Policy Makers In South Africa Research Articles

Disability Inclusion and Pandemic Policymaking in South Africa: A Framework Analysis

A growing body of research demonstrates the disproportionate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with disabilities. Existing inequities, especially in healthcare, were deepened during this period, highlighting the need for policymakers to consider the specific needs of people with disabilities during crises. We conducted a framework analysis of health-related policy in South Africa during 2020, investigating the extent to which the country’s pandemic response was disability-inclusive. Our findings demonstrated the limited conceptions of disability reflected in decision-making, and the general failure to consider people with disabilities in lockdown and other measures. One government department made positive statements about disability-inclusive services and support, but these were unactionable in the context of existing infrastructure and resources. In spite of South Africa’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability, this study demonstrated the inadequate buy-in and capacity across government to implement disability inclusion.

The Advancement of 4IR Technologies and Increasing Cyberattacks in South Africa

The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) is an era characterised by accelerated technological progress. Even though access to 4IR technologies is not yet widespread, in the current era, 4IR technologies affect socio-economic activities and digital business. The pace of digital transformation also has some implications for cybersecurity. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of these 4IR technologies on cyberattacks in South Africa. The study used qualitative data collection methods, namely, interviews and document collection. Purposive and convenience sampling were used to select the study participants. An analysis of the collected data yielded four major findings. A major tenet of these findings was that there is a correlation between the advancement of 4IR technologies and the rapid increase in cyberattacks in South Africa. The study has made theoretical and practical contributions as well as some essential contributions to digital transformation and cybersecurity theories. The findings and recommendations of the study can be used in other countries in southern Africa. One recommendation is for business executives to implement certain measures to strengthen cybersecurity in their organisations. Further, policymakers in South Africa are advised to ensure that public policies and law enforcement agencies are able to use advanced technologies to prevent and deal with cyberattacks.

Enhancing Project Management for SMEs: A Hybrid Approach

Objective: South Africa's economic growth and development are closely intertwined with government-prioritized infrastructure development projects. However, SMEs in this sector often grapple with insufficient project management processes, impeding their efficacy and economic contributions. The issue stems from the inadequate implementation of project management methodologies by SMEs, which adversely affects project outcomes and consequently their economic impact. Research Design & Methods: A literature review was conducted to assess the implementation of project management methodologies by SMEs in South African infrastructure development projects. The objective is to highlight areas for improvement, rectify the deficiency in project management practices among SMEs, and bolster their effectiveness and economic contributions. Findings: Preliminary findings accentuate the critical role of project management as a discipline for SMEs involved in infrastructure projects. Its absence or inadequate implementation hampers the growth and sustainability of organizations aiming to make substantial economic contributions and create employment. A hybrid project management model tailored for SMEs in infrastructure development emerges as a mechanism for effectively managing infrastructure projects. Implications and Recommendations: The conceptualization of a hybrid project management model for infrastructure development projects holds the potential to enhance project value by facilitating adaptability. By incorporating agile project management components, this model also stands to improve client engagement, consequently elevating the prospects of success in infrastructure development projects. Contribution & Value Added: This study contributes to the understanding of how SMEs can improve their effectiveness and economic contributions in South Africa's infrastructure development sector. The proposed hybrid project management model offers valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers in South Africa, ultimately fostering economic development and sustainable growth in the country.

The effect of interest rates on credit access for small and medium-sized enterprises: A South African perspective

This study investigates the effect of interest rates on credit access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. The study employs a quantitative research design, using data collected from 200 SMEs in South Africa. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis, and multiple regression analysis. An inverse relationship between interest rate and credit accessibility was found using the Pearson correlation coefficient (r = –.199, p < 0.05). The results show that interest rates have a significant negative effect on credit access for SMEs in South Africa. Moreover, the study finds that SMEs experience considerable obstacles in obtaining affordable credit, and that interest rates play a crucial role in this. The study recommends that policymakers in South Africa should consider reducing interest rates and relaxing collateral requirements to improve credit access in SMEs. Furthermore, the study suggests that SMEs should focus on building a good credit history to improve their creditworthiness and increase their chances of accessing credit. Overall, the findings of this study contribute to the existing literature on the effect of interest rates on credit access for SMEs and provide insights for policymakers and SME owners in South Africa.

