.115, p‐value = 0.010 &lt; 0.05). Age and job status had a significant effect on absorption–vigour.ConclusionHospital managers can improve the engagement of nurses by demonstrating their commitment to talent development, offering a diverse variety of development opportunities and ensuring a pipeline of new nurses by improving the attractiveness of the profession. The study shows how strategic talent management practices can serve to improve work engagement in the healthcare sector.

Contribution of homestead food garden towards food availability in Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality - Region 7, Gauteng Province of South Africa

The government of South Africa has a political and economic incentive to guarantee that people have access to enough nutritious food to always meet their needs, but many households in the nation still struggle to attain food security. Among its various initiatives, the South African government has introduced a Homestead Food Garden (HFG) program that aims to increase food production to combat hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity. Even though the struggle to achieve food security at household level in peri-urban areas of Gauteng Province dates back a long period, it has remained as a challenge goal even today. The study's objective was to determine how much HFG contributes to the availability of food in households in region 7 in the City of Tshwane and the factors that influence this availability using the Ordered Logistic Regression (ORD) model. A total of eleven explanatory variables were included in the pragmatic model. To ensure a representative sample size, 258 individuals were chosen at random from the study's survey design, which was quantitative in nature. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to gather data using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results showed that 83% of the participants continued to cultivate their homestead gardens after receiving support from HFG program; thus, the program improved food availability in the households of the gardeners. Food availability was positively and significantly influenced by age, other support program received, and the availability of homestead gardens (p&lt;0.01). From seasonal perspectives, there were more food available from domestic gardens in the summer than in the winter. In addition, more food was available in spring season gardens than in summer and winter. The type of food crops cultivated by majority (65%) of the participants was spinach. As such, HFG program improved household food availability mostly during spring and summer. Therefore, it is advised that policymakers should encourage targeted communities and youth to utilize vacant space in their backyards for food gardening. As part of HFG program, government should provide training about rainwater harvesting techniques to enable gardeners to conserve water for sustainable production throughout the year. Key words: Homestead Food Garden, Food availability, Food security, Households, Gauteng Province

Analysis of the impact of social grants on food security in Gauteng province of South Africa

Analysis of the impact of social grants on food security in Gauteng province of South Africa

The Effect of Coronavirus on Undergraduate Students in the Gauteng Province of South Africa during 2020-2022: An Interdisciplinary Assessment

The coronavirus pandemic has affected almost every aspect of human life across the entire globe, including tertiary education. This interdisciplinary study explored how undergraduate students in tertiary institutions located in Gauteng Province of South Africa experienced and coped with the effects of the pandemic between the 2020 to 2022 academic years. The article used the Rites of Passage Concept to interpret how they transitioned from in-person learning to online learning, and from the latter to hybrid learning. It then used psychological concepts of self-efficacy, self-regulation and self-control to illustrate how they motivated themselves to continue pursuing their academic studies. To conduct this phenomenological study, the researchers used participatory observation and in-depth interviews to collect data over a three-year period. They then employed concepts from anthropology and psychology to interpret the students’ experience. While recognizing its limited scope, the researchers argued that the study was able to illustrate the symbiotic relationship between anthropology and psychology in social scientific research. It is their hope that the findings of this study contribute to existing scholarship in the field of humanities concerning stressors and coping strategies. Keywords: Interdisciplinary Study, COVID-19, Concept of the Rites of Passage, Coping Strategies

Experiences of primary health care practitioners dealing with emergencies - 'We are on our own'.

Primary health care (PHC) focuses on health promotion and disease prevention; however, acute episodes and emergencies still occur at this level of care. The World Health Organization (WHO) proposes strengthening emergency care at a PHC level as a way of lessening the burden of disease on the overall health system. It is not known how health care practitioners at the PHC level experience management of emergencies. To explore and describe the experiences of PHC practitioners dealing with emergencies at PHC facilities in Gauteng, South Africa. The study was conducted in the District Health Services of Gauteng province in South Africa, including clinics, community health care centres and district hospitals. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposively selected sample of professional nurses and doctors from various levels of the district health care system. Data were transcribed and analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. Various themes were identified related to the individual confidence and competence of the PHC practitioner, the team approach, the process of role and task allocation and the need for training. The study provided a voice for the needs of health care practitioners dealing with emergencies at the PHC level. The designing of a targeted and contextually appropriate approach to emergency care training of health care practitioners in the PHC setting that improves team dynamics and team performance, is recommended.Contribution: The insights of PHC practitioners dealing with emergencies contribute contextual relevance to any strategic improvement of care at this level.