Socioeconomic Impact of Policy-Making in South Africa

Background: South African government has numerous policies that seek to address the social ills and economic decline in the country. These policies are not reviewed continuously and as such, these policies are not addressing the current state of affairs for the majority of South Africans. Policies that are made in South Africa seem to be a guessing game for government officials. Communities are not allowed to participate in policy-making. Advertising the draft policies on various platforms does not mean all community members have access to that draft policy.
 
 Purpose: The purpose of this article is to show how socioeconomic policies affect South African communities.
 
 Objectives: The objective of the article was to investigate the impact of socioeconomic policies in South Africa. The second objective was to explore the process of policy-making concerning improving the lives of the people in South Africa.
 
 Research methodology: The study applied the secondary research methodology. Data was collected from the South African government gazette and in public documents.
 
 Results: The study found that the socio-economic policies that are developed for South Africa do not fully address the problems or challenges of the broader society. Some of these policies are not properly implemented. 
 
 Conclusion: The study concludes that policy-making in South Africa is not for everyone but for a few individuals.

Using System Dynamics to Understand Transnational Corporate Power in Diet-Related Non-communicable Disease Prevention Policy-Making: A Case Study of South Africa.

Complex interactions between political economy factors and corporate power are increasingly recognized to prevent transformative policy action on non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention. System science offers promising methods for analysing such causal complexity. This study uses qualitative system dynamics methods to map the political economy of diet-related NCD (DR-NCD) prevention policy-making aiming to better understand the policy inertia observed in this area globally. We interviewed 25 key policy actors. We analysed the interviews using purposive text analysis (PTA). We developed individual then combined casual loop diagrams to generate a shared model representing the DR-NCD prevention policy-making system. Key variables/linkages identified from the literature were also included in the model. We validated the model in several steps including through stakeholder validation interviews. We identified several inter-linked feedback processes related to political economy factors that may entrench different forms of corporate power (instrumental, structural, and discursive) in DR-NCD prevention policy-making in South Africa over time. We also identified a number of feedback processes that have the potential to limit corporate power in this setting. Using complex system methods can be useful for more deeply understanding DR-NCD policy inertia. It is also useful for identifying potential leverage points within the system which may shift the existing power dynamics to facilitate greater political commitment for healthy, equitable, and sustainable food system transformation.

Why unending? Migrations and the political economy of the xenophobic conflict in South Africa: a systematic review

The object of the research is the interaction between unending migrations and the political economy as significant drivers of xenophobic conflicts. The phenomenon of xenophobic conflict in South Africa has garnered increasing attention due to its recurrent violent nature and socio-political implications. This study delves, systematically, into the intricate connection between migration and the politics of xenophobia in South Africa. It examines how migrations, both internal and external, have influenced the development of xenophobic conflict within South Africa, alongside the historical context of the entrenched apartheid system. It further explores the underlying motives of those engaging in xenophobic acts while examining the responses of civil society and the government. By analyzing existing literature and conducting qualitative reviews of the experiences of the victims of xenophobic violence, this study contends that xenophobia in South Africa, among other factors, is a lasting legacy of the apartheid era that has created unequal economic power relations between the South African blacks and the few dominant whites. Findings further underscore the significance of understanding contemporary migration patterns in the 21st century from the context of entrenched economic inequalities, economic disenfranchisements, rising poverty among the indigenous black South African community in South Africa. In addition, economic disparities, resource scarcity, and competition for employment opportunities have emerged for being pivotal catalysts of conflict, thereby exacerbating tensions between native black South Africans and the African immigrant populations in South Africa. Relying on findings, this study thus argues that xenophobia remains an ongoing and persistent challenge that demands urgent attention from policymakers in South Africa. In conclusion, this study underscores the necessity of addressing the xenophobic conflict in South Africa through a multidimensional approach. Policymakers, civil society, and academia must collaborate to formulate strategies that target both the economic and socio-political drivers of such conflicts. By acknowledging the historical context, rectifying inequalities, and promoting accurate narratives, it becomes possible to foster a more inclusive and harmonious society, thereby mitigating the unending cycle of xenophobic tensions, phobia and violence.

It's like an uncontrollable demon in your body: The lived experiences of youth using crystal meth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Witbank, Mpumalanga

Crystal methamphetamine (meth) is quickly becoming one of the most used synthetic drugs worldwide, adding to the growing pandemic of substance abuse worldwide. Crystal meth may cause serious health effects including infertility, cancer and even DNA damage, especially among long-term users. Crystal meth users are often not aware of the serious health implications caused by crystal meth until it’s too late. This qualitative research paper employed the phenomenological research design to explore and describe lived experiences of crystal meth users. A total of 11 crystal meth users in the Witbank hotspots were identified through purposive convenience and key informants sampling. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and the thematic content analysis was used for analysis. The study's findings reveal that crystal meth users have an uncontrollable urge to use the substance which results in them being stigmatized in society and negatively affecting their family functioning. The findings also show that some crystal meth users engage in criminal activities. There is a need for further studies on lived experiences across all types of drugs. Policymakers in South Africa should work towards an Instant-admission policy for people who use substances, through the capacity of social workers.

Environmental Perceptions and Sustainable Consumption Behavior: The Disparity among South Africans

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of sociodemographic factors on the environmental perceptions and sustainable consumption behavior in South Africa, a country with the highest record of inequality in the world. Few studies have examined the ways in which people in low-income countries perceive social and environmental problems. By using the International Social Survey Programme Environment III dataset for 2010, this study assessed the impact of sociodemographic factors on the environmental perceptions and sustainable consumption behavior of South Africans. The results show that environmental concern rates are highest among those with low socioeconomic status and African people. Since these individuals constitute the majority of the most vulnerable population in society, it supports the exposure to degradation hypothesis in a South African context. In contrast, sustainable consumption behavior rate is highest among those with high socioeconomic status, suggesting a strong post-materialist effect on pro-environmental consumption. From a policy perspective, environmental policymakers in South Africa could take note of the strong environmental concerns among those more vulnerable to daily environmental degradation and provide further incentives and support their transition to sustainable consumption behavior changes that would assist in environmental protection.

Tax avoidance and cost of debt: does integrated report assurance matter?

PurposeThis study examines the association between corporate tax avoidance and the cost of debt (COD). It also investigates the moderating effect of integrated report (IR) assurance on tax avoidance/COD relationship.Design/methodology/approachBased on a sample of 76 South African companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) from 2010 to 2020, the authors built and estimated regression models using the feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) method. The authors significantly mitigated the endogeneity concerns using propensity score matching (PSM), difference-in-differences (DID) analysis and fixed effects regression.FindingsThe authors found that tax-avoiding firms pay higher costs of debt due to information asymmetries and agency problems. Bankers systematically reflect the increase in tax avoidance by adjusting the COD upward. However, results show that the assured IR disclosure mitigates these problems, which decreases the COD for tax avoidance strategies adopters. Using a quasi-natural experiment, well-grounded evidence was provided showing that the decrease in the COD for debtors who engage in tax avoidance practices is attributed to the availability of an assured IR.Practical implicationsThis study provides plausible evidence in favor of the role that an assured IR can play in capital allocation decisions. Consequently, it is likely to push policymakers in South Africa and other countries to set standards for IR assurance.Originality/valueThis is the first study that investigates and validates the role of IR assurance in solving the controversy about the “tax saving effect” vs. “risk exposure effect” that bankers face while identifying debtors with successful (non-risky/cash-saving) tax avoidance practices and those with non-successful (risky) ones.