Soil seed banks along a woody plant removal gradient in a semi-arid savanna of South Africa: Implications for restoration

Woody plant encroachment threatens ecosystem services and functions, thereby reducing herbaceous plant population persistence and community stability. Consequently, woody plant control projects are implemented in South Africa to restore herbaceous vegetation. Because persistent seeds drive passive restoration and vegetation trajectories, management following woody plant control entails examining soil seed bank (SSB) size and composition. However, a knowledge gap exists regarding how SSB characteristics respond along a woody plant removal gradient. This study was conducted at Roodeplaat in Gauteng Province of South Africa to assess the impact of woody density reduction [hereafter woody plant removal intensity (WPRI)] on SSB density, composition, diversity and richness. Woody plant vegetation composed of a mixture of species, mainly Vachellia robusta, Ziziphus mucronata, Euclea species and Pappea capensis. Selective tree removal was applied to downscale woody density (4065 ± 109 plants ha−1) of the control (0% WPRI) to 10, 20, 50, 75 and 100% WPRIs in four blocks, resulting in four replicates per WPRI. A total of 120 soil samples (n = 20 per WPRI) were collected at 5 cm depth after 3 years of tree removal. Germination method was used to assess the SSB. Fifty-one species, mainly forbs (n = 26) and grasses (n = 16) were recorded from 32 237 seeds. The SSB densities of grasses increased from 649 to 6000 seeds m−2 from 0 to 100% WPRI whilst sedges and forbs exhibited differential declining trends along WPRI gradient. Cyperus rotundus accounted for more than one-third of the SSB densities at 0 and 10% WPRIs, whereas Panicum maximum contributed nearly half (46%) to the SSB density at 100% WPRI. Woody plant removal increased SSB diversity (H′) and richness, but diversity peaked at 20% WPRI (H' = 1.78); thereafter it declined. Overall, our results signified that complete woody plant clearing has a potential for restoration of woody-encroached rangelands through increasing SSB size and species richness.

A South African beef quality survey

In this study a survey of various meat quality characteristics of beef loin cuts was conducted in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (Gauteng Province of South Africa) to determine the variation and consistency of beef quality of products purchased over time. Four hundred and twenty beef loin samples were collected on 20 occasions over 308 days from 13 outlets of 2 supplier types (butcher and supermarket). Packaging type, label information and price were considered for the evaluation of meat tenderness, colour, cooking loss, tissue composition and steak thickness. The results demonstrate that large variation in characteristics relevant to consumers' choice and satisfaction among and within different products sold as porterhouse steak in South Africa. In particular, muscle tenderness varied (P < 0.0001) across the 20 products and also showed significant inconsistency over the 20 purchasing events for certain products.

The role of small-scale apparel manufacturing businesses in the provision of employment and income generation

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to identify types of small-scale businesses used by households for self-employment, the challenges they face, and the type of support received from government and non-governmental organisations. Two independent studies were conducted: a mixed-method approach was applied to obtain information from 200 respondents in two rural districts of Limpopo province of South Africa. A qualitative case study was also conducted in an urban setting in the Gauteng province of South Africa to explore the business operations of 13 small-scale clothing manufacturers. Businesses were related to agriculture, various artisan and consumer-related fields. Problems experienced included limited production/financial business resources and management skills. Incubation hub entrepreneurs were resourceful and used creativity for business survival. The findings underscore the need for skills training and support for small-scale clothing manufacturing business owners.

Association of knowledge and practice of Tuberculosis infection prevention and control policies among health care personnel at a regional hospital, in Gauteng province of South Africa

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) remains an occupational health risk among healthcare personnel (HCP) globally, with the risk of transmission present throughout healthcare settings. The presence of undiagnosed and untreated highly infectious patients poses a great risk to the HCP who are often the forefront healthcare providers of any epidemic. Genotypic analysis of infected HCP revealed similar strains to the ones identified from the patient profile of their facilities, suggestive of nosocomial transmission. The aim of the study was to determine healthcare personnel’s knowledge and practices regarding protective wear on TB prevention in Gauteng province. MethodsA non-experimental descriptive quantitative survey was used for this study. The sample was a cohort of healthcare professionals from a selected regional hospital located in Gauteng province of South Africa. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Pretoria and the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire which was distributed to the different categories of HCP at the selected facility. All analysis was conducted using Stata 15 and p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. ResultsKnowledge of infection control policies was not significantly associated with practice. However, knowledge was significantly associated with level of education. HCP with higher levels of education demonstrated good knowledge but poor practice. Conclusion and recommendationsGood knowledge of infection prevention and control policies did not result in good practice. Hence, strategies to create knowledge translation towards IPC practices among HCP need to be devised.