Dilemmas of public participation in policymaking in South Africa

The effectiveness of representative democracy in South Africa is questionable, given the lack of confidence in the Parliament and the recurring service delivery protests, which indicate that citizens' opinions are unheard. Due to this, the Members of Parliament (MPs) devise strategies such as democratic innovation to involve citizens in policymaking as the platform for deliberation. Given this context, the paper discusses public participation in policymaking and how declining confidence in the Parliament necessitates democratic innovations as a panacea for increasing citizens' participation in Parliament activities. The paper also identifies dilemmas that occur in public involvement. Data was generated by interviews (with 16 MPs), observation of plenary debates, minutes of the Parliament, Hansard, minutes of Select and Standing Committees, and Parliamentary speeches. Findings suggest that despite the complexity of implementing public participation in South Africa, the Parliament has made significant progress since 1994 in widening democratic innovation to facilitate public participation. However, disadvantaged people continue to be marginalized from policymaking. The paper suggests that there is a need for political education and public participation in policymaking to strengthen democratic institutions in South Africa.

Effects of the Impact Factors on Transportation Sector’s CO2-eq Emissions: Panel Evaluation on South Africa’s Major Economies

The paper utilized a panel dataset to investigate the effects of the impact factors, namely, economic growth, energy intensity, energy consumption, urbanisation, passenger vehicles and transport infrastructure investments on carbon emissions (CO2-eq). The transport sector of the main buoyant economic provinces of South Africa for a consecutive period of five years was investigated using STIRPAT models. Carbon emissions coefficient method, (CECM) is made applicable to determine the quantification of the forms of fossil fuels utilized in the transportation sector. The characterized parametric panel dataset for Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape were assessed from 2016 to 2020 to make objective function determinations. The results indicate that GDP and passenger vehicles contributed largely to CO2-eq emissions, however, the impact varies across the three provinces. Energy intensity and the approach to energy consumption are significant in mitigating carbon emissions, which is due to the possibilities of high fuel efficiency and pollution decrease. The outcome of the research advances climate change mitigation strategy and proffers the required attention to policy makers in South Africa and Africa as a continent.

The Role of the Cosimpol Simulator in Mediating Dialogue for the Covid-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has created widespread turbulence. We have witnessed how the lockdowns in South Africa negatively impacted the economy, resulting in unemployment and loss of livelihoods. Various sectors, including the education and tourism sectors, have been severely impacted and we are now seeing the myriad economic and social issues that are coming to the fore. It is clear that we are faced with a complex, messy situation, characterised by multiple stakeholders who hold diverse mental models and perspectives. The main aim of this chapter is to draw lessons for consideration by policy-makers in South Africa dealing with the pandemic, by understanding how the CoSimPol simulator model can be used in mediating dialogue for the COVID-19 pandemic. The model caters for multiple factors including bed capacity, hospital care, use of Personal Protective Equipment and non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing. From a conflict and peace perspective, a key contribution of this chapter is to demonstrate how models such as CoSimPol may be applied not only for predictive capacity in formulating policy, but more significantly ought to be used as transitional objects for dialogue between contending parties and positions.

Testing the impact of the gold price, oil price, and renewable energy on carbon emissions in South Africa: Novel evidence from bootstrap ARDL and NARDL approaches

Rapid industrialization has resulted in a remarkable increase in South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP). On the flip side, due to rapid industrialization, unsustainable extraction of natural resources, including gold, and economic growth produce environmental challenges such as climate change in particular CO2 emission in the country. This study aims to test the impact of oil price, gold price, and renewable energy on the environmental quality in the short and long-run in South Africa, using the novel method the bootstrap Autoregressive Distributed Lag testing (ARDL) and Non-Linear ARDL. The study found that renewable energy improves environmental quality in both the short and long run. Furthermore, the present research demonstrates that the positive shocks in oil price contributes negatively to environmental pollution in South Africa. On the contrary, positive shocks in gold price positively affected the level of environmental pollution. The study results can be explained by the fact that South Africa is heavily dependent on imported oil. In contrast, South Africa is heavily dependent on exported gold. The present research suggests that the rate of imported oil in South Africa should be reduced by focusing on more clean sources of energy to avert any undesirable impacts of oil price volatilities on the environmental quality. Furthermore, the study suggests that the policymakers in South Africa must form new strategies to sustain the gold market, and promote environmental quality, and green investment.

Beyond Academic Imperialism in Comparative Studies of the Global South: Methodological Reflections

Contemporary debates on decolonisation have reluctantly forced social scientists to engage with neglected debates on race and epistemology. This article recasts these debates through methodological reflections that compare South African and Brazilian social policies by centring the interpellations of racial capitalism, poverty, inequality, and social exclusion. I conducted forty- five in-depth interviews with beneficiaries of social assistance programmes such as social grants and Bolsa Familia and with policymakers in South Africa and Brazil. Both countries offer compelling cases for comparison because they share important characteristics. How does the generation of knowledge in comparative public policy aid in advancing methodological perspectives that lead towards an imagination of a more democratic global social science? I offer a methodological reflexivity that challenges academic imperialism and underscores the importance of how local questions have global relevance in advancing an agenda for knowledge decolonisation. I achieve this by critiquing the positivist tradition in comparative sociology.

Renewable energy, banking sector development, and carbon dioxide emissions nexus: A path toward sustainable development in South Africa

Climate change and global warming create considerable problems for people, such as intense droughts. One of the biggest causes of global warming is the preference for fossil fuels in energy production. In this context, renewable energy has been considered an effective way to promote environmental quality. Several empirical studies have evaluated the impact of economic growth and energy on environmental quality. However, the possible influence of banking development on carbon emissions in South Africa has been ignored. Thus, this study contributes to the extant literature by assessing the impact of banking sector development on the environmental quality in South Africa over the period 1986–2017. For this purpose, the linkage between energy, economic growth, banking sector development and C02 emissions are assessed by using the new technique of bootstrap autoregressive distributed lag. The findings from the ARDL estimations affirm that renewable energy consumption affects negatively C02 emissions. However, the main conclusion of this study is that banking sector development has a negative influence on the environmental quality in South Africa through GDP and energy factors. The finding reveals that an increase in credit from banks to markets will lead to a rise in projects and investments, as well as strengthen risk management systems, potentially affecting economic growth and energy consumption and therefore increasing C02 emissions. Hence, the outcome suggests that policymakers in South Africa must use the growth of the banking sector to enhance environmental quality by promoting investment in energy and production through renewable energy.

Does international trade and investment liberalization facilitate corporate power in nutrition and alcohol policymaking? Applying an integrated political economy and power analysis approach to a case study of South Africa

BackgroundWhile there is a growing body of legally-focused analyses exploring the potential restrictions on public health policy space due to international trade rules, few studies have adopted a more politically-informed approach. This paper applies an integrated political economy and power analysis approach to understand how power relations and dynamics emerging as a result of the international trade and investment regime influence nutrition and alcohol regulatory development in a case study of South Africa.MethodsWe interviewed 36 key stakeholders involved in nutrition, alcohol and/or trade/investment policymaking in South Africa. Interview transcripts and notes were imported into NVivo and analyzed using thematic analysis. We used a conceptual framework for analyzing power in health policymaking to guide the analysis.ResultsUnder the neoliberal paradigm that promotes trade liberalization and market extension, corporate power in nutrition and alcohol policymaking has been entrenched in South Africa via various mechanisms. These include via close relationships between economic policymakers and industry; institutional structures that codify industry involvement in all policy development but restrict health input in economic and trade policy decisions; limited stakeholder knowledge of the broader linkages between trade/investment and food/alcohol environments; high evidentiary requirements to prove public health policy effectiveness; both deliberate use of neoliberal frames/narratives as well as processes of socialization and internalization of neoliberal ideas/values shaping perceptions and policy preferences and ultimately generating policy norms prioritizing economic/trade over health objectives.ConclusionsExposing power in policymaking can expand our own ideational boundaries of what is required to promote transformative policy change. This work points to a number of potential strategies for challenging corporate power in nutrition and alcohol policymaking in the context of international trade and investment liberalization in South Africa.

Do international trade and investment agreements generate regulatory chill in public health policymaking? A case study of nutrition and alcohol policy in South Africa

BackgroundTrade and health scholars have raised concern that international trade and particularly investment disputes may be used by transnational health harmful commodity corporations (THCCs) to effectively generate public health regulatory chill. The purpose of this study was to contribute to the limited evidence base of trade or investment dispute-related regulatory chill using a case study of nutrition and alcohol policy in South Africa.MethodsWe conducted 35 semi-structured interviews with 36 key stakeholders involved in nutrition, alcohol and/or trade/investment policymaking in South Africa. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. We used Schram et al’s theory on three forms of regulatory chill (anticipatory, response and precedential) to guide the analysis. We report evidence on each form of regulatory chill as well as specific contextual factors that may influence the risk of regulatory chill.ResultsTrade obligations were found to generate a significantly greater anticipatory-type chilling effect on nutrition and alcohol regulation than South Africa’s investment treaty obligations. Response chill was reported to have occurred in relation to South Africa’s proposed tobacco plain packaging regulation while awaiting the outcome of both Australia’s investor-state and WTO state-state disputes. No cases were reported of THCCs threatening an investor-state dispute over nutrition or food regulations, but there were reported cases of THCCs using arguments related to South Africa’s trade obligations to oppose policy action in these areas. No evidence of nutrition or alcohol policy precedential chill were identified. Factors affecting the risk of policy chill include legitimacy and perceived bias of the dispute system, costs involved in pursuing a regulation/defending a dispute and capacity to pay, social acceptability of the industry, a product’s perceived risk to health and confidence in a successful dispute outcome e.g. through cross-border policy learning.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that currently, South Africa’s trade obligations have a more prominent role in inhibiting nutrition and alcohol action than investment treaty-related concerns. However, given the potential for wider use of the ISDS mechanism by THCCs in the future, strategies to protect public health policy space in the context of both international trade and investment treaty and dispute settlement contexts remain important.

Healthcare price changes and expenditures in South Africa: Some implications for economic policy

ABSTRACT Healthcare systems around the world are facing great challenges. This has included rising health care prices and its impact on healthcare expenditures and the concomitant effects on access to healthcare, particularly in emerging and developing countries. This study focuses on health care price developments and health expenditures in South Africa. The study identifies four major results. Firstly, South Africa’s healthcare expenditures compare quite favourably with countries at similar levels of development. However, the efficiency of these expenditures lags those in comparable countries. Secondly, it was found that South Africa’s healthcare price rises have exceeded those in advanced countries even though healthcare demand and expenditures in these countries are much higher than is the case in South Africa. Thirdly, healthcare rises exceeds those in other sectors of the South African economy. Finally, healthcare price changes adversely impact healthcare expenditures in South Africa. These results indicate that price considerations are critical to improving healthcare access in South Africa. The paper also highlights some non-price determinants of healthcare access that warrant attention by policymakers in South Africa.

Opening the floor for discussion: A perspective on how scholars perceive attitudes to science in policymaking in South Africa

CITATION: Czachur, M. V. et al. 2021. Opening the floor for discussion : a perspective on how scholars perceive attitudes to science in policymaking in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 117(1/2):7948, doi:10.17159/sajs.2021/7948